Song (Psalm) 42

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

42:1 Hope when depressed

The Prayer of Someone in Exile; Longing for God and His Help in Distress

For the musical director: a song[fn] by Korah’s descendants.

To the leader. A Maskil of the Korahites.; For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.; For the leader: a maskil: for the Korahites; For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

42 As a deer thirsts for streams of water,

so too my soul longs for you, God.

2 My soul thirsts for God—for the living God.

When will I go and appear before God?

3 My tears are my food day and night,

as people are ≈asking me every day, “Where’s your God?”

4 These things I remember, and I pour out my soul within myself.

I travelled with the crowd and accompanied them to God’s residence

with shouts of joy and praise—a multitude celebrating a festival.

5 Why are you bowed down, my soul,

and upset within me?

Put your hope in God, because I’ll praise him again—

≡praise him for ≈how my God’s presence leads to my being saved.

6 My soul is bowed down within me,

therefore I remember you from the land of the Yordan river

and Mt. Hermon’s heights and from Mt. Mizar.

7 Deep is calling to deep with the ≈roar of your waterfalls;

All your waves and gusts flow over me.

8 During the day, Yahweh ≈exercises his loyal commitment,

and in the night, his song is with me—

a prayer to the God ≈who gave me life.

9 I’ll ≈ask God, my ≈place of safety, “Why have you forgotten me?

Why do I walk around mourning because of an enemy’s oppression?”

10 When those who are hostile to me rebuke me, ≈asking me all day long, “Where’s your God?”

≈it feels like my bones are crushed.

11 My soul, why are you bowed down?

≈And why are you upset within me?

Put your hope in God, because I’ll thank him again—

≈my God’s presence leads to my being saved.

↑ 42  For_the_director a_poem of_sons_of of_Qoraḩ.

2 \f + \fr 42:2 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

42.

1\f* as_deer which_it_pants towards channels_of water so soul_of_my it_pants for_you Oh_god.

3 \f + \fr 42:3 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

42.

2\f* soul_of_my it_is_thirsty for_god for_god living when will_I_go and_appear the_presence_of god.

4 \f + \fr 42:4 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

42.

3\f* it_has_been to/for_me tears_of_my food by_day and_night in/on/at/with_say to_me all_of the_day where god_of_your.

5 \f + \fr 42:5 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

42.

4\f* these_things I_will_remember and_pour_out within_me soul_of_my if/because_that I_passed_on in/on/at/with_throng leading_them to the_house_of god in/on/at/with_shouts_of a_shout_of_joy and_thanksgiving a_multitude celebrating_a_festival.

6 \f + \fr 42:6 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

42.

5\f* why are_you_bowed_down soul_of_my and_disturbed within_me wait in_god if/because again praise_him the_salvation(s)_of his/its_faces/face.

7 \f + \fr 42:7 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

42.

6\f* god_of_my within_me soul_of_my it_is_bowed_down on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in yes/correct/thus/so remember_you from_land_of the_Yardēn/(Jordan) and_heights_of_Ḩermōn from_hill Mizar.

8 \f + \fr 42:8 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

42.

7\f* deep to deep is_calling to_sound/voice waterfalls_of_your all_of breakers_of_your and_waves_of_your over_me they_have_passed.

9 \f + \fr 42:9 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

42.

8\f* by_day YHWH he_commands steadfast_love_of_his and_in_the_night song_of_his\f + \fr 42:9 \ft OSHB variant note: שיר/ה: (x-qere) ’שִׁיר֣/וֹ’: lemma_7892 a morph_HNcbsc/Sp3ms id_196iZ שִׁיר֣/וֹ\f* with_me a_prayer to_god_of life_of_my.

10 \f + \fr 42:10 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

42.

9\f* I_will_say to_god rock_of_my to/for_why forgotten_me to/for_what mourning do_I_walk in/on/at/with_oppression_of an_enemy.

11 \f + \fr 42:11 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

42.

10\f* in/on/at/with_shattering in/on/at/with_bones_of_my taunt_me adversaries_of_my in/on/at/with_say_they to_me all_of the_day where god_of_your.

12 \f + \fr 42:12 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

42.

11\f* why are_you_bowed_down soul_of_my and_why are_you_in_turmoil within_me wait in_god if/because again praise_him the_salvation(s)_of countenance_of_my and_god_of_my.