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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.
35:1 Requesting Yahweh’s help
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies; A Prayer for Help
A song by David.
For David; A psalm of David.; Of David.
35 Yahweh, work against those who work against me.
≈Fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take hold of your shield and your ≈arm protector,
and come to help me.
3 Use your spear and battle ax against those who chase me.
Tell my soul, “I’m ≈here to save you.”
4 May those who seek my life be shamed and dishonoured.
≈Cause those who plan to harm me to be turned back and confused.
5 May they become like chaff ≈blown around by the wind,
as Yahweh’s messenger drives them away.
6 May their path be dark and slippery,
as Yahweh’s messenger chases after them.
7 They set their net for me ≈for no good reason.
≈Without cause they dug a pit ≈to take my life.
8 Let destruction overtake them by surprise.
Let their own net that they set, catch them—
let them fall to their destruction in it.
9 ≈But I’ll be happy about Yahweh
and ≈celebrate because he saves me.
10 All my bones will say, “Yahweh, who is like you,
who rescues the oppressed >people from those who are too strong for #them
and the poor and needy from those who try to rob #them?”
11 Violent accusers ≈come out of the woodwork
asking me about things that I know nothing about.
12 They repay me with evil for good—
≈I feel like I’m dying on the inside.
13 When they were sick, I wore sackcloth
as I fasted for them and prayed with my head bowed on my chest.
14 I went about in grief as if it was my brother.
≈I bowed my head in mourning as if it was my mother.
15 But any time that I stumbled, they were pleased and gathered together.
They gathered together against me without me knowing.
They tore at me without stopping.
16 ?≈With no respect at all, they mocked me.
They grind their teeth at me in rage.
17 My master, how much longer will you just look on for?
Rescue my soul from their ≈destructive attacks—
≈my life from the lions.
18 Then I’ll thank you ≈when everyone’s gathered together.
≈I’ll praise you ≈in front of many people.
19 Don’t let my deceitful enemies celebrate over my loses.
Don’t let those who hate me for no reason wink ≈at each other,
20 because they don’t talk peaceably,
≈but they devise deceitful stories against those in our land who live in peace.
21 They open their mouths wide against me,
having said, “Aha, Aha, our own eyes have seen it.”
22 You’ve seen it, Yahweh, don’t be silent.
≈My master, don’t be distant from me.
23 Arouse yourself and awake to my defence.
≈My God and my master, ≡defend my cause.
24 Yahweh, my god, vindicate me because ≈you always do what is right.
Don’t let @my enemies ≈celebrate over my defeat.
25 Don’t let them say ≈to themselves, “Aha, we got what we wanted.”
≈Don’t let them say, “We’ve ≈obliterated him.”
26 Let anyone who’s happy at my distress be put to shame and become confused.
≈Let those who ≈think they’re better than me be clothed with shame and dishonour.
27 Let those who desire my vindication shout happily and be glad.
May they continually say, “Yahweh be praised—
he who ≈gladly ensues the welfare of his servant.”
28 Then I’ll tell >others about your justice
and praise you all day long.
↑ 35 Of_Dāvid\f + \fr 35:1 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
35.
1\f* contend Oh_YHWH with who_contend_of_me fight with fight_of_me.
2 Take_hold_of shield and_buckler and_rise_up in/on/at/with_aid_of_my.
3 And_draw a_spear and_javelin to_meet pursue_of_me say to_soul_of_my salvation_of_your I.
4 May_they_be_ashamed and_humiliated those_who_seek_of life_of_my may_they_be_turned_back backwards and_ashamed those_who_plot_of evil_of_me.
5 May_they_be like_chaff to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before a_wind and_messenger_of YHWH be_pushing.
6 May_it_be way_of_their darkness and_slippery and_messenger_of YHWH pursuing_of_them.
7 If/because without_cause they_have_hidden to_me the_pit_of net_of_their without_cause they_have_dug for_life_of_my.
8 Come_him devastation which_not he_knows and_net_of_his which he_hid ensnare_him in/on/at/with_ruin may_he_fall in/on/at/with_it.
9 And_soul_of_my it_will_rejoice in/on/at/with_LORD it_will_exult in/on/at/with_salvation_of_his.
10 All_of bones_of_my they_will_say Oh_YHWH who like_you who_delivers a_poor_person from_strong from_him/it and_poor and_needy from_robs_of_him.
11 Rise_up witnesses_of violence that_which not I_know ask_me.
12 Repay_me harm in_place_of good bereavement to_soul_of_my.
13 And_me in/on/at/with_sick_they clothing_of_my was_sackcloth I_humbled in/on/at/with_fasting soul_of_my and_prayer_of_my to bosom_of_my it_returned.
14 As_though_friend as_brother to_me I_went_about as_laments_of a_mother mourning I_bowed.
15 And_in/on/at/with_stumbling_of_my they_rejoiced and_gathered they_gathered against_me stricken_people and_not I_knew they_tore and_not they_were_still.
16 In/on/at/with_ungodly_of mockers_of cake they_gnashed at_me teeth_of_their.
17 My_master until_when will_you_look rescue life_of_my from_ravages_of_their from_lions precious_life_of_my.
18 Give_thanks_you in/on/at/with_assembly great in/on/at/with_people numerous praise_you.
19 Not may_they_rejoice to_me enemies_of_my falsehood hate_of_me without_cause let_them_wink an_eye.
20 If/because not peace they_speak and_against the_quiet_people_of the_land messages_of deceit(s) devise.
21 And_open_wide against_me mouths_of_their they_have_said aha aha it_has_seen eyes_of_our.
22 You_have_seen Oh_YHWH do_not be_silent my_master do_not be_distant from_me.
23 Wake_up and_rise to_defense_of_my god_of_my and_master_of_my for_cause_of_my.
24 Vindicate_me according_to_righteousness_of_your Oh_YHWH god_of_my and_not may_they_rejoice to_me.
25 Not let_them_say in/on/at/with_hearts_of_their aha desire_of_our not may_they_say swallowed_up_him.
26 May_they_be_ashamed and_confusion altogether the_people_joyful_of misfortune_of_my may_they_be_clothed shame and_dishonour the_exalt over_me.
27 May_they_shout_for_joy and_glad the_people_desirous_of vindication_of_my and_say continually may_he_be_great YHWH the_who_delights the_welfare_of servant_of_his.
28 And_tongue_of_my it_will_utter righteousness_of_your all_of the_day praise_of_your.
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