Song (Psalm) 39

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

39:1 The telling of sin of person suffering

The Confession of a Sufferer; Prayer for Wisdom and Forgiveness

For the musical director: A song by David for Yedutun.

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.; For the leader: for Jeduthun: a psalm: for David; To the leader: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.; For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.

39 I ≈decided that I’ll watch what I say

so that I won’t sin with my ≈lips.

I’ll muzzle my mouth while in the presence of evil >people.

2 I ≈kept silent.

I ≈refrained even from saying anything good, and my pain ≈grew worse.

3 My heart became hot when I thought about these things.

≈It burnt like a fire, then finally I spoke.

4 “Yahweh, make me know when the end of my life will be

≈and the extent of my days.

Let me see how transient I am.

5 See, you’ve made my days only ≈the width of my hand,

and my lifetime is like nothing in your sight.

Surely all of humanity is just a single breath. (Instrumental break.)

6 Surely every person walks around like a shadow.

Surely everyone hurries about to accumulate riches ≈although #they don’t know who’ll ≈inherit them.

7 Now, my master, what am I waiting for?

→My hope is in you.

8 Rescue me from my disobedience.

Don’t ≈allow fools to be able to mock me.

9 I ≈can’t speak and can’t even open my mouth,

because it’s you who has done it.

10 ≈Stop wounding me.

I’m ≈overwhelmed by the blow of your hand.

11 When you discipline people for disobedience,

like a moth, you consume the things they value.

Surely all people are nothing but vapour. (Instrumental break.)

12 Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and my call for help.

≈Listen to my ≈weeping.

Don’t be deaf to me,

because I’m like a foreigner with you—a refugee like all my ancestors were.

13 ≈Stop staring at me so that I can smile again

before I ≈die.

↑ 39  For_the_director for_Yədūtūn/(Jeduthun)\f + \fr 39:1 \ft OSHB variant note: ל/ידיתון: (x-qere) ’לִֽ/ידוּת֗וּן’: lemma_l/3038 n_1 morph_HR/Np id_19FYp לִֽ/ידוּת֗וּן\f* a_song of_Dāvid.