Song (Psalm) 56

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

56:1 The praying due trusting of God

A Prayer of Trust in God; Trust in God under Persecution

For the musical director: a song[fn] by David, written when the Philistines captured him at Gat.[ref] To be sung to the tune of “A dove on distant oak trees”.

For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath. To be sung to the tune “Dove on Distant Oaks.”; To the leader: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. Of David. A Miktam, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.; For the leader: set to ‘The Dove of the Distant Oaks’: for David: a miktam (when the Philistines seized him in Gath); For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. Amiktam. When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

56 Be merciful to me, God, because men are attacking me.

Those who fight me press their assault all day long.

2 My enemies trample me all day long,

because there are many who proudly fight against me.

3 ≈Any time I’m afraid, I’ll put my trust in you—4 in God, whose message I praise.

≈I’ve put my trust in God—I won’t be afraid of what ≈people can do to me?

5 All day long they twist my words.

≈They’re always thinking about how to harm me.

6 They conspire then lie hidden—watching my steps

as they just wait for the opportunity to take my life.

7 Don’t let them escape ≈when they’ve done evil things.

In your anger, God, bring down those people groups.