Hear, O my people, and I will testify to you: O Israel, if you will listen to me;
Hear, O my people, and I will testify to you: O Israel, if you will listen to me;
Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto me!
Give ear, O my people, and I will give you my word, O Israel, if you will only do as I say!
Hear, O my people, and I will testify to thee; O Israel, if thou wilt hearken to me;
"Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me!
Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto me!
Hear, O my people - These are nearly the same words with those spoken at the giving of the law, Exodus 20:2.
Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee ... - See the notes at the similar passage in Psalm 50:7. God calls their attention to what he required of them; to what his law demanded; to what was the condition of their being his people and of securing his favor. What the demanded was, that they should acknowledge him; obey him; serve him; that there should be no strange god among them, and that they should worship no false god, Psalm 81:9.
81:8 Testify - This God did presently after he brought them from Meribah, even at Sinai.