Salmos 81

To the chief Musician upon Gittith,

Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
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A trombeta na lua nova refere-se à Festa das Trombetas (Lv23:24), celebrada no 1º dia do 7º mês. Era um chamado à santificação e preparação para o Dia da Expiação.
For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
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José aqui simboliza todo Israel (Gn49:22-26). A 'língua que não entendia' alude ao período de escravidão no Egito, onde os hebreus eram submetidos a uma cultura e língua estrangeiras (Ex6:6-7).
I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
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Meribá significa 'Contenda' - refere-se à rebelião de Israel por água no deserto (Ex17:1-7). O 'Selá' (presente em manuscritos hebraicos) provavelmente indica pausa musical ou ênfase, comum nos Salmos.
Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
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A expressão 'abre bem a tua boca' simboliza total dependência de Deus. Arqueólogos encontraram vasos de armazenamento de grãos em Megido (séc. VIII a.C.) que ilustram a importância das colheitas como bênção divina.
But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
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A ideia de Deus 'entregar' às consequências das próprias escolhas ecoa em Rm1:24. Alguns manuscritos gregos acrescentam 'segundo a dureza de seus corações', mas essa frase não consta nos textos hebraicos mais antigos.
Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
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O 'mel da rocha' pode ser uma referência ao mel de abelhas silvestres (Dt32:13) ou à seiva doce de tamareiras. Interpretações místicas veem aqui prefiguração da Eucaristia, mas isso é contestado por estudiosos históricos.