ROM 3:13 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) [ref]‘Their words lead to death,
⇔ their tongues are deceptive.’
⇔ ‘Their lips spray out poison.’

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT ⇔ “Their throat is an opened grave.
⇔  They keep deceiving with their tongues.
⇔  The poison of asps is under their lips,”

UST “What people say is morally corrupt like the smell of rotten corpses in a grave! They constantly deceive people by what they say!” “What they say hurts people, like the venom of venomous snakes!”

BLB Their throat is a grave having been opened; they keep practicing deceit with their tongues; the venom of vipers is under their lips,

AICNT Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues; the venom of asps is under their lips;[fn]

3:13, Psalms 5:9 LXX

OEB “Their throats are like opened graves;
⇔ they deceive with their tongues.”
⇔ “The venom of snakes lies behind their lips,”

WEBBE “Their throat is an open tomb.
⇔ With their tongues they have used deceit.”
⇔ “The poison of vipers is under their lips.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET “ Their throats are open graves,
⇔  they deceive with their tongues,
⇔  the poison of asps is under their lips.”

LSV Their throat [is] an opened grave; with their tongues they used deceit; poison of cobras [is] under their lips—

FBV Their throats are like an open grave; their tongues spread deceit; their lips ooze with the venom of snakes.

TCNT “Their throat is an open grave;
⇔ with their tongues they deceive.”
⇔ “The venom of asps is under their lips.”

T4T What people say [MTY] is foul/bad, like the smell that comes from a grave that has been {that people have} opened [MET]. By what people say [MTY], they deceive people.
⇔ By what they say [MTY] they injure people, just like the poison of snakes injures people [MET].

LEB • Their throat is an opened grave; they deceive with their tongues;
• the venom of asps is under their lips,[fn]

3:10 A quotation from Ps 5:9 |link-href="None"andPs 140:3|link-href="None"

BBE Their throat is like an open place of death; with their tongues they have said what is not true: the poison of snakes is under their lips:

Moff Their throat is an open grave,
⇔ they are treacherous with their tongues,
⇔ the venom of an asp lies under their lips.

Wymth "Their throats resemble an opened grave; with their tongues they have been talking deceitfully." "The venom of vipers lies hidden behind their lips."

ASV Their throat is an open sepulchre;
⇔ With their tongues they have used deceit:
⇔ The poison of asps is under their lips:

DRA Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have dealt deceitfully. The venom of asps is under their lips.

YLT A sepulchre opened [is] their throat; with their tongues they used deceit; poison of asps [is] under their lips.

Drby their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; asps' poison [is] under their lips:

RV Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips:
(Their throat is an open sepulchre/tomb; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips: )

SLT Their throat an opened tomb; with their tongues have they used deceit; the poison of asps under their lips:

Wbstr Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

KJB-1769 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
(Their throat is an open sepulchre/tomb; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: )

KJB-1611 Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues they haue vsed deceit, the poyson of Aspes is vnder their lippes:
(Their throat is an open sepulchre/tomb, with their tongues they have used deceit, the poison of Aspes is under their lips:)

Bshps Their throte is an open sepulchre, with their tongues they haue deceaued, the poyso of aspes is vnder their lippes.
(Their throat is an open sepulchre/tomb, with their tongues they have deceived, the poyso of aspes is under their lips.)

Gnva Their throte is an open sepulchre: they haue vsed their tongues to deceit: the poyson of aspes is vnder their lippes.
(Their throat is an open sepulchre/tomb: they have used their tongues to deceit: the poison of aspes is under their lips. )

Cvdl Their throte is an open sepulcre, with their tunges they haue disceaued, the poyson off Aspes is vnder their lippes.
(Their throat is an open sepulchre/tomb, with their tongues they have deceived, the poison off Aspes is under their lips.)

TNT Their throte is an open sepulchre with their tounges they have disceaved: the poyson of Aspes is vnder their lippes.
(Their throat is an open sepulchre/tomb with their townges they have disceaved: the poison of Aspes is under their lips. )

Wycl The throte of hem is an opyn sepulcre; with her tungis thei diden gilefuli; the venym of snakis is vndur her lippis.
(The throat of hem is an open sepulchre/tomb; with her tongues they did guilefully; the venom of snakis is under her lips.)

Luth Ihr Schlund ist ein offen Grab; mit ihren Zungen handeln sie trüglich; Otterngift ist unter ihren Lippen;
(You(pl) Schlund is a open/plainly grave; with your(pl) tongues act/trade(v) they/she/them trüglich; otterngift is under your(pl) lips;)

ClVg Sepulchrum patens est guttur eorum, linguis suis dolose agebant: venenum aspidum sub labiis eorum:
(Sepulchrum patens it_is throat their, tongues/languages to_his_own trickse agebant: venenum aspidum under lips their: )

UGNT τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν; ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν; ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν;
(tafos aneōigmenos ho larugx autōn; tais glōssais autōn edoliousan; ios aspidōn hupo ta ⱪeilaʸ autōn;)

SBL-GNT τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν, ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν, ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν,
(tafos aneōigmenos ho larugx autōn, tais glōssais autōn edoliousan, ios aspidōn hupo ta ⱪeilaʸ autōn,)

RP-GNT τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν, ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν· ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν·
(tafos aneōigmenos ho larugx autōn, tais glōssais autōn edoliousan; ios aspidōn hupo ta ⱪeilaʸ autōn;)

TC-GNT τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν,
⇔ ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν·
⇔ ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν·
(tafos aneōigmenos ho larugx autōn,
⇔ tais glōssais autōn edoliousan;
⇔ ios aspidōn hupo ta ⱪeilaʸ autōn; )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translation Notes:

Section 3:9–20: The Jews also are sinners

In this section, Paul used quotations from the Old Testament to show that the Jews sin against God. They are not better than the Gentiles. God will hold them responsible for their sins. Paul also said that when someone follows the law of Moses, that does not make God say he is righteous.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Both Jews and Gentiles sin

No One is Righteous (NIV)

Everyone has sinned

3:13–15

Here Paul used verses from the Old Testament which talk about body parts: throats, tongues, lips, mouths, feet. Each of these is a figure of speech. The throat, tongue, lips, and mouth refers to speaking. The feet refers to doing. In each case consider whether the figure of speech is clear. Also consider how to make these verses poetic.

3:13a

“Their throats are open graves;

“Their throat is like an open grave,
“What they say is rotten/foul, like a dead person’s body in an uncovered hole in the ground.

Their throats are open graves: This clause is a figure of speech. Looking down someone’s throat is to see a deep hole. An open grave is also a deep hole. It indicates that what people say is like a dead body, full of rottenness or bad things.

In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Make it a simile. For example:
Their throats are like an open grave
Explain the connection in the text. For example:
Their throats are full of rottenness like an open grave
Explain the meaning of throats and the connection in the text. For example:
The words coming out of their open throats are full of rottenness like an open grave
Their words are full of rottenness like an open grave
Translate the literal meaning and explain it in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
This saying indicates that what people say is like a dead body, full of rottenness or bad things.

open graves: This phrase refers to a hole with a dead body in it. The hole has not been filled with dirt.

3:13b

their tongues practice deceit.”

and they deceive with their tongues.”
With their deceiving talk they try to lead people astray/off the right path.”

their tongues practice deceit: The Greek is literally “with their tongues they were deceiving.” It indicates that the people spoke words that deceived others. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

they use their tongue to deceive (ESV)

they use their tongues for telling lies (NCV)

In some languages it is not natural to refer to tongues deceiving. If that is true in your language, translate in a natural way. For example:

They use their words to deceive their fellowsKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

They are liarsWestern Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation on TW.

General Comment on 3:13a–b

This quote is from Psalm 5:9. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

3:13c

“The venom of vipers is on their lips.”

“It is as if they have the venom of vipers behind their lips.”
“Their lips speak hurtful words like the venom of vipers.”

The venom of vipers is on their lips: This clause is a figure of speech. These people’s words are hurtful like venom of vipers. Evil talk can hurt people greatly.

In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Make it a simile. For example:
It is as if they have the venom of vipers on their lips
Their words are like snake poison (NCV)
Explain the connection in the text. For example:
Their lips speak hurtful words like the venom of vipers hurts people
Translate the literal meaning and explain it in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
This saying indicates that what people say is very hurtful, like the venom of vipers.

The venom of vipers: The word vipers refers to several kinds of snakes, including the Egyptian cobra, the European asp, and various vipers. Their bite and venom can kill a person.

Some languages do not have a word for vipers. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Use the name of a kind of poisonous snake in your area. For example:
The venom of asps (ESV)
Use the general word for snake and indicate that it is poisonous. For example:
The liquid/essence of venomous snakes
Use the general word for snake and allow the context to indicate that it is poisonous. For example:
the venomous of snakes

venom: This word refers to the liquid in some snakes that is poisonous to other animals and people.

on their lips: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as on their lips is literally “under the lips” (as in the ESV). It refers to the fangs containing the venom lying in the lower part of the mouth. They are concealed by the lips. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

from their lips (GNT)

behind their lips (NJB)

Their lips hide the venom of poisonous snakes (GW)

General Comment on 3:13c

This quote is from Psalm 140:3. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotemarks

τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν; ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν Ἰός ἀσπίδων ὑπό τά χείλη αὐτῶν)

These two sentences are a quotation from [Psalm 5:10](../psa/005/010.md). It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off all of this material with quotation marks or with whatever punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν; ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν; ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν

These three sentences mean the same thing. Paul says the same thing three times, in slightly different ways, to show how harmful the words are that these people say. If it would be helpful in your language, you could combine the phrases into one. Alternate translation: [The things they say are deadly, deceptive, and damaging]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν

the throat_‹is› ˱of˲_them

Paul quotes David speaking of these people’s throats in general, not of one particular throat. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a more natural phrase. Alternate translation: [Each of their throats]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν

the throat_‹is› ˱of˲_them

Here Paul quotes David using throat to describe something people would say by using their throats to say it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [What they say]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν

Paul quotes David using opened grave to describe these people’s throat as if it were a deep hole containing rotting corpses. He means that the things these people say are morally corrupt and offend God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Their words express moral corruption]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν

˱with˲_the tongues ˱of˲_them

Here Paul quotes David using tongues to describe something people would say to deceive someone, using their tongues to say it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [with what they say]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / quotemarks

ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν

This sentence is a quotation from [Psalm 140:3](../psa/140/003.md). It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off all of this material with quotation marks or with whatever punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation.

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἰὸς ἀσπίδων

Paul is using the possessive form to describe poison that comes from asps, which are venomous snakes. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [Asp’s poison]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰὸς ἀσπίδων

Paul quotes David using poison of asps to refer to what people say as if what they say contained poison. He means that the things they say harm people as does deadly venom. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: [What hurts people like a poisonous snake bite] or [Speech that hurts people]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν

Here Paul quotes David using lips to describe something people would say to harm someone by using their lips to say it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [is in what they say]