Psalm 81:2
New International Version
Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre.

New Living Translation
Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp.

English Standard Version
Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.

Berean Standard Bible
Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

King James Bible
Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

New King James Version
Raise a song and strike the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the lute.

New American Standard Bible
Raise a song, strike the tambourine, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

NASB 1995
Raise a song, strike the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

NASB 1977
Raise a song, strike the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

Legacy Standard Bible
Lift up a song of praise, strike the tambourine, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

Amplified Bible
Raise a song, sound the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

Christian Standard Bible
Lift up a song—play the tambourine, the melodious lyre, and the harp.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Lift up a song—play the tambourine, the melodious lyre, and the harp.

American Standard Version
Raise a song, and bring hither the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the psaltery.

Contemporary English Version
Sing as you play tambourines and the lovely sounding stringed instruments.

English Revised Version
Take up the psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Begin a psalm, and strike a tambourine. Play lyres and harps with their pleasant music.

Good News Translation
Start the music and beat the tambourines; play pleasant music on the harps and the lyres.

International Standard Version
Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant-sounding lyre along with the harp.

Majority Standard Bible
Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

NET Bible
Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant sounding harp, and the ten-stringed instrument!

New Heart English Bible
Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.

Webster's Bible Translation
Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

World English Bible
Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, "" A pleasant harp with stringed instrument.

Young's Literal Translation
Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, A pleasant harp with psaltery.

Smith's Literal Translation
Lift up music, and ye shall give the drum, the pleasant harp, with the lyre.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel: the pleasant psaltery with the harp.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Take up a psalm, and bring forth the timbrel: a pleasing Psalter with stringed instruments.

New American Bible
Take up a melody, sound the timbrel, the pleasant lyre with a harp.

New Revised Standard Version
Raise a song, sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Take a psalm and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Take tambourines and lyres and those pleasant on harps.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Take up the melody, and sound the timbrel, The sweet harp with the psaltery.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Take a psalm, and produce the timbrel, the pleasant psaltery with the harp.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sing for Joy to God, Our Strength
1For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob. 2Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre. 3Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.…

Cross References
Exodus 15:20-21
Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing. / And Miriam sang back to them: “Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.”

2 Samuel 6:5
David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.

1 Chronicles 15:16
David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.

1 Chronicles 16:42
Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.

2 Chronicles 5:12-13
all the Levitical singers—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. / The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud

Nehemiah 12:27
At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.

Psalm 33:2-3
Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings. / Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.

Psalm 47:5-7
God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD with the sound of the horn. / Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! / For God is King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise.

Psalm 92:1-3
A Psalm. A song for the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High, / to proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning and Your faithfulness at night / with the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre.

Psalm 98:4-6
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth—let your cry ring out, and sing praises! / Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, in melodious song with the harp. / With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

Psalm 150:3-5
Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre. / Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute. / Praise Him with clashing cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals.

Isaiah 12:5-6
Sing to the LORD, for He has done glorious things. Let this be known in all the earth. / Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.”

Isaiah 24:14-16
They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they proclaim the majesty of the LORD. / Therefore glorify the LORD in the east. Extol the name of the LORD, the God of Israel in the islands of the sea. / From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” But I said, “I am wasting away! I am wasting away! Woe is me.” The treacherous betray; the treacherous deal in treachery.

Isaiah 30:29
You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your heart will rejoice like one who walks to the music of a flute, going up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.

Jeremiah 31:7
For this is what the LORD says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations! Make your praises heard, and say, ‘O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!’


Treasury of Scripture

Take a psalm, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

Psalm 92:3
Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.

Psalm 95:1,2
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation…

Psalm 149:1-3
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints…

Jump to Previous
Begin Corded Harp Hither Instrument Instruments Lyre Melody Music Play Playing Pleasant Psalm Psaltery Raise Song Sound Sounding Strike Sweet Tambour Tambourine Timbrel
Jump to Next
Begin Corded Harp Hither Instrument Instruments Lyre Melody Music Play Playing Pleasant Psalm Psaltery Raise Song Sound Sounding Strike Sweet Tambour Tambourine Timbrel
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.














Lift up a song
The phrase "Lift up a song" calls believers to engage in the act of worship through music. The Hebrew root for "song" is "שִׁיר" (shir), which often denotes a joyful or triumphant melody. Historically, music has been a central part of Jewish worship, as seen in the Temple services and the Psalms of David. This call to lift up a song is an invitation to express joy and gratitude to God, acknowledging His sovereignty and goodness. In a conservative Christian context, this act of singing is not merely a ritual but a heartfelt response to God's grace and mercy.

and strike the tambourine
The tambourine, or "תֹּף" (tof) in Hebrew, is a percussion instrument that was commonly used in ancient Israelite worship. It is often associated with celebration and victory, as seen in the account of Miriam leading the women with tambourines after the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20). The use of the tambourine in worship signifies a lively and spirited form of praise, encouraging believers to worship God with enthusiasm and energy. This reflects the joy and freedom found in a relationship with God, urging worshippers to express their faith with vibrancy.

the sweet sound of the harp
The harp, or "כִּנּוֹר" (kinnor) in Hebrew, is a stringed instrument that was integral to the worship practices of ancient Israel. It is often associated with King David, who played the harp to soothe Saul (1 Samuel 16:23). The "sweet sound" suggests a melodious and harmonious offering to God, symbolizing the beauty and order of creation. In a conservative Christian perspective, the harp's music represents the peace and tranquility that comes from worshiping God, inviting believers to find solace and rest in His presence through the harmonious sounds of worship.

(2) Take a psalm.--Rather, Strike up a tune (with voice and harp).

Bring hither the timbrel.--Literally, Give a timbrel (or, drum), which evidently means "sound the timbrel," and may, perhaps, be explained by a phrase sometimes found in Hebrew--"Give a voice," i.e., speak. Such phrases as "Let them have the drum," "Give them the drum," may illustrate the expression. (For the instrument, toph, see Exodus 15:20, and consult Bible Educator, 2:214 seq.)

Harp . . . psaltery.--See Note, Psalm 33:2.

Verse 2. - Take a psalm; or, lift up a song. And bring hither the timbrel; rather, strike the timbrel. The pleasant harp with the psaltery. The instruments ordinarily used in the service of the sanctuary were harps, psalteries, and cymbals (1 Chronicles 15:16; 1 Chronicles 16:5; 1 Chronicles 25:6; 2 Chronicles 5:12; 2 Chronicles 24:25; Nehemiah 12:27). Here the timbrel (תֹפ) seems to take the place of the cymbal.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Lift up
שְֽׂאוּ־ (śə·’ū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

a song,
זִ֭מְרָה (zim·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2172: Melody, song (in praise of Yah)

strike
וּתְנוּ־ (ū·ṯə·nū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the tambourine,
תֹ֑ף (ṯōp̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8596: A timbrel, tambourine

play the sweet-sounding
נָעִ֣ים (nā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5273: Pleasant, delightful

harp
נָֽבֶל׃ (nā·ḇel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5035: A skin-bag for, liquids, a vase, a lyre

and
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

lyre.
כִּנּ֖וֹר (kin·nō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3658: A harp


Links
Psalm 81:2 NIV
Psalm 81:2 NLT
Psalm 81:2 ESV
Psalm 81:2 NASB
Psalm 81:2 KJV

Psalm 81:2 BibleApps.com
Psalm 81:2 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 81:2 Chinese Bible
Psalm 81:2 French Bible
Psalm 81:2 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 81:2 Raise a song and bring here (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 81:1
Top of Page
Top of Page