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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.
55:1 A prayer for a person betrayed by a friend
Complaint about a Friend’s Treachery; The Prayer of Someone Betrayed by a Friend
For the musical director: a song[fn] by David ≈to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
For the leader: on stringed instruments: a maskil: for David; For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.; To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.; For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David.
2 Pay attention to me and answer me.
I’m restless and overwhelmed by my problems
3 because of ≈what my enemy is saying.
Yes, because of the oppression by wicked >people—
because they bring trouble on me and angrily persecute me.
4 My ≈stomach has gone into a knot,
≈and thoughts of death ≈terrify me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have ≈hit me,
≈and horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, if only I had wings like a dove
→then I’d fly away and ≈find a peaceful place.
7 See, then I would wander far away.
≈I would stay in the wilderness. (Instrumental break.)
8 I would hurry to a safe spot,
≈away from the stormy wind and tempest.”
9 Confuse them, my master, ≈so their words don’t make sense,
because I’ve seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they ≈wander around @the city walls.
Wickedness and trouble are in the middle of it.
11 Destruction is ≈right there among it,
≈and oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace,
12 because it wasn’t an enemy who taunted me. (Then I could have borne it.)
≈It wasn’t my opponent who set himself up against me. (Then I would have hidden myself from him.)
13 But it was you—a man ≈of similar status to myself.
≈My companion and close friend.
14 We’d had ≈good times together.
We’d walked among the crowd in God’s residence.
15 Let death ≈hit them suddenly.
Let them go down alive to Sheol,
because wickedness is where they live, right among them.
16 As for me, I’ll ≈trust God to help me,
17 I complain and moan morning, noon, and evening.
→He will hear my voice.
18 He’ll peacefully ≈rescue my life from those who approach me,
because there’s many who fight ≈against me.
19 God, the one who’s ≈ruled from eternity, will hear them and answer them with what they deserve. (Instrumental break.)
They never change, and they don’t ≈respect God.
20 @My friend ≈took action against those who were at peace with him.
≈He hasn’t respected the agreement that #we had.
21 His mouth was as smooth as butter, ≈but his heart was hostile.
His words were softer than oil, ≈but they were actually drawn swords.
22 ≈Give your problems to Yahweh, and he’ll sustain you.
He’ll never allow a righteous person to ≈be toppled.
23 ≈But you, God, will send the wicked down into the pit of destruction.
Bloodthirsty and deceitful people won’t live even half as long as others,
≈but I will trust in you.
↑ 55 For_the_director in/on/at/with_stringed_instruments a_poem of_Dāvid.
2 \f + \fr 55:2 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
1\f* give_ear Oh_god prayer_of_my and_not hide_yourself from_plea_of_my.
3 \f + \fr 55:3 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
2\f* attend to/for_me and_answer_me I_am_restless in/on/at/with_complaint_of_my and_distraught.
4 \f + \fr 55:4 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
3\f* because_of_voice_of an_enemy from_face/in_front_of the_pressure_of the_wicked if/because they_drop upon_me wickedness and_in/on/at/with_anger bear_a_grudge_against_me.
5 \f + \fr 55:5 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
4\f* heart_of_my it_trembles in/on/at/with_within_of_me and_terrors_of death they_have_fallen upon_me.
6 \f + \fr 55:6 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
5\f* fear and_trembling it_comes in/on/at/with_me and_overwhelmed_me shuddering.
7 \f + \fr 55:7 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
6\f* and_said who will_he_give to/for_me wings like_a_dove I_want_to_fly_away and_at_rest.
8 \f + \fr 55:8 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
7\f* here I_want_to_be_far_away to_flee I_want_to_lodge in/on/at/with_wilderness Şelāh.
9 \f + \fr 55:9 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
8\f* I_want_to_make_haste a_place_of_escape to_me from_wind rushing from_storm.
10 \f + \fr 55:10 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
9\f* confuse my_master divide speech_of_their if/because I_have_seen violence and_strife in/on/at/with_city.
11 \f + \fr 55:11 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
10\f* by_day and_night go_around_it on walls_of_its and_iniquity and_trouble in/on/at/with_midst_of_it.
12 \f + \fr 55:12 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
11\f* destruction(s) in/on/at/with_midst_of_it and_not it_departs from_marketplace_of_its oppression and_deceit.
13 \f + \fr 55:13 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
12\f* if/because not an_enemy taunts_me and_bear not foe_of_me against_me he_magnified_himself and_hide from_him.
14 \f + \fr 55:14 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
13\f* and_you(ms) a_man like_equal_of_my companion_of_my and_familiar_friend_of_my.
15 \f + \fr 55:15 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
14\f* who together we_made_sweet counsel in_house_of god we_walked_about in/on/at/with_throng.
16 \f + \fr 55:16 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
15\f* may_it_deceive\f + \fr 55:16 \ft OSHB variant note: ישימות: (x-qere) ’יַשִּׁ֤י’: lemma_5377 morph_HVhj3ms id_19LQP יַשִּׁ֤י ’מָ֨וֶת’: lemma_4194 n_1.
0.
0 morph_HNcmsa id_19aiP מָ֨וֶת׀ ׀\f* upon_them may_they_go_down Shəʼōl alive if/because evil_deeds in/on/at/with_homes_of_their in/on/at/with_heart_of_their.
17 \f + \fr 55:17 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
16\f* I to god I_will_call_out and_LORD save_me.
18 \f + \fr 55:18 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
17\f* evening and_morning and_noon I_will_complain and_moan and_he/it_listened my_sound/voice.
19 \f + \fr 55:19 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
18\f* he_will_ransom in/on/at/with_peace soul_of_my from_battle to_me if/because in/on/at/with_many they_are with_me.
20 \f + \fr 55:20 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
19\f* he_will_hear god and_answer_them and_enthroned antiquity Şelāh whom there_are_not changes they_they and_not they_fear god.
21 \f + \fr 55:21 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
20\f* he_stretched_out hands_of_his in/on/at/with_friends_of_his he_violated covenant_of_his.
22 \f + \fr 55:22 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
21\f* they_were_smooth the_creamy_things_of speech_of_his and_war his/its_heart messages_of_his they_were_soft than_oil and_they were_drawn_swords.
23 \f + \fr 55:23 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
22\f* throw on YHWH burden_of_your and_he sustain_you not he_will_permit to_forever shaking of_the_righteous.
24 \f + \fr 55:24 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
55.
23\f* and_you(ms) Oh_god bring_down_them to_pit_of the_pit people_of blood(s) and_deceit not they_will_divide_in_half days_of_their and_I I_will_trust on/over_you(fs).
Previous Book (JOB) PSA 54 OET Book index, Intro, and Key PSA 56 Next Book (PRO) FAQs Glossary