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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.
40:1 A song praising Yahweh
Thanksgiving for Deliverance and Prayer for Help; A Song of Praise
For the musical director: a song by David.
For the leader: for David: a psalm; For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.; To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.; For the choir director: A psalm of David.
40 I waited patiently for Yahweh to help me.
He listened to me and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up out of a horrible pit in the sticky clay,
→and he set my feet on a rock and made my steps secure.
3 He’s ≈given me a new song to sing, praise to our God.
Many will see it and honour him
≈and will trust in Yahweh.
4 ≈The person who trusts Yahweh will prosper
and doesn’t honour proud >people
or those who go astray and follow lies.
5 Yahweh my god, you’ve done many wonderful things,
and your thoughts about us can’t be numbered.
If I declared and spoke about them,
they would be too many to count.
6 ≈Sacrifices and offerings don’t give you pleasure,
but you’ve opened my ≈mind.
You didn’t actually want burnt-offerings or sin-offerings.
7 Then said I, “See, I’ve come.
I’m written about in the scroll of the document.
8 I enjoy doing what you want, my god.
Your instructions are ≈on my mind.”
9 I have ≈told everyone in the ≈national assembly ≈about how you always do what is right.
≈Yahweh, you know that ≈I haven’t shied back from doing that.
10 I haven’t hidden your righteousness away in my heart—
I’ve declared your faithfulness and ≈how you saved me.
I haven’t concealed your loyal commitment or your trustworthiness from the ≈national assembly.
11 Don’t ≈stop being merciful towards me, Yahweh.
Let your loyal commitment and your trustworthiness always preserve me.
A Prayer for Help
(Psalm 70)
12 More troubles surround me than I can even count.My disobedience has caught up with me so that I’m no longer able to see anything else.
They’re more than the hairs on my head, and my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, Yahweh, to rescue me.
≈Hurry to help me, Yahweh.
14 Let ≈those who chase me to take my life be ashamed and completely disappointed.
≈Let those who delight in hurting me be turned back and brought to dishonour.
15 Let those who ≈cheer because of my fate be shocked because of their shame.
16 But may all those who seek you celebrate and be glad ≈because of you.
Let everyone who ≈appreciates how you rescued them, say continually, “May Yahweh be praised.”
17 I’m poor and needy, yet my master thinks about me.
↑ 40 For_the_director of_Dāvid a_song.
2 \f + \fr 40:2 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
1\f* patiently_(wait) I_waited_for YHWH and_inclined to_me and_he/it_listened cry_of_my.
3 \f + \fr 40:3 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
2\f* and_brought_up_me from_pit_of roaring out_of_clay_of the_miry and_set on a_rock feet_of_my he_established steps_of_my.
4 \f + \fr 40:4 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
3\f* and_he/it_gave in/on/at/with_mouth_of_my a_song new praise to_god_of_our they_will_see many_people and_fear and_trust in/on/at/with_LORD.
5 \f + \fr 40:5 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
4\f* how_blessed the_man who he_has_made YHWH trust_of_his and_not he_has_turned to proud_people and_go_astray_after_of falsehood.
6 \f + \fr 40:6 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
5\f* many you_have_made you Oh_YHWH god_of_my wonders_of_your and_thoughts_of_your toward_us there_is_not to_compare with_you I_will_declare and_tell they_are_too_numerous too_to_count.
7 \f + \fr 40:7 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
6\f* sacrifice and_offering not you_desired ears you_dug to/for_me burnt_offering and_sin_offering not you_asked_for.
8 \f + \fr 40:8 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
7\f* then I_said here I_have_come in/on/at/with_scroll_of the_book it_is_written of_me.
9 \f + \fr 40:9 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
8\f* to_do will_of_your god_of_my I_desire and_law_of_your\f + \fr 40:9 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.
Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.
\f* in_the_middle heart_of_my.
10 \f + \fr 40:10 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
9\f* I_have_borne_news righteousness in/on/at/with_congregation great here lips_of_my not I_restrain Oh_YHWH you you_know.
11 \f + \fr 40:11 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
10\f* righteousness_of_your not I_have_concealed in_the_middle heart_of_my faithfulness_of_your and_salvation_of_your I_have_spoken not I_have_hidden steadfast_love_of_your and_truth_of_your from_congregation great.
12 \f + \fr 40:12 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
11\f* you Oh_YHWH not you_will_withhold mercy_of_your from_me steadfast_love_of_your and_truth_of_your continually preserve_me.
13 \f + \fr 40:13 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
12\f* if/because they_have_encompassed around_me troubles until there_was_not number overtaken_me iniquities_of_my and_not I_am_able to_see they_are_numerous than_hairs_of my_head and_heart_of_my fails_me.
14 \f + \fr 40:14 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
13\f* be_pleased Oh_YHWH to_deliver_me Oh_YHWH to_help_of_me make_haste.
15 \f + \fr 40:15 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
14\f* may_they_be_ashamed and_confusion altogether life_of_my those_who_seek_of to_take_it may_they_be_turned_back backwards and_humiliated the_people_desirous_of hurt_of_my.
16 \f + \fr 40:16 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
15\f* may_they_be_appalled on the_consequence_of shame_of_their the_say to_me aha\f + \fr 40:16 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.
Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.
\f* aha.
17 \f + \fr 40:17 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
16\f* may_they_exult and_glad in/on/at/with_you all_of seek_of_you may_they_say continually may_he_be_great YHWH those_who_love_of salvation_of_your.
18 \f + \fr 40:18 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
40.
17\f* and_I am_poor and_needy my_master may_he_think to_me help_of_my and_deliverer_of_my you god_of_my do_not delay.
Previous Book (JOB) PSA 39 OET Book index, Intro, and Key PSA 41 Next Book (PRO) FAQs Glossary