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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.
139:1 God’s care and total knowledge
God’s Complete Knowledge and Care; The Inescapable God
One of David’s songs 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.
139 Yahweh, you have examined me, and you know >me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up.
≈You understand my thoughts from far away.
3 You’ve ≈watched where I go and where I rest,
≈and you’re familiar with ≈everything I do.
4 Before the words even get to my tongue,
Yahweh, you already know ≈everything that I’m going to say.
5 ≈In front of me and behind me, you surround me
≈to use your power to protect me.
6 That knowledge is too amazing for me.
≈It’s ≈above me and beyond my reach.
7 Where can I go from your spirit?
Where could I run away to—away from your presence?
8 If I ascend up to the heavens, you’re there.
≈If I make my bed in ≈the grave, wow, you’re even there.
9 If I ≈flew up high with the dawning sun
or stayed down in a remote part of the ocean,
10 you’d still be there to lead me with your hand
and ≈you would help me.
11 If I said, “Surely the darkness will cover me,
and the light will become night around me,”
12 even the darkness wouldn’t be dark to you,
and the night would shine like the day.
The darkness is like the light to you.
13 ≈Yes, you created my internal parts—
you put me together inside my mother’s womb.
14 I’ll praise you because ≈it’s incredible how my body is made.
Everything ≈you do is wonderful.
My inner being knows that very well.
15 My bones weren’t hidden from you when I was made in private—
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All ≈my history was already recorded in your book
even before ≈any of those days had started.
17 Your thoughts are so precious to me, God.
≈They add up to something incredible.
18 If I counted them, there’d be more than the sand grains.
When I wake up, I’m still with you.
19 If only you’d kill the wicked, God.
And you ≈violent men, get away from me
20 because they speak against you ≈due to their evil desires—
your enemies ≈lie about you.
21 Yahweh, I ≈certainly hate those who hate you.
I despise those who ≈rebel against you.
22 I hate them completely—
they’ve become my enemies.
23 Examine me, God, and know my ≈inner feelings.
≈Test me and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me on the ≈timeless path.
↑ 139 For_the_choir_director of_Dāvid a_song\f + \fr 139:1 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
139.
1\f* Oh_YHWH searched_me and_known.
2 You you_know sit_down_I and_rise_up_I you_understand to_thoughts_of_my from_afar.
3 Path_my and_lying_down_my you_sift and_all ways_of_my you_know_intimately.
4 If/because there_is_not a_message in/on/at/with_tongue_of_my there Oh_YHWH you_know completely_of_it.
5 Back_part and_before hem_in_me and_laid upon_me hand_of_your.
6 is_too_wonderful\f + \fr 139:6 \ft OSHB variant note: פלאיה: (x-qere) ’פְּלִ֣יאָֽה’: lemma_6383 morph_HAafsa id_193jA פְּלִ֣יאָֽה\f* knowledge too_for_me it_is_set_on_high not I_am_able to/for_her/it.
7 Where will_I_go from_spirit_of_your and_where from_presence_of_your will_I_flee.
8 If I_will_ascend heavens are_there you and_make_bed Shəʼōl there_you.
9 I_will_rise_up the_wings_of dawn I_dwell in_end/latter the_sea.
10 Also there hand_of_your lead_me and_hold_me right_hand_of_your.
11 And_say surely darkness cover_me and_night the_light around_me.
12 Also darkness not it_is_too_dark to_you and_night as_the_day it_shines as/like as_the.
13 If/because you you_created inward_parts_of_my knit_together_me in/on/at/with_womb_of mother’s_of_my.
14 Praise_you on if/because awesome I_am_wonderful are_wonderful works_of_your and_soul_of_my is_knowing exceedingly.
15 Not it_was_hidden frame_of_my from_you who I_was_made in/on/at/with_secret I_was_formed in/on/at/with_depths_of the_earth.
16 Formless_of_my eyes_of_your they_saw and_in book_of_your all_of_them they_were_written days which_they_were_ordained and_before\f + \fr 139:16 \ft OSHB variant note: ו/לא: (x-qere) ’וְ/ל֖/וֹ’: lemma_c/l morph_HC/R/Sp3ms id_19xxE וְ/ל֖/וֹ\f* one in/on/at/with_them.
17 And_to_me how they_are_precious thoughts_of_your Oh_god how sum_of_them they_are_vast.
18 Count_them than_sand more I_awoke and_still_I with_you.
19 If you_will_kill Oh_god the_wicked and_men_of blood(s) depart from_me.
20 those_who speak_you with_evil_intent they_lift_up in_the_vain enemies_of_your.
21 Am_not hate_of_you Oh_YHWH do_I_hate and_in/on/at/with_rise_up_against_of_you do_I_feel_loathing.
22 Completeness_of hatred hate_them as_enemies they_have_become to_me.
23 Search_me Oh_god and_know heart_of_my test_me and_know anxious_thoughts_of_my.
24 And_see if a_way_of an_idol in/on/at/with_me and_lead_me in/on/at/with_way_of antiquity.
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