Previous Book (JOB) PSA 142 OET Book index, Intro, and Key PSA 144 Next Book (PRO) FAQs Glossary
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.
143:1 A prayer to be rescued
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies; A Prayer for Help
A psalm: for David; A psalm of David.; A Psalm of David.
143 Hear my prayer, Yahweh—listen to my requests.
On account of your faithfulness, answer me in your righteousness.
2 Don’t judge me, your servant,
because no living person is innocent anyway.[ref]
3 The enemy has pursued my ≈life.
He’s smashed ≈me into the ground.
He’s forced me to live in darkness like those who’ve been dead a long time.
4 My spirit is getting weaker.
≈My mind is full of despair.
5 I remember the good old days.
I meditate about ≈your activities.
≈I consider all ≈the things you’ve done.
6 I spread my hands out towards you.
≈I long for you like a thirsty person longs for water in the desert. (Instrumental break.)
7 Answer me quickly, Yahweh, because my spirit is weak.
Don’t hide yourself from me or I’ll become like those going down into the pit.
8 Every morning I want to hear about your loyal commitment
because I’ve put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go
because I’ve ≈committed my life to you.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Yahweh—
I ≈trust you as my protector.
10 Teach me to do ≈what you like
because you’re my God.
May your good spirit lead me
out of the valley onto level ground.
11 Yahweh, keep me alive for the sake of your ≈reputation.
Rescue me from trouble because you always ≈do what is right.
12 ≈Apply your loyal commitment and cut off my enemies.
Destroy all those threatening my life, because I’m your servant.
↑ 143 A_song of_Dāvid\f + \fr 143:1 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
143.
1\f* Oh_YHWH hear prayer_of_my listen to supplications_of_my in/on/at/with_faithfulness_of_your answer_me in/on/at/with_righteousness_of_your.
2 And_not go in/on/at/with_judgement with servant_of_your if/because not he_is_righteous to_your_face any_of living_person.
3 If/because he_has_pursued an_enemy soul_of_my he_has_crushed to_the_ground life_of_my dwell_me in/on/at/with_darkness like_dead_of antiquity.
4 And_grows_faint within_me my_breath/wind/spirit in/on/at/with_within_of_me heart_of_my it_is_appalled.
5 I_have_remembered days from_east I_have_muttered in/on/at/with_all_of doings_of_your in/on/at/with_work_of hands_of_your I_meditate.
6 I_have_spread_out hands_of_my to_you soul_of_my like_land exhausted to/for_yourself(m) Şelāh.
7 Hurry answer_me Oh_YHWH my_breath/wind/spirit it_is_exhausted do_not hide face_of_your from_me and_like with those_who_go_down_of the_pit.
8 Hear_me in/on/at/with_morning steadfast_love_of_your if/because in_you(ms) I_have_trusted teach_me the_way which I_will_go if/because to_you I_lift_up soul_of_my.
9 Deliver_me from_enemies_of_my Oh_YHWH in_you I_have_covered.
10 Teach_me to_do will_of_your if/because you god_of_my spirit_of_your good lead_me in_land level_ground.
11 For_the_sake_of name’s_of_your Oh_YHWH preserve_life_my in/on/at/with_righteousness_of_your you_will_bring_out out_of_trouble soul_of_my.
12 And_in/on/at/with_steadfast_love_of_your you_will_destroy enemies_of_my and_destroy all_of the_foes_of soul_of_my if/because I servant_of_your.
Previous Book (JOB) PSA 142 OET Book index, Intro, and Key PSA 144 Next Book (PRO) FAQs Glossary