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ESFM v0.6 OBA

WORDTABLE OET-LV_OT_word_table.tsv

Note: This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

Note: This Readers' Version is a translation into contemporary English aimed at the person on the street who hasn't necessarily been brought up with exposure to Biblical jargon and/or 500-year old English. (It's designed to be used alongside the Literal Version which gives the English reader a window into what's actually written in the original languages. (See the introduction for more details—we recommend that you read the introduction first if you're wanting to read and understand the Literal Version.) Between the two versions you should be able to easily read the clear message of the text, while at the same time being able to check for yourself if that's a fair translation of what the original authors had inked onto their ancient manuscripts.)

Note that greyed words are words that the translators consider were most probably in the mind of the writer, but as none of us can double-check with the original speakers or writers, the reader is free to disagree. They are clearly marked because we have tried to be as honest / transparent as possible.

Ovadyah

(Obadiah)

Introduction

This short document was written by the prophet Ovadyah (three syllables, traditionally spelt as ‘Obadiah’) and is about God’s judgement and punishment of Edom—the nation made up of Esau’s descendants. Esau was Yacob’s twin-brother—the sons of Yitshak (‘Isaac’), however the two sets of descendants ended up as enemies. So that’s why Edom’s people were very glad when the Babylonian army destroyed Yerushalem in 586 before Yeshua/Jesus (B.C.), and not just that, they took advantage of the invasion to join in looting the city and help the invaders. Here, God passes on through Ovadyah the declaration that Edom will be punished and defeated and their warriors would be slaughtered without any survivors, thus allowing Yisrael/Israel to recapture their lands.

Main components of this document

The punishment of Edom 1-14

The day of the Master God 15-21

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

It is our prayer that this Readers' Version of the Open English Translation of the Bible will give you a clear understanding of the accounts and messages written by the God-inspired Biblical writers.

Proud Edom Will Be Brought Low; Edom’s pride and downfall

1 This is the vision of Obadiah given by the master Yahweh concerning ≈the Edom region:

1:2 Coming punishment for Edom

Edom’s Judgment Announced; The Lord Will Punish Edom

We have heard from Yahweh and a messenger has been sent to the nations, telling them:

≈Get everything ready then go into battle against @Edom.

2 And Yahweh says to Edom:

Listen,

I will make you into an insignificant nation.

≈You’ll become utterly despised.

3 Your ≈inner pride has deceived you,

you who live on the rocky cliffs,

≈with your homes up there so high.

You say ≈to yourselves that

no one can bring you down to the ground.

4 If you go up high like an eagle,

≈even if your nest was up between the stars,

Yahweh declares that his ≈command can bring you down from there.

Pillage and Slaughter Will Repay Edom’s Cruelty

5 If it was thieves who came to destroy you in the night,

(and yes, you’re going to be destroyed)

they would only steal what they wanted.

Or if it was grape-pickers who came to you,

at least they’d leave behind ≈the smaller grapes.

6 How Esau’s descendants will be looted.

#Their hidden treasures will be ≈found and taken.

7 ≈Those who have treaties with you will force you to the border.

≈Those who talk about peace will deceive you.

≈Those who eat meals with you will set a trap for you.

≈You have no idea what’s about to hit you.

8 Yahweh will make a declaration on that day.

The wise people of Edom will be destroyed.

≈Understanding will disappear from Esau’s hill.

9 And you the city of Teyman, your warriors will be shattered,

≈so that everyone from Esau’s hill country ≈will be slaughtered.

1:10 The charges against Edom

Edom Mistreated His Brother; Reasons for Edom’s Punishment

10 Because of your violence against your brother Yacob’s descendants,

shame will ≈overcome you,

and you’ll be ≈destroyed forever.

11 You just stood and watched on that day when strangers ≈carried away their wealth.

≈When foreigners entered their gates and ≈took possession of Yerushalem, you ≈wished it was you doing that.

12 You ≈shouldn’t have gloated over your ≈cousins on the day of #their misfortune.

≈And you ≈shouldn’t have celebrated about the destruction of the people of Yehudah.

You shouldn’t have ≈bragged in their time of distress.

13 You ≈shouldn’t have gone into their city at the ≈time of their calamity.

You ≈shouldn’t have gloated—yes, you—over their misery in their ≈time of disaster.

And you women ≈shouldn’t have grabbed their wealth on the day of their catastrophe.

14 You ≈shouldn’t have stood at the crossroads to ≈kill those trying to escape,[ref]

And you ≈shouldn’t have handed-over any survivors that you’d captured in their ≈time of trouble.

1:15 The punishment of nations

God Will Judge the Nations; Edom Destroyed, Israel Restored

15 For all the nations, Yahweh’s day is near,

Just as you’ve done, ≈the same will be done to you.

≈Your actions will return onto your own head.

16 Because just like how all you Israelis[fn] drank suffering on my holy mountain,

all the nations will drink continually.

They will drink and swallow it down.

They’ll become as if they’d never even existed.

1:17 Yisrael’s victory

Israel’s Final Triumph; The Victory of Israel

1:17 Both kingdoms

17 But on Mt. Tsiyyon (‘Zion’), there’ll be deliverance,

and it will be holy,

≈Yisrael’s people will ≈reclaim their possessions.

18 ≈Yisrael’s people will be a fire,

≈and Yosef’s ≈descendants will be a flame.

None of Esau’s ≈descendants will survive,

because Yahweh has spoken.

19 The people from the Negev will ≈take ownership of Esau’s mountain,

≈and the people from the Shefelah ≡will take ownership of the Philistines’ land.

They will recapture the Efrayim and Samarian countrysides,

≈and the people of Benyamin ≡will recapture Gilead.

20 Yisrael’s exiles ≡will take ownership of the Canaanites’ land as far as Tsarefat,

≈and the exiles from Yerushalem (who are in Sefarad) ≡will take ownership of the cities of the Negev.

21 The rescuers will go up Mt. Tsiyyon/Zion to judge Esau’s mountain.

and Yahweh ≈will be their king.

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