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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.
44:1 A prayer for help
A Prayer for Protection; National Lament and Prayer for Help
For the musical director: a song[fn] by Korah’s descendants.
For the leader: for the Korahites: a maskil; For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil; For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.; To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Maskil.
44 God, we have listened with our ears.
Our ancestors have told us about ≈the miracles you did in their ≈time—in the old days.
2 You drove out the other nations ≈with your power, but you planted @our ancestors.
≈You ≈caused suffering for other people groups, but you sent @our ancestors into the land.
3 ≈Yes, they didn’t take over the land with their #swords, and their ≈power didn’t save them,
^but ≈it was your power and your direction, because you were pleased with them.
4 God, you are my king who ≈plans victories for Yakob’s descendants.
5 Through you we will ≈destroy our adversaries.
≈In your name we will trample those who ≈come against us,
6 because I won’t trust in my bow,
7 ≈Yes, you have saved us from our enemies,
≈and have ≈humiliated those who hate us.
8 We’ve boasted in God every day,
and we will praise your name forever. (Instrumental break.)
9 Yet you’ve rejected and humiliated us,
and you don’t go out with our armies.
10 You made us turn back from the enemy,
and those who hate us take plunder for themselves.
11 You’ve made us like sheep ≈to be eaten,
and you scattered us among the nations.
12 You’ve sold your people for ≈virtually nothing—
≈You haven’t profited from their sale.
13 You’ve made us a reproach to our neighbours—
≈a contempt and a scorn to those around us.
14 You made us an insult among the other nations—
≈a shaking of the head among the peoples.
15 My dishonour is ≈on my mind all day,
and my shame has overwhelmed me
16 because of ≈hearing those who taunt and insult me—
facing those vengeful enemies.
17 All of this has come against us,
≈although we haven’t forgotten you and we haven’t violated your agreement.
18 Our heart hasn’t turned back.
Our steps ≡haven’t strayed from your way.
19 ≈But you’ve crushed us out ≈where the jackals live,
and you’ve covered over us with dark blackness.
20 If we’d forgotten the name of our God
and spread out our hands towards a foreign god,
21 wouldn’t God have discovered that
because he even knows our hearts’ secrets?
22 Indeed, because of you we’re killed all day long—
we’re considered to be like sheep to be slaughtered.
23 My master, wake up. Why are you sleeping?
≈Do something—don’t reject us forever.
24 Why do you hide ≈away
and forget our oppression and suffering?
25 ≈Yes, our life has sunk down into the dust—
it just as if ≈we’re lying face down on the ground.
26 ≈Take action as our helper
and ≈buy our freedom for us because of your loyal commitment.
↑ 44 For_the_director of_sons_of of_Qoraḩ a_poem.
2 \f + \fr 44:2 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
1\f* Oh_god in/on/at/with_ears_of_our we_have_heard ancestors_of_our they_have_recounted to/for_us the_deeds which_you_did in/on/at/with_days_of_their in/on/at/with_days_of antiquity.
3 \f + \fr 44:3 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
2\f* you hand_of_your nations you_dispossessed and_planted_them you_did_harm_to peoples and_set_free_them.
4 \f + \fr 44:4 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
3\f* if/because not in/on/at/with_sword_of_their they_took_possession_of the_land and_arm_of_their not it_saved to_them if/because right_hand_of_your and_arm_of_your and_light_of face_of_your if/because delighted_in_them.
5 \f + \fr 44:5 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
4\f* you he king_of_my Oh_god ordain the_victories_of Yaˊₐqoⱱ/(Jacob).
6 \f + \fr 44:6 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
5\f* in/on/at/with_you foes_of_our we_gore in/on/at/with_name_of_your we_tread_down rise_up_of_our.
7 \f + \fr 44:7 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
6\f* if/because not in/on/at/with_bow_of_my I_trust and_sword_of_my not save_me.
8 \f + \fr 44:8 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
7\f* if/because saved_us from_foes_of_our and_hate_of_us you_have_put_to_shame.
9 \f + \fr 44:9 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
8\f* in/on/at/with_god we_have_boasted\f + \fr 44:9 \ft OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.
\f* all_of the_day and_name_of_your to_forever we_will_praise Şelāh.
10 \f + \fr 44:10 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
9\f* also you_have_rejected and_disgraced_us and_not you_have_gone_out in/on/at/with_armies_of_our.
11 \f + \fr 44:11 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
10\f* turn_us backwards from the_foe and_hate_of_us they_have_plundered for_themselves.
12 \f + \fr 44:12 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
11\f* made_us like_sheep_of food and_in/on/at/with_nations scattered_us.
13 \f + \fr 44:13 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
12\f* you_have_sold people_of_your in/on/at/with_nothing wealth and_not you_have_made_great in/on/at/with_sale_of_their.
14 \f + \fr 44:14 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
13\f* made_us a_reproach to_neighbours_of_our mockery and_scorn to_around_of_us.
15 \f + \fr 44:15 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
14\f* made_us a_byword in/on/at/with_nations a_shaking_of head not peoples.
16 \f + \fr 44:16 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
15\f* all_of the_day disgrace_of_my before_me and_shame_of face_of_my covered_me.
17 \f + \fr 44:17 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
16\f* because_of_taunts_of one_who_taunts and_reviler from_face/in_front_of an_enemy and_avenger.
18 \f + \fr 44:18 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
17\f* all_of this happened_us and_not forgotten_you and_not we_had_dealt_falsely in/on/at/with_covenant_of_your.
19 \f + \fr 44:19 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
18\f* not backwards it_had_turned_back heart_of_our steps_of_our and_strayed from way_of_your.
20 \f + \fr 44:20 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
19\f* if/because crushed_us in/on/at/with_haunt_of jackals and_covered over_us in/on/at/with_deep_darkness.
21 \f + \fr 44:21 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
20\f* if we_had_forgotten the_name_of god_of_our and_spread_out hands_of_our to_god strange.
22 \f + \fr 44:22 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
21\f* not god will_he_search_out this if/because he is_knowing the_secrets_of the_heart.
23 \f + \fr 44:23 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
22\f* if/because for_sake_you we_have_been_killed all_of the_day we_have_been_regarded as_sheep_of slaughter.
24 \f + \fr 44:24 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
23\f* awake to/for_what do_you_sleep my_master rouse do_not reject_us to_forever.
25 \f + \fr 44:25 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
24\f* to/for_what face_of_your do_you_hide do_you_forget affliction_of_our and_oppression_of_our.
26 \f + \fr 44:26 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
25\f* if/because it_has_sunk_down to_the_dust soul_of_our it_has_clung to_the_ground bodies_of_our.
27 \f + \fr 44:27 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
44.
26\f* rise_up help_of to/for_ourselves and_redeem_us for_the_sake_of steadfast_love_of_your.
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