Psalm 81:11
New International Version
“But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.

New Living Translation
“But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around.

English Standard Version
“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.

Berean Standard Bible
But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

Berean Literal Bible
My people would not listen to My voice, and Israel has not consented to Me.

King James Bible
But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

New King James Version
“But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me.

New American Standard Bible
“But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me.

NASB 1995
“But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me.

NASB 1977
“But My people did not listen to My voice; And Israel did not obey Me.

Legacy Standard Bible
“But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel was not willing to obey Me.

Amplified Bible
“But My people would not listen to My voice, And Israel did not [consent to] obey Me.

Berean Annotated Bible
But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel (he wrestles with God) would not obey Me.

Christian Standard Bible
“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel did not obey me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But My people did not listen to Me; Israel did not obey Me.

American Standard Version
But my people hearkened not to my voice; And Israel would none of me.

Contemporary English Version
"But, my people, Israel, you refused to listen, and you would have nothing to do with me!

English Revised Version
But my people hearkened not to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"But my people did not listen to me. Israel wanted nothing to do with me.

Good News Translation
"But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not obey me.

International Standard Version
Yet my people didn't obey my voice; Israel didn't submit to me.

NET Bible
But my people did not obey me; Israel did not submit to me.

New Heart English Bible
But my people did not listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.

Webster's Bible Translation
But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would not obey me.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

World English Bible
But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
But My people did not listen to My voice, "" And Israel has not consented to Me.

Berean Literal Bible
My people would not listen to My voice, and Israel has not consented to Me.

Young's Literal Translation
But, My people hearkened not to My voice, And Israel hath not consented to Me.

Smith's Literal Translation
And my people heard not to my voice; and Israel was not inclined to me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But my people heard not my voice: and Israel hearkened not to me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But my people did not hear my voice, and Israel was not attentive to me.

New American Bible
But my people did not listen to my words; Israel would not submit to me.

New Revised Standard Version
“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But my people would not listen to my voice; and Israel would have none of me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And my people did not listen to my voice and Israel was not persuaded by me.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But My people hearkened not to My voice; And Israel would none of Me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But my people hearkened not to my voice; and Israel gave no heed to me.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Sing for Joy to God, Our Strength
10I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it. 11But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me. 12So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.…

Cross References
But My people would not listen to Me,

Isaiah 65:12
I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

Jeremiah 7:24
Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

Jeremiah 11:8
Yet they would not obey or incline their ears, but each one followed the stubbornness of his evil heart. So I brought on them all the curses of this covenant I had commanded them to follow but they did not keep.”
and Israel would not obey Me.

Deuteronomy 9:23
And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, “Go up and possess the land that I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him.

2 Kings 17:14
But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.

Nehemiah 9:16
But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your commandments.
Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.

Isaiah 65:2
All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations,

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

Nehemiah 9:29
You admonished them to turn back to Your law, but they were arrogant and disobeyed Your commandments. They sinned against Your ordinances, by which a man will live if he practices them. They turned a stubborn shoulder; they stiffened their necks and would not obey.

Ezekiel 20:8
But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

Proverbs 1:24-25
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand, / because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,

Zechariah 7:11-12
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.

2 Chronicles 36:16
But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

John 5:40
yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.


Treasury of Scripture

But my people would not listen to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

people

Psalm 106:12,13
Then believed they his words; they sang his praise…

Jeremiah 2:11-13
Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit…

Jeremiah 23:24
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

would none

Exodus 32:1
And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Deuteronomy 32:15,18
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation…

Proverbs 1:30
They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

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Psalm 81
1. An exhortation to a solemn praising of God
4. God challenges that duty by reason of his benefits
8. God, exhorting to obedience, complains of their disobedience, which proves their own hurt.












But My people would not listen to Me,

God recalls Israel’s persistent refusal to heed His voice despite His deliverance, provision, and covenant promises. Their rebellion was not ignorance but a deliberate rejection of His rule.

Isa 65:12 I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel…
Jer 7:24 Yet they did not listen or incline their ear…
Jer 11:8 Yet they would not obey or incline their ears,…

and Israel would not obey Me.

From the wilderness onward, Israel repeatedly turned to idolatry and adopted the practices of surrounding nations, bringing discipline, defeat, and eventually exile. Their failure exposed the need for the faithful obedience fulfilled by Christ and the inward renewal promised in the new covenant.

Deu 9:23 And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea…
2Ki 17:14 But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks…
Neh 9:16 But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked…

Persons / Places / Events
1. God
- The speaker in this verse, expressing His lament over Israel's disobedience.

2. Israel
- The chosen people of God who are being addressed in this Psalm, representing the collective nation that has turned away from God's commands.

3. Psalm 81
- A psalm attributed to Asaph, focusing on God's deliverance and the people's disobedience.

4. Asaph
- A Levite and one of the leaders of David's choir, traditionally credited with writing several psalms, including Psalm 81.

5. The Exodus
- The historical backdrop of God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, referenced earlier in the psalm as a reminder of God's faithfulness.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Listening to God
Listening to God is crucial for maintaining a relationship with Him. Just as Israel's refusal to listen led to consequences, so too can our spiritual deafness lead us away from God's blessings.

Obedience as a Response to God's Faithfulness
God desires obedience not as a burden but as a response to His faithfulness and love. Reflect on how God has been faithful in your life and let that inspire your obedience.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Disobedience leads to spiritual and sometimes physical consequences. Consider the areas in your life where you might be resisting God's guidance and the potential outcomes of that resistance.

God's Persistent Call to His People
Despite Israel's disobedience, God continues to call His people back to Him. This demonstrates His patience and enduring love, encouraging us to return to Him when we stray.

Reflecting on Our Own Hearts
Use this verse as a mirror to examine your own heart. Are there areas where you are not listening to God? Seek to align your heart with His will.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Psalm 81:11?

2. How does Psalm 81:11 highlight the consequences of ignoring God's voice today?

3. What does "My people would not listen" reveal about Israel's spiritual condition?

4. How can Psalm 81:11 guide us in prioritizing God's voice over others?

5. Which New Testament teachings align with Psalm 81:11's call to heed God?

6. How can we ensure our hearts are not "hardened" as in Psalm 81:11?

7. Why did Israel refuse to listen to God in Psalm 81:11?

8. How does Psalm 81:11 reflect human nature's resistance to divine guidance?

9. What historical context influenced the message of Psalm 81:11?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 81?


Verse 11. - But my people would not hearken to my voice (comp. Psalm 78:10, 41, 56; 2 Kings 17:14; 2 Chronicles 36:15, 16). And Israel would none of me; literally, would not obey me (see the Prayer book Version).

Psalm 81:11 exposes the tragedy of a covenant people who enjoy God’s nearness yet close their ears and hearts. The verse warns that intimacy with God is maintained by attentive listening and active obedience. Blessing and fellowship flow where His voice is welcomed; loss and discipline follow where it is ignored.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But My people
עַמִּ֣י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

would not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

listen to Me,
שָׁמַ֣ע (šā·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

and Israel
וְ֝יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (wə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

would not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

obey
אָ֥בָה (’ā·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 14: To breathe after, to be acquiescent

Me.
לִֽי׃ (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew


Additonal Resources
Psalm 81:11 Blue Letter Bible
Psalm 81:11 Bible Gateway
Psalm 81:11 Bible.com

Psalm 81:11 NIV
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Psalm 81:11 Study Bible
Psalm 81:11 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 81:11 Chinese Bible
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Psalm 81:11 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 81:11 But my people didn't listen to my (Psalm Ps Psa.)

Psalm 81:10
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