Song (Psalm) 11

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.)

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

11:1 Trusting God for fair process

Confidence in the Lord; Song of Trust in God

For the musical director: a song by David.

To the leader. Of David.; For the choir director: A psalm of David.; For the leader: for David; For the director of music. Of David.

11 I’ve taken refuge in Yahweh.

How can you tell me,

Flutter away to your mountain like a bird?

2 Because, look, wicked >people ≈are getting their bows ready.

They’ve got their arrows ≈lined up on the strings

to shoot at the ≈godly people in the darkness.

3 If the foundations get destroyed,

what can good people do then?

4 Yahweh’s in his sacred temple.

His eyes watch—his eyes examine humanity’s children.

5 Yahweh examines both ≈good people and the wicked,

but he hates those who love to inflict violence.

6 He rains burning coals and sulfur upon the wicked.

≈≈He’ll send scorching hot winds to punish them

7 because Yahweh ≈loves what is right, and that’s what he does.

≈Godly people will get to stand in front of him.

↑ 11  For_the_director of_Dāvid\f + \fr 11:1 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

11.

1\f* in/on/at/with_LORD I_have_taken_refuge how will_you_all_say to_soul_of_my take_flight\f + \fr 11:1 \ft OSHB variant note: נודו: (x-qere) ’נ֝֗וּדִי’: lemma_5110 n_0.

0 morph_HVqv2fs id_195pP נ֝֗וּדִי\f* mountain_of_your_all’s a_bird.

2 If/because there\f + \fr 11:2 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f* the_wicked bend a_bow they_have_prepared arrow_of_their on the_bowstring to_shoot in gloom at_upright_of heart.

3 If/because the_foundations destroyed the_righteous what does_he_do.

4 YHWH in_(the)_palace holy_of_his YHWH in/on/at/with_heaven throne_of_his eyes_of_his they_see eyelids_of_his they_test the_children_of humankind.

5 YHWH the_righteous he_tests and_wicked and_ (of)_violence _lover_of soul_of_his it_hates.

6 He_will_rain_down on wicked_people snares will_be_fire and_sulfur and_spirit burning_heat(s) the_portion_of cup_of_their.

7 If/because is_righteous YHWH righteousness(es) he_loves the_upright they_will_see face_of_his.