Reading, studying and living the scriptures

This page contains selected passages from the Open English Translation with the passage from the OET Readers’ Version on the left, and the OET Literal Version on the right. Minimal commentary is included (only some headings)—our aim is simply to conveniently list the passages in one place so that our readers can make up their own minds about what the writer of the passage was intending to communicate.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

Learning and remembering

OET Deu 6:4-9

4 Listen Yisrael: Yahweh alone is our god[ref] 5 and you should love your god Yahweh with your whole mind, your entire being, and all your strength.[ref] 6 Always be considering these instructions that I’m giving you today,[ref] 7 and diligently teach them to your children, and talk about them when you’re sitting at home and when you’re out walking, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Your hands should always be applying them and your minds should always be evaluating them. 9 Carve them onto your doorposts at home, and on your city gates.

6:4: Mrk 12:29.

6:5: Mat 22:37; Mrk 12:30; Luk 10:27.

6:6-9: Deu 11:18-20.

4 Wwww[fn] Oh _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) YHWH god _of_our YHWH wwww.
[fn]

5 And_you _will _love DOM YHWH god _of_your in_all heart _of_your and_on/over_all being _of_your and_on/over_all strength _of_your.

6 And_they _will _be the_words/messages the_these which I am_commanding _of_you the_day on heart _of_your.

7 And_you_will _repeat _them to_children _of_your and_you _will _speak in_them when_sit_you in_house _of_your and_when_walk_you on_road and_when_you_lie _down and_when_you_rise _up.

8 And_you_will _tie _them for_a _sign on hand _of_your and_they _will _be for_marks between eyes _of_your.

9 And_you_will _write _them on the _doorposts _of your _house _of_your and_on_gates _of_your.

6:4 OSHB note: Large letter(s). Shown as large letters without a superscript note number.

OET Jos 1:7-9

7 Just be strong and very courageous—making sure that you obey everything that my servant Mosheh instructed you. Don’t turn away to the right or to the left from it, so that you’ll be wise in every situation that you end up in. 8 That book of the law must always be on your lips and you should meditate on it day and night, so that you’ll be careful to follow everything that’s written in it, because then you’ll make your ways prosperous and then you’ll be wise. 9 Didn’t I order you to be strong and courageous? Don’t tremble or be discouraged because your god Yahweh will be with you wherever you go.”

OET Psa 1:1-6

1:1 Wicked and godly roads

1 A person will reap the benefits

if they don’t take advice from wicked people,

and don’t stand around where sinners go,

and don’t sit and join all the scoffers.

2 Instead, they enjoy Yahweh’s instructions

and think about them day and night.

3 Those people are like trees that are planted by a stream

and which produce fruit in season.

Their leaves don’t wither,[ref]

and they prosper in everything they do.[ref]

4 But wicked people won’t prosper—

they’re like straw that gets blown away by the wind.

5 The wicked people won’t be able to stand when God judges them,

and sinners won’t be able to join in the assembly of all the godly people,

6 because Yahweh knows the path chosen by godly people,

but the path of wicked people will be destroyed.

1:3: Jer 17:8.

1:3: Gen 29:2-3.

1 How _blessed the_man[fn] who not he _walks in_the_counsel _of wicked_people and_in_the_way _of sinners not he _stands and_in_the_seat _of mockers not he _sits.

2 If/because (if) is_in_the _law _of YHWH delight _of_his and_in_law _of_his he _meditates by _day and_night.

3 And_it _was like_a _tree planted at streams _of water which fruit _of_its it _gives at_its _appropriate _of_time and_leafage _of_its not it _withers and_all/each/any/every that he _does it _succeeds.

4 Not are_so the _wicked_people if/because (if) like_chaff which it_drives _it _about wind.

5 Therefore yes/correct/thus/so not wicked_people they _will _stand in_judgement and_sinners in_the_congregation _of righteous_people.

6 If/because YHWH is_knowing the_way _of righteous_people and_the_way _of wicked_people it _will _perish.

1:1 OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS. Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

OET Psa 119:9-16

119:9 Internalising Yahweh’s principles

ב (Beyt)

9 How can a young man keep his motives pure?

By obeying your message.

10 With my whole heart I search for you with all my being.

Don’t let me stray from what you commanded.

11 I’ve stored your message away in my memory

so that I’ll be less likely to sin against you.

12 You deserve praise, Yahweh.

Teach me your regulations.

13 With my lips I’ve proclaimed

all the judgements that you’ve pronounced.

14 I get happier about everything you’ve revealed

rather than any kind of riches.

15 I will meditate about your principles

and keep my eyes on your paths.

16 I take delight in your regulations—

I won’t forget what you’ve said.

9 How a _youth will _he _keep _pure DOM path _of_his to_guard/protect according_to _of_your _message.

10 In_all heart _of_my I_seek _you do _not allow_me _to _stray from_commands _of_your.

11 In_heart _of_my I _have _hidden message _of_your so _that not I _may _sin to/for_you(fs).

12 You be_blessed Oh_YHWH teach_me decrees _of_your.

13 With_lips _of_my I _recount all _of the _judgements _of your _mouth _of_your.

14 In_the _way _of your(pl)_testimonies _of_your I _exult as_on all _of wealth.

15 On_precepts _of_your I _will _meditate and_I _will _pay _attention _to paths _of_your.

16 In_regulations _of_your I _will _delight _myself not I _will _forget message _of_your.

Reading carefully and together

OET Neh 8:1-12

8:1 Ezra reads God’s instructions to the people

8 All the people gathered together in the plaza near the Water Gate and asked Ezra the scribe to bring the scroll with Yahweh’s instructions to Yisrael (Israel) given through Mosheh (Moses). 2 So it was the beginning of October when Ezra the priest brought the scroll to the gathering of men and women and everyone who wanted to understand it, 3 and he read it aloud in the plaza near the Water Gate—reading from dawn until the middle of the day in front of those men and women and interested people, who all listened intently.

4 Ezra the scribe stood on a raised wooden platform that they had made especially for this purpose. Standing on his right were Matityah, Shema, Anayah, Uriyah, Hilkiyah, and Ma’aseyah, and on his left stood Pedayah, Mishael, Malkiyah, Hashum, Hashbadanah, Zekaryah (Zechariah), and Meshulam.

5 Up on the platform, Ezra opened the scroll in front of all the people, and as he did so, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra blessed the great God Yahweh and the people raised their arms and responded, “May it be so.” Then they knelt down and bowed to Yahweh with their faces to the ground.

7 Then Yeshua, Bani, Shereveyah, Yamin, Akuv, Shabtay, Hodiyah, Ma’aseyah, Kelita, Azaryah, Yozavad, Hanan, Pelayah, who were all Levites, explained what had been read to the people standing there. 8 They read the scroll containing God’s instructions, explaining how it applied so the people could understand it.

9 Then Nehemyah (Nehemiah) the governor and Ezra the priest & scribe, and the Levites who were explaining it, said to all the people, “Today is a sacred day—it belongs to your god Yahweh. Don’t mourn or weep.” That was because all the people were weeping after they heard Yahweh’s instructions to them. 10 Then Nehemyah told them, “Go home and eat some special food with sweet drink, and share some with those who can’t afford such things because today is a sacred day that belongs to our master. And don’t grieve, because the happiness from Yahweh will make you all strong.”

11 The Levites told the people to quieten down, saying, “Don’t grieve today because it’s a sacred day. Stay quiet.” 12 So all the people went to eat and drink and to take plates of food to others, and to have a big celebration because they understood what had been read to them.

8 And_ all _of the_people _they _gathered like_a _person one to the _open_space which to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the _gate _of the_waters and_they _said to_ˊEzrāʼ the_scribe to_bring DOM the _scroll _of the _law _of Mosheh which YHWH he _had _commanded DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

2 And_ ˊEzrāʼ the_priest/officer _he _brought DOM the_law to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the_assembly from_man and_unto woman and_all/each/any/every one _who_understood to_listen in/on_day one of_month the_seventh.

3 And_he/it _called in_him/it to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the _open_space which to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the _gate _of the_waters from the_light until the _middle _of the_day before the_men and_the_women and_those_who_understood and_the _ears _of all _of the_people were_to the _scroll _of the _law.

4 And_ ˊEzrāʼ the_scribe _he _stood on a _high _platform _of wood which people _had _made to_the _message/thing/matter and_he _stood beside_him Mattit^yāh and_Shemaˊ and_ˊAnā^yāh and_ʼŪriy^yāh and_Ḩilqiy^yāh and_Maˊₐsē^yāh on hand _of_his _right and_were_from_left _of_his Pədā^yāh and_Mīshā^ʼēl and_Malkīy^yāh and_Ḩāshum and_Ḩashbaddānāh Zəkar^yāh Məshullām.

5 And_ ˊEzrāʼ _he _opened the_scroll to_the _eyes _of all _of the_people if/because from_under all _of the_people he _was and_just_as_he _opened_it all _of the_people they _stood _up.

6 And_ ˊEzrāʼ _he/it _blessed DOM YHWH the_ʼElohīm (the)_great and_ all _of the_people _they _answered amen amen in_the _raising _of their _hands _of_their and_they _bowed _low and_they _bowed _down to/for_YHWH face ground_to_the.

7 And_Yēshūˊa/(Jeshua) and_Bānī and_Shērēⱱə^yāh[fn][fn] Yāmīn/(Jamin) ˊAqqūⱱ Shabtay Hōdiy^yāh Maˊₐsē^yāh Qəlīţāʼ ˊAzar^yāh Yōzāⱱād/(Jozabad) Ḩānān Pəlā^yāh and_the_Lēviyyiy were_causing _to _understand DOM the_people (to)_law and_the_people were_at place _of_their.

8 And_they _read _aloud in_scroll in_the _law _of the_ʼElohīm making _clear and_they _gave the_sense and_they _understood (in)_reading.

9 And_he/it _said Nəḩem^yāh he was_the_governor and_ˊEzrāʼ the_priest/officer the_scribe and_the_Lēviyyiy who_were_causing _to _understand DOM the_people to/from_all/each/any/every the_people the_day is_holy it to/for_YHWH god _of_your(pl) do _not mourn and_do _not weep if/because all _of the_people were_weeping just_as_they _heard DOM the _words/messages _of the _law.

10 And_he/it _said to/for_them go eat fat _foods and_drink sweet _things and_send portions to_there_is_not a_thing_prepared to_him/it if/because is_holy the_day to_master(s)_of_our and_do _not be _grieved if/because the _joy _of YHWH it refuge _of_is_your(pl).

11 And_the_Lēviyyiy were_making _quiet to/from_all/each/any/every the_people to_say hush if/because the_day is_holy and_do _not be _grieved.

12 And_ all _of the_people _they _went to_eat and_to_drink and_to_send portions and_to_make joy great if/because they _had _understood (in)_words/messages which they _had _made _known to/for_them.

8:7 OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently from BHQ.

8:7 OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS. Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

OET Acts 17:10-12

17:10 Many new believers in Beroia

10 So the believers immediately sent Paulos and Silas off during the night to go to Beroia. In Beroia they also attended at the Jewish meeting hall 11 and this group were more upper-class than the congregation in Thessalonikai. They eagerly accepted the message and examined the scriptures every day to check if what was being taught matched what was written there. 12 Because it did, many of the people believed including quite a few of the prominent Hellains (Greeks).

10 And the brothers immediately sent _out the both Paulos and the Silas by night to Beroia, who having _arrived, were _going into the synagogue of _the Youdaiōns.

11 And these were more _noble than the ones in Thessalonikaʸ, who received the message with all readiness, in _every day examining the scriptures, if these things might _be _having thus.

12 therefore indeed Many from them believed, and not a_few of _the the prominent Hellaʸn women, and men.

OET 1 Tim 4:11-16

11 so command and teach these things.

12 Don’t let anyone despise you just because you’re young, but be an example for the believers in your speech and conduct, and in love, faith, and purity. 13 ⇔Prioritise the public reading of the scriptures as well as encouraging and teaching others until I come. 14 Don’t neglect the gift that you have in you which was given to you when the council of elders placed their hands on you and prophesied over you. 15 Keep these things in your thoughts so that everyone will be able to see your progress. 16 Hold on to your own integrity and to this teaching, and stay faithful to them, because as you do, you’ll be saving both yourself and the people listening to you.

11 Be _commanding these things and be _teaching.

12 let_ no _one of _you _be _Despising the youth, but be _becoming an_example for _the believing ones, in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

13 Until I _am _coming, be _giving _heed to _the public _reading, to_ the _exhortation, to_ the _teaching.

14 Not be _neglecting of _the gift in you, which was _given to _you through prophecy, with the_laying _on of _the hands of _the council _of _elders.

15 Be _pondering these things, be in these things, in _order _that the progress of _you may _be manifest to _all.

16 Be _holding _on to _yourself and to _the teaching.
Be _continuing _on in _them, because/for doing this, you _will _be _saving both yourself and the ones hearing from _you.

Putting the message into practice

OET 2 Tim 3:14-17

14 Hold on to the things that you learnt and were convinced are true, because you know you can trust those who taught them to you. 15 You’ve known the sacred scriptures since you were a young child, and the wisdom contained in them is able to lead you to salvation through faith in Yeshua the messiah. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for scolding and correction, and for teaching discipline and obedience 17 so that the person following God can be trained in doing every kind of good deed.

OET Col 3:12-17

12 So as holy people chosen and loved by God, ‘dress’ in: compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience,[ref] 13 tolerating each other, and forgiving anyone who has a complaint about another person. The master forgave all of you, so you also should forgive others.[ref] 14 Then over all of those, ‘dress’ in love which is the perfect connection to others. 15 Let the peace of the messiah rule in your hearts. That’s what you were called to as parts of one body. Make sure that you’re thankful 16 and that the messiah’s message is a rich part of you with all its wisdom as you teach and give advice to each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankfulness in your hearts.[ref] 17 ⇔Then give thanks to God the father through the name of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) in everything—whatever you’re all saying or doing.

3:12-13: Eph 4:2.

3:13: Eph 4:32.

3:16-17: Eph 5:19-20.

12 Therefore as the_chosen of_ the _god, holy ones and having _been _loved, dress _in hearts of _compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience,

13 tolerating of _one _another and forgiving to _yourselves, if anyone may _be _having a_complaint against anyone, as also the master forgave to _you _all, thus also you _all forgive.

14 And over all these things, the put _on love, which is the_bond of_ the _perfection.

15 And the peace of _the chosen _one /messiah let _be _deciding in the hearts of _you _all, to which also you _all _were _called in one body, and be _becoming thankful.

16 let_ The message of _the chosen _one /messiah _be _Dwelling _in in you _all richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing yourselves in _psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with the thankfulness in the hearts of _you _all the to_god.

17 And everything, whatever anything if you _all _may _be _doing in message or in work, all things in the_name of_the_master Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) do, giving _thanks to_ the _god the_father through him.

OET Yac (Jam) 1:19-27

1:19 Listening then doing

19 So my dear brothers and sisters, note this: Everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak, and should be slow to get angry 20 because when people get very angry, it doesn’t lead to the good behaviour that God expects. 21 So discard all moral filth and the evil that’s plentiful, and humbly accept the message that’s implanted in you all and which is capable of saving your souls.

22 Don’t delude yourselves by just listening to the message, but put it into practice in your daily lives. 23 Anyone who is just a listener of the message and does nothing with it is like someone who looks at their face in a mirror 24 but goes away after having a look and then immediately forgets what they looked like. 25 However the person who investigates the perfect law that gives freedom, and then sticks with it, not being just an observer that forgets about it but rather a person who puts it into practice, this person will prosper in whatever they do.

26 If anyone supposes that they’re religious but doesn’t guard what comes out of their mouth, then that person’s religion is only skin deep and hasn’t affected their heart. 27 A person who wants to truly serve our God and father with a pure heart would be visiting orphans and widows in their difficulties and staying unstained by worldly ideas.

19 Be _having˒_known, brothers of _me beloved.
But let _be every person quick in _order that to _hear, slow in _order that to _speak, slow to anger,

20 for/because the_severe _anger of_a_human, the_righteousness of_god not is _producing.

21 Therefore having _put _away all filthiness and abundance of _evil, in gentleness receive the implanted message, the one being _able to _save the souls of _you _all.

22 And be _becoming doers of_the_message, and not only listeners deluding yourselves.

23 Because if anyone a_listener of_the_message is, and not a_doer, this one is _like to _man observing his face of_ the _existence of _him in a_mirror.

24 For/Because he _observed himself and has _gone _away, and immediately he _forgot what _kind he _was.

25 But the one having _investigated into the_law perfect, the law of_ the _freedom, and having _continued _with it, not a_listener of _forgetful having _become, but a_doer of_the_work, this one blessed in the doing of _him will _be.

26 If anyone is _supposing religious to _be, not bridling the_tongue of _himself, but seducing the_heart of _him, of _this one useless is his religion.

27 Religion pure and undefiled before our god and father this is:
to _be _visiting orphans and widows in the tribulation of _them, spotless himself to _be _keeping from the world.

Please contact us at Freely dot Given dot org (at) gmail dot com if there’s any passages that you’d like us to add to this topic page, or any passages that need a little bit more context around them. (We encourage our readers to always view things in their context, so we discourage use of the word ‘verse’, especially in sayings like, “This verse says …”.)