Song (Psalm) 124

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

124:1 Thanking for Yahweh’s protection

God the Protector of His People; Thanksgiving for Israel’s Deliverance

A song by David while walking uphill to Yerushalem.

A song of ascents. Of David.; A Song of Ascents. Of David.; A song of the ascents: for David; A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

124 Let Yisra’el (Israel) now say,

“If Yahweh hadn’t ≈been on our side,

2 yes, ≈when we were attacked

if Yahweh hadn’t ≈been on our side,

3 they would have swallowed us up alive

when their anger raged against us.

4 Then the water would have swept us away—

the torrent would have gone right over ≈us.

5 ≈≈Yes, then the raging waters would have gone over us.

6 ≈We praise Yahweh

who didn’t allow our enemies to tear us apart with their teeth.

7 We’ve escaped like a bird out of a bird-catcher’s trap—

the trap’s been broken and we’ve escaped.

8 ≈We rely on Yahweh for our help—

the one who made heaven and earth.

↑ 124  the_song_of the_ascents of_Dāvid\f + \fr 124:1 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

124.

1\f* if_not it_were_YHWH who_was to/for_us let_it_say please Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

2 If_not it_were_YHWH who_was to/for_us in/on/at/with_rose_up against_us anyone.

3 Then alive swallowed_us in/on/at/with_kindled anger_of_their in/on/at/with_us.

4 Then the_waters engulfed_us torrent\f + \fr 124:4 \ft OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

\f* it_had_passed over soul_of_our.

5 Then it_had_passed over soul_of_our the_waters the_raging.

6 YHWH be_blessed who_not given_us prey by_teeth_of_their.

7 Soul_of_our like_bird it_has_escaped from_snare_of fowlers the_snare is_broken and_we we_have_escaped.

8 Help_of_our in/on_name_of YHWH who_made_of (of)_heaven and_earth.