Song (Psalm) 51

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

51:1 A prayer for forgiveness

Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon; A Prayer for Forgiveness

For the musical director: a song by David from when the prophet Natan had gone to him after David had committed adultery with Bat-Sheva.

For the leader: a psalm: for David (when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had taken Bathsheba); For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.; For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.; To the leader. A Psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

51 Have mercy on me, God, because of your loyal commitment.

≈Blot out my disobedience, ≈because you’re so merciful.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity

≈and make me clean from my sin

3 because I’m ≈aware of my transgressions,

≈and my sin is always ≈on my mind.

4 It’s you and only you that I’ve sinned against,

≈and done what’s evil in your sight.

You are right when you speak.

≈You are correct when you judge.

5 ≈Yes, I was born in iniquity.

≈As soon as my mother conceived me, I was in sin.