Songs (Psalms) 3:1–8 — A prayer when under attack

The OET Readers’ Version is designed to be read alongside the Literal Version. Expand the matching Literal Version beneath each passage. This is still an early look into the drafted text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

Psa 3:1–8

3:1 A prayer when under attack

3 A song by David when he fled from his son Avshalom (Absalom).

1 Yahweh, how did I get so many enemies?

≈ Many people are rising up against me.

2 Many people are talking about me,

saying that God won’t help me. (Instrumental break.)[fn]

3 But you, Yahweh, protect me like a shield.

You honour and encourage me.

4 I called out with my voice to Yahweh,

and he answered me from his sacred mountain. (Instrumental break.)

5 I laid down and slept.

I awoke, because Yahweh sustains me.

6 I won’t be afraid even of tens of thousands of people—

those all around who’ve taken a stand against me.

7 Take action, Yahweh.

≈ Save me, my god.

Yes, you’ve slapped all my enemies on the cheek—

you’ve broken the teeth of the wicked people.

8 Salvation belongs to Yahweh.

Your blessing goes to your people. (Instrumental break.)

Show matching OET Literal Version passage

Read the Literal Version in context

3 A _song of_Dāvid when_fled_he from_face/in _front _of ʼAⱱīshālōm his/its_son.

2 [fn] Oh_YHWH how foes _of_my they _are _many many_people are_rising _up on_me.

3 [fn] Many_people are_saying of_self _of_my there_is_not deliverance for_him/it in_god Şelāh.

4 [fn] And_you(ms) Oh_YHWH are_a _shield behind_me honour _of_my and_the _one _who_lifts _up my_head.

5 [fn] My_sound/voice to YHWH I _called _out and_he_answered _me from_hill his _holiness _of_his Şelāh.

6 [fn] I I _lay _down and_I_slept I _awoke if/because YHWH he_sustains _me.

7 [fn] Not I _will _be _afraid from_ten _thousands _of people who all _around they _have _taken _a _stand on_me.

8 [fn] Arise Oh_YHWH save_me my _god _of_my if/because you _have _struck DOM all _of enemies _of_my jaw the_teeth _of wicked_people you _have _broken.

9 [fn] To/for_YHWH (the)_deliverance is_towards people _of_your blessing _of_your Şelāh.

3:2 Note: KJB: Ps.3.1

3:3 Note: KJB: Ps.3.2

3:4 Note: KJB: Ps.3.3

3:5 Note: KJB: Ps.3.4

3:6 Note: KJB: Ps.3.5

3:7 Note: KJB: Ps.3.6

3:8 Note: KJB: Ps.3.7

3:9 Note: KJB: Ps.3.8

3:2 Many older translations place the word ‘Selah’ (the transliteration of the Hebrew word ‘סֶֽלָה’ which we’re not completely sure of the meaning of) here, but that’s meaningless to most modern-English readers so the OET makes an informed attempt at a translation. ‘Pause and reflect’ would also have been a likely meaning. For more information, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selah.

OET-RV by cross-referenced section PSA 3:1

A prayer when under attack

Psa 3:1–8