Psalm 81

[debi b]

For several weeks I have been posting threads on Psalms. The series I am going thru now is the Psalms that were incorporated in the Temple on a daily basis. The concepts in these Psalms would be very familiar to everyone. I thought it would be interesting to compare different translations along the way. The translations to compare were chosen at random, but there are 12 that I am using. I chose 6 from a western point of view and 6 from Jewish translations. It is my hope that this will promote conversations or stimulate thought on these Psalms.

This Psalm was sung on the fifth day of the week (Thursday) in the Temple.

NEW LIVING BIBLE
1 For the choir director: A psalm of Asaph, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument. Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Israel.
JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY (JPS)
1 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.
NEW LIVING BIBLE
2 Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp.
JPS
2 Sing aloud unto God our strength; shout unto the God of Jacob.
NEW LIVING BIBLE
3 Sound the trumpet for a sacred feast when the moon is new, when the moon is full.
JPS
3 Take up the melody, and sound the timbrel, the sweet harp with the psaltery.

There is a difference in the way these two translations number the verses. There are times when this happens.

[Sephania]

Wouldn't it be better for comparison's sake that you even them up? Take the direction which is considered verse 1 in the JPS and put as a header in many other bibles and start at 2 in the JPS?



So blow the shofar for Rosh Chodesh and for Pasach and Sukkot?

[debi b]

Wouldn't it be better for comparison's sake that you even them up? Take the direction which is considered verse 1 in the JPS and put as a header in many other bibles and start at 2 in the JPS?

You bet, I can change that :) I wanted to point this out because we had a situation recently where there was a reference to a particular scripture - one was reading from Jewish publications and the people they were talking to were looking at western translations and in that case there was a numeration difference. This does happen sometimes was my only point :D



So blow the shofar for Rosh Chodesh and for Pasach and Sukkot?

Interestingly the Talmud states this Psalm was part of the Temple order for Rosh HaShanah.

[debi b]

NEW LIVING BIBLE
3 Sound the trumpet for a sacred feast when the moon is new, when the moon is full.
JPS
4 Blow the horn at the new moon, at the full moon for our feast-day.
NEW LIVING BIBLE
4 For this is required by the laws of Israel; it is a law of the God of Jacob.
JPS
5 For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
in this verse:
laws/statute = Hebrew word "chok" qx
law/ordinance = Hebrew word "mishpat" tpvm
NEW LIVING BIBLE
5 He made it a decree for Israel when he attacked Egypt to set us free. I heard an unknown voice that said,
JPS
6 He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when He went forth against the land of Egypt. The speech of one that I knew not did I hear:
In this verse NLB is translating @sAhyB as Israel.
NEW LIVING BIBLE
6 "Now I will relieve your shoulder of its burden; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.
JPS
7 'I removed his shoulder from the burden; His hands were freed from the basket.

[Sephania]

You bet, I can change that I wanted to point this out because we had a situation recently where there was a reference to a particular scripture - one was reading from Jewish publications and the people they were talking to were looking at western translations and in that case there was a numeration difference. This does happen sometimes was my only point



So blow the shofar for Rosh Chodesh and for Pasach and Sukkot?



Interestingly the Talmud states this Psalm was part of the Temple order for Rosh HaShanah.
Yes, I remember that, for those who own a CJB it is easy to see both, but the the online version they don't compensate for that. :)

Ok, so I was taking "at the new moon" to be every new moon ( so Yom Teruah would fall in there) and Sukkot (and Pasache I should have said), for the full moon.

[debi b]

It is interesting to me that moons are important in scripture but don't seem to play a very big part in our thinking........

[debi b]

NEW LIVING BIBLE
7 You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered out of the thundercloud. I tested your faith at Meribah, when you complained that there was no water. Interlude
JPS
8 Thou didst call in trouble, and I rescued thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah

There really are some important references to Meribah (Exodus 17; Numbers 20).

Psalm 95
For He is our Elohim and we are the people of His pasture, and the flock of His hand, today if you will heed His voice. Do not harden your hearts as a Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the desert. When you fathers tested me.....

This is the backdrop for the point made in the book of Hebrews about entering His rest.

[debi b]

NEW LIVING BIBLE
8 "Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen!
JPS
9 Hear, O My people, and I will admonish thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto Me!
The Hebrew word for Listen/Hear is in an imperative or command form. In otherwords - this is not a suggestion :)

[debi b]

NEW LIVING BIBLE
9 You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god.
JPS
10 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any foreign god.
NEW LIVING BIBLE
10 For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.
JPS
11 I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt; open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
Now where is the smilie of a baby bird with its mouth open wide when you need it? Peep, peep!

[debi b]

NEW LIVING BIBLE
11 "But no, my people wouldn't listen. Israel did not want me around.
JPS
12 But My people hearkened not to My voice; and Israel would none of Me.
NEW LIVING BIBLE
12 So I let them follow their blind and stubborn way, living according to their own desires.
JPS
13 So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, that they might walk in their own counsels.
Sometimes he lets the rich young ruler walk away.....

[visionary]

NEW LIVING BIBLE
12 So I let them follow their blind and stubborn way, living according to their own desires.
JPS
13 So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, that they might walk in their own counsels. A Queen I sit... and know no sorrow

[debi b]

NEW LIVING BIBLE
13 But oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!
JPS
14 Oh that My people would hearken unto Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!
listen/hearken in this verse imply continuous action
walking/walk imply almost a condition or state of being
NEW LIVING BIBLE
14 How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes!
JPS
15 I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries.
NEW LIVING BIBLE
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him; their desolation would last forever.
JPS
16 The haters of the Lord should dwindle away before Him; and their punishment should endure for ever.
NEW LIVING BIBLE
16 But I would feed you with the best of foods. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.
JPS
17 They should also be fed with the fat of wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee.