Song (Psalm) 25

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

25:1 The praying so that get to teach

A Prayer for Guidance and Protection; Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance

A song by David.

For David; A psalm of David.; Of David.

א (Alef)

25 I ≈offer my life to you, Yahweh.

ב (Beyt)

2 My God, I trust in you.

Don’t let me be humiliated.

≈Don’t let my enemies ≈defeat me and then celebrate.

ג (Gimel)

3 ≈Don’t let anyone be disgraced because they’d put their trust in you.

On the other hand, may those who act treacherously without cause be ashamed.

ד (Dalet)

4 Make your ways known to me, Yahweh.

≈Teach me your paths.

ה (He)

5 Guide me into your truth and teach me,

because you’re the God ≈who saves me.

I wait all day long ≈to experience your presence.

ו (Vav)

6 ≈Call your acts of compassion and loyal commitment ≈to mind, Yahweh,

because they’ve always existed.

ז (Zayin)

7 Don’t ≈think about my youthful disobedience or my rebelliousness.

≈Call me to mind with loyal commitment because of your goodness, Yahweh.

ח (Het)

8 Yahweh is both honest and good,

therefore he teaches sinners the way.

ט (Tet)

9 He guides the humble in what is right

≈and he teaches *them his way.

י (Yod)

10 All Yahweh’s ways are loyal commitment and faithfulness

to those who keep his agreement and his solemn commands.

כ (Kaf)

11 For the sake of your ≈reputation, Yahweh,

forgive my disobedience because it’s ≈pretty bad.

ל (Lamed)

12 Who are #those who respect Yahweh?

The master will instruct #them in the path that #they should choose.

מ (Mem)

13 #They’ll ≈enjoy a life of goodness,

≈and #their descendants will ≈live peacefully in the land.

נ (Nun)

14 Yahweh’s friendship is for those who respect him,

and he makes his ≈promises known to them.

ס (Samek)

15 My eyes are always on Yahweh,

because he’ll untangle my feet from the net.

ע (Ayin)

16 Turn towards me and have mercy on me,

because I’m alone and suffering.

פ (Pe)

17 ≈My worries keep increasing—

rescue me from my distress.

צ (Tsade)

18 ≈Take note of my suffering and troubles.

Forgive all my sins.

ק (Qof)

19 ≈Look at my enemies because ≈there’s so many of them.

They hate me with cruel hatred.

ר (Resh)

20 Protect my life and rescue me.

Don’t let me be humiliated, because I always take refuge in you.

ש (Sin/Shin)

21 May integrity and ≈godliness preserve me,

because I wait for you to help me.

ת (Tav)

22 Rescue Yisrael, God,

from all its troubles.

↑ 25  Of_Dāvid\f + \fr 25:1 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

25.

1\f* to_you Oh_YHWH soul_of_my I_lift_up.

2 god_of_my in/on/at/with_you I_trust not let_me_be_ashamed not may_they_exult enemies_of_my to_me.

3 Also all_of wait_for_of_you not they_will_be_ashamed they_will_be_ashamed the_treacherous without_cause.

4 ways_of_your Oh_YHWH know_me paths_of_your\f + \fr 25:4 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f* teach_me.

5 Lead_me in/on/at/with_truth_of_your and_teach_me if/because you are_the_god_of salvation_of_my DOM_you I_have_waited_for all_of the_day.

6 Remember compassion_of_your Oh_YHWH and_steadfast_love_of_your if/because from_long_ago/eternity they.

7 The_sins_of youth_of_my and_transgressions_of_my do_not remember according_to_steadfast_love_of_your remember to_me you on_account_of goodness_of_your Oh_YHWH.

8 is_good and_upright YHWH on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in yes/correct/thus/so he_teaches sinners in/on/at/with_way.

9 He_leads humble_people in/on/at/with_what_is_right and_teaches humble_people its_road/course.

10 All_of the_paths_of YHWH are_covenant_loyalty and_faithfulness for_keep_of covenant_of_his and_decrees_of_his.

11 For_the_sake_of name_of_your Oh_YHWH and_forgive to_iniquity_of_my if/because is_great it.

12 Who this the_man (the)_fearing_of (of)_YHWH instruct_him in/on/at/with_way which_he_will_choose.

13 Soul_of_his in/on/at/with_prosperity it_will_remain and_descendants_of_his it_will_possess the_land.

14 The_counsel_of YHWH for_fear_of_him and_covenant_of_his to_known_them.

15 Eyes_of_my continually are_to YHWH if/because he he_will_bring_out of_net feet_of_my.

16 Turn to_me and_gracious_me if/because am_solitary and_afflicted I.

17 The_distresses_of heart_of_my they_have_made_wide of_distresses_of_my bring_out_me.

18 Consider affliction_of_my and_trouble_of_my and_forgive to/from_all/each/any/every sins_of_my.

19 Consider enemies_of_my if/because_that they_have_become_many and_hatred_of violence hate_me.

20 Guard life_of_my and_deliver_me not let_me_be_put_to_shame if/because I_have_taken_refuge in/on/at/with_you.

21 Integrity and_uprightness preserve_me if/because wait_for_you.

22 Redeem Oh_god DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) from_all troubles_of_its.

\f + \fr 25:22 \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*