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Song (Psalm) 38

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.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

38:1 The requesting of person suffering

The Prayer of a Sufferer; A Penitent Sufferer’s Plea for Healing

A song by David for the memorial offering.

A psalm of David, to bring us to the Lord’s remembrance.; A psalm: for David: for commemoration; A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.; A psalm of David. A petition.

38 Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your anger.

≈Don’t punish me in your rage,

2 because your arrows pierce me,

≈and your hand presses me down.

3 ≈My whole body is weak because of your anger.

There’s no health in my bones because of my ≈disobedience,

4 because my sins overwhelm me.

They’re a burden that’s too heavy for me.

5 My festering wounds ≈smell bad

because of my foolish behaviour.

6 I’m stooped over and humiliated every day.

I go about mourning all day long,

7 because I have burning pain in my ≈bowels.

≈My body just isn’t healthy.

8 I’m numb and completely crushed.

I groan because of the anguish in my heart.

9 My master, you understand my heart’s deepest longings,

≈and my groanings aren’t hidden from you.

10 My heart pounds,

≈my strength fades,

and my eyesight dims.

11 My friends and companions shun me because of my condition.

My relatives ≈keep their distance.

12 Those who ≈want me dead lay snares for me.

They who ≈desire harm for me speak destructive words

and say ≈sprout treachery all day long.

13 But as for me, I’m like a deaf man who can’t hear.

≈I’m like a mute man who says nothing.

14 I’m like a man who can’t hear

and so ≈can’t so anything in my defence

15 ≈but instead I wait for you, Yahweh.

→My master God, you’ll answer me

16 because I ≈prayed, “Hear me, so that they won’t gloat over me.

If my foot slips, they’ll do terrible things to me,

17 because I’m about to stumble,

and ≈I’m in constant pain.

18 I confess my guilt.

≈I’m anxious because of my sin.

19 My enemies are numerous.

≈Those who hate me wrongfully are many.

20 They repay me with evil for good.

≈They hurl accusations at me although I ≈try to do what’s good.

21 Don’t abandon me, Yahweh.

My God, don’t be distant from me.

22 Come quickly to help me,

my master ≈who saves me.

38A_song of_Dāvid for_memorial_offering.

2 \f + \fr 38:2 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

1\f* Oh_YHWH do_not in/on/at/with_anger_of_your rebuke_me and_in/on/at/with_severe_anger_of_your discipline_me.

3 \f + \fr 38:3 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

2\f* if/because arrows_of_your they_have_penetrated in/on/at/with_me and_pressed_down on_me hand_of_your.

4 \f + \fr 38:4 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

3\f* there_is_not soundness in/on/at/with_flesh_of_my from_face/in_front_of indignation_of_your there_is_not health in/on/at/with_bones_of_my from_face/in_front_of sin_of_my.

5 \f + \fr 38:5 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

4\f* if/because iniquities_of_my they_have_passed_over my_head like_burden heavy they_are_too_heavy too_for_me.

6 \f + \fr 38:6 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

5\f* they_stink they_fester wounds_of_my from_face/in_front_of foolishness_of_my.

7 \f + \fr 38:7 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

6\f* I_am_bent_down I_am_bent_over up_to muchness all_of the_day mourning I_have_gone_about.

8 \f + \fr 38:8 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

7\f* if/because loins_of_my they_are_full burning_pain and_there_is_no soundness in/on/at/with_flesh_of_my.

9 \f + \fr 38:9 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

8\f* I_am_numb and_crushed up_to muchness I_roar because_of_anguish_of heart_of_my.

10 \f + \fr 38:10 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

9\f* my_master before_you all_of longing_of_my and_sighing_of_my from_you not it_is_hidden.

11 \f + \fr 38:11 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

10\f* heart_of_my it_palpitates fails_me strength_of_my and_light_of eyes_of_my also they not from_me.

12 \f + \fr 38:12 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

11\f* companions_of_my and_friends_of_my from_before affliction_of_my they_stand and_relatives_of_my at_distance they_have_stood.

13 \f + \fr 38:13 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

12\f* and_lay_snares life_of_my those_who_seek_of and_seek_of harm_of_me they_have_spoken destruction(s) and_treachery all_of the_day they_devise.

14 \f + \fr 38:14 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

13\f* and_I like_deaf not I_hear and_like_mute who_not he_opens mouth_of_his.

15 \f + \fr 38:15 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

14\f* and_am like_man who not is_hearing and_no in/on/at/with_mouth_of_whose arguments.

16 \f + \fr 38:16 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

15\f* if/because to/for_yourself(m) Oh_YHWH I_have_waited you you_will_answer my_master god_of_my.

17 \f + \fr 38:17 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

16\f* if/because I_said lest they_should_rejoice to_me in/on/at/with_slips foot_of_my against_me they_magnified_themselves.

18 \f + \fr 38:18 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

17\f* if/because I to_fall am_prepared and_pain_of_my with_me continually.

19 \f + \fr 38:19 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

18\f* if/because my_perversity/evil/guilt/punishment I_tell I_am_anxious because_of_sin_of_my.

20 \f + \fr 38:20 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

19\f* and_enemies_of_my life they_are_numerous and_many hate_of_me falsehood.

21 \f + \fr 38:21 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

20\f* and_repay_of (of)_evil in_place_of good accuse_me in_place_of follow_I\f + \fr 38:21 \ft OSHB variant note: רדופ/י: (x-qere) ’רָֽדְפִ/י’: lemma_7291 morph_HVqc/Sp1cs id_19MMh רָֽדְפִ/י\f* good.

22 \f + \fr 38:22 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

21\f* do_not abandon_me Oh_YHWH god_of_my do_not be_distant from_me.

23 \f + \fr 38:23 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

38.

22\f* make_haste to_help_of_me my_master salvation_of_my.

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