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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. Some things (like capitalisation of ‘him’ referring to Jesus or ‘father’ referring to God) in the RV haven’t been decided yet so we’re still testing both ways.
Note: The Readers’ Version on the left 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 on the right 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 fully understand the Literal Version.) By comparing the left and right columns, you should be able to easily get the message of the text, while at the same time keeping an eye on what it was actually translated from.
Note that greyed words in the RV 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’ve tried to be as honest and transparent as possible.
The lighter coloured words in the LV are words which aren’t needed in the grammar of the original languages but are required or implied in English. You can read the Key to learn more about them. The underlines joining words in the LV show when one original language word needs to be translated into two or more English words. (Just hide them with the button if you don’t need that information and find it distracting.) Also, the majority of sentences in the LV don’t have the words put into a sensible English order yet. (This should be completed by the end of 2023.)
See also the FAQs and the Glossary.
109:1 My God help me
Prayer for Vindication and Vengeance; The Complaint of Someone in Trouble
A song by David for the choir director.
For the leader: for David: a psalm; For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.; To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.; For the choir director: A psalm of David.
109 You’re the God that I praise—
don’t be silent
2 because the wicked and deceitful attack me.
≈They tell lies about me.
3 They say hateful things ≈all around me,
≈and they attack me ≈for no reason.
4 They ≈pay back my love with accusations,
but I pray for them.
5 They repay me evil for good,
≈and they hate my love.
6 Appoint a wicked man to be over him,
then appoint an accuser to stand on his right.
7 When he’s judged, may he be found guilty,
and may his prayer for mercy be considered sinful.
8 May his days be few—
≈may ≈someone else take his office.
9 May his children become fatherless,
≈and may his wife become a widow.
10 May his children wander around and beg—
≈asking for handouts as they leave their ruined home.
11 May the creditor take all he owns.
≈May strangers plunder what he earns.
12 May no one extend any kindness to him.
≈May no one have pity on his fatherless children.
13 May his children be ≈eliminated—
≈may their #names be blotted out in the next generation.
14 May his ancestors’ sins be mentioned to Yahweh,
≈and may the sin of his mother not be forgotten.
15 May their guilt always be ≈on Yahweh’s mind.
May Yahweh ≈cause their history to be totally forgotten.
16 May Yahweh do this because this man never bothered to show any loyal commitment,
^but instead harassed the oppressed, the needy, and the disheartened to death.
17 He loved cursing—may it come back upon him.
He had no desire to bless others—may no blessing come to him.
18 He wrapped himself with cursing like a cloak,
and his curse entered his inner being like water—
like oil into his bones.
19 May his curses ≈cling to him like the clothes he wears to cover himself—
like the belt he always wears.
20 May this be my accusers’ reward from Yahweh—
yes for those who say evil things about me.
21 Yahweh my Lord, deal kindly with me for your ≈reputation’s sake.
Because your loyal commitment is good, save me,
22 because I’m oppressed and needy,
and my heart is wounded within me.
23 I’m fading away like a shadow ≈in the late afternoon.
I’m shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak from fasting.
≈My ≈body is frail from not eating enough.
25 I’m scorned by my accusers.
≈When they see me, they shake their heads.
26 Help me, Yahweh my God.
≈Exercise your loyal commitment and save me.
27 May they know that ≈you’re involved here—
that you, Yahweh, have done this.
28 Though they curse me, please bless me.
When they attack, may they be put to shame,
but may your servant celebrate.
29 May my opponents be clothed with shame.
May they wear their shame like a ≈coat.
30 With my mouth, I thank Yahweh ≈frequently.
I’ll praise him even in the middle of a crowd,
31 because he’ll stand ≈beside any needy person
to save them from those who condemn them.
↑ 109 For_the_choir_director of_Dāvid a_song\f + \fr 109:1 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
109.
1\f* Oh_god_of praise_of_my do_not be_silent.
2 If/because the_mouth_of the_wicked and_mouths_of deceit against_me they_have_opened they_have_spoken against_me a_tongue_of falsehood.
3 And_messages_of hatred surround_me and_attack_me without_cause.
4 In_place_of love_of_my accuse_me and_I am_prayer.
5 And_repay against_me evil in_place_of good and_hatred in_place_of love_of_my.
6 Appoint on/upon/above_him/it a_wicked_person and_accuser let_him_stand on right_hand_of_his.
7 In/on/at/with_judged_he let_him_come_forth guilty and_prayer_of_his let_it_become as_sin.
8 May_they_be his/its_days few office_of_his may_he_take another.
9 May_they_be children_of_his fatherless_ones and_his/its_woman/wife a_widow.
10 And_to_wander children_of_his may_they_wander and_beg and_searching from_ruined_homes_of_their.
11 May_he_strike a_creditor to/from_all/each/any/every that to_him/it and_plunder strangers fruits_of_toil_of_his.
12 Not let_it_belong to_him/it\f + \fr 109:12 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.
Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.
\f* one_who_prolongs loyalty and_no let_it_belong one_who_shows_favour to_fatherless_children_of_his.
13 May_it_be descendants_of_his to_cut_off in/on/at/with_generation another their_name may_it_be_wiped_out.
14 May_it_be_remembered the_iniquity_of fathers_of_his to YHWH and_sin_of his/its_mother not may_it_be_wiped_out.
15 Let_them_be before YHWH continually and_cut_off from_earth memory_of_them.
16 Because that not he_remembered to_do loyalty and_pursued anyone poor and_needy and_despondent_of heart to_put_todeath.
17 And_loved a_curse and_come_on_him and_not he_delighted in/on/at/with_blessing and_far from_him.
18 And_wore a_curse as_coat_of_his and_enter like_the_water in/on/at/with_body_of_his and_like_the_oil in/on/at/with_bones_of_his.
19 May_it_be to_him/it\f + \fr 109:19 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.
Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.
\f* like_garment which_he_wraps_himself and_like_belt which_continually wears_him.
20 This be_the_wages_of accusers_of_my from_with YHWH and_the_speak evil on life_of_my.
21 And_you(ms) Oh_YHWH my_master deal with_me for_the_sake_of your(ms)_name if/because is_good love_of_your deliver_me.
22 If/because am_poor and_needy I and_heart_of_my someone_has_pierced in/on/at/with_within_of_me.
23 Like_shadow when_lengthening_it I_have_vanished I_have_been_shaken_off like_the_locust.
24 Knees_of_my they_have_staggered from_fasting and_body_of_my it_has_become_lean without_fat.
25 And_I I_have_become a_reproach to/for_them see_me shake heads_of_their.
26 Help_me Oh_YHWH god_of_my save_me according_to_steadfast_love_of_your.
27 And_know if/because_that hand_of_your this you Oh_YHWH done_it.
28 They_will_curse they and_you(ms) you_will_bless they_have_arisen and_put_to_shame and_servant_of_your he_will_rejoice.
29 May_they_be_clothed accusers_of_my ignominy and_wrapped as_a_cloak shame_of_their_own.
30 I_will_give_thanks_to YHWH exceedingly in/on/at/with_mouth_of_my and_in/on/at/with_midst_of many_people praise_him.
31 If/because he_stands at_right_hand_of the_needy to_save from_condemn_of life_of_his.
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