Psalm 81:2

Modern

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

Traditional

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

Literal

Lift up a melody and strike the timbrel, the sweet-sounding harp with the lute.

Latin

Sumite psalmum, et date tympanum; psalterium jucundum cum cithara.

Hebrew

English

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

An Israelite tambourine was a hand drum with a round frame and skin cover. People used it as a percussion instrument during celebrations, often to accompany dancing (Psalms 68:25; 149:3; 150:4).
The sweet-sounding harp and lyre, both stringed instruments, are the most frequently mentioned instruments in the psalms (for example, Psalms 33:2; 57:8; 71:22; 150:3).

Before giving a warning, the psalmist calls Israel to think about their God through song and dance.

This warning message invites Israel to worship only the Lord and to enjoy the fullness of his blessing.

Theme notes and profiles

Psalm 149:1–3
Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise in the assembly of the godly.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Psalm 92:3
…with the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre.
Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
Exodus 15:20
Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing.
Mark 14:26
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
James 5:13
Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.
Psalm 95:1–2
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation!