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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.
59:1 A prayer for safety
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies; A Prayer for Safety
For the musical director: a song[fn] by David written when King Shaul (Saul) had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. To be sung to the tune of ‘Don’t destroy’.
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. Amiktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.; To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when Saul ordered his house to be watched in order to kill him.; For the leader: set to ‘Destroy not’: for David: a miktam (when Saul sent men to keep watch on David’s house to kill him); For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Saul sent soldiers to watch David’s house in order to kill him. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”
59 Rescue me from my enemies, my God.
≈Protect me from those who ≈want to attack me.
2 Keep me safe from ≈those who do evil,
≈and save me from the bloodthirsty men.
3 For, see, they wait in ambush to take my life.
Fierce men gather themselves together against me,
but not because of my ≈disobedience or my sin, Yahweh.
4 They prepare to rush me even though I’ve ≈done nothing wrong.
Wake up and look, and help me.
5 You, army commander Yahweh, the God of Yisrael,
≈Take action and punish all the nations.
Don’t be merciful to any ≈wicked people who’ve been treacherous. (Instrumental break.)
6 They return in the evening, growling like dogs
7 Wow, they belch out with their mouths.
≈≈They use their lips like daggers
because they say, “Who can hear us?”
8 But Yahweh, you laugh at them—
≈you mock all the pagan nations.
9 God, my strength, I’ll pay attention to you.
You are my high fortress.
10 My God will meet me with his loyal commitment.
God will allow me to see my enemies defeated.
11 Don’t just kill them, or my people will forget.
≈Use your power to scatter them and make them fall, my master, our shield.
12 ≈Despite their pride, let them be caught
for the sins of their mouths and the words of their lips,
and for the curses and lies that they express.
13 Eliminate them in your anger
≈Consume them so that they’ll no longer exist.
Let them know that God rules in Yakov (Jacob),
→and to the ends of the earth. (Instrumental break.)
howling like dogs prowling around the city.
15 They wander around looking for food
and they growl if they’re not satisfied.
16 ≈But I’ll sing about your strength,
≈and in the morning I’ll sing about your loyal commitment.
because you’ve been my high fortress
≈and a ≈place of safety at the time of my distress.
17 To you, my strength, I’ll sing praises
because God is my high fortress—the God who demonstrates loyal commitment.
↑ 59 For_the_director al- tashcheth of_Dāvid a_miktam in/on/at/with_sent Shāʼūl/(Saul) and_watched DOM the_house in_order_to_kill_him.
2 \f + \fr 59:2 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
1\f* deliver_me from_enemies_of_my god_of_my from_rise_up_of_me protect_me.
3 \f + \fr 59:3 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
2\f* deliver_me from_work_of (of)_wickedness and_from_men_of blood(s) save_me.
4 \f + \fr 59:4 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
3\f* if/because here they_lie_in_wait for_life_of_my they_stir_up_trouble against_me fierce_people not transgression_of_my and_not sin_of_mine Oh_YHWH.
5 \f + \fr 59:5 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
4\f* not iniquity run and_ready awake to_help_me and_see.
6 \f + \fr 59:6 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
5\f* and_you(ms) Oh_YHWH god hosts the_god_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) rouse to_punish all_of the_nations do_not show_favour_to all_of those_who_act_treacherously_of wickedness Şelāh.
7 \f + \fr 59:7 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
6\f* they_return at_the_evening they_growl like_a_dogs and_prowling_about the_city.
8 \f + \fr 59:8 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
7\f* here spew in/on/at/with_mouths_of_their swords in/on/at/with_lips_of_their if/because who is_hearing.
9 \f + \fr 59:9 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
8\f* and_you(ms) Oh_YHWH you_laugh at_them you_mock to/from_all/each/any/every the_nations.
10 \f + \fr 59:10 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
9\f* strength_of_his for_you I_will_watch if/because god stronghold_of_my.
11 \f + \fr 59:11 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
10\f* the_god_of steadfast_love_of_my\f + \fr 59:11 \ft OSHB variant note: חסד/ו: (x-qere) ’חַסְדִּ֣/י’: lemma_2617 a morph_HNcmsc/Sp1cs id_19CmJ חַסְדִּ֣/י\f* meet_me god look_me in/on/at/with_enemies_of_my.
12 \f + \fr 59:12 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
11\f* do_not kill_them lest people_of_my they_should_forget totter_them in/on/at/with_power_of_your and_bring_down_them shield_of_our my_master.
13 \f + \fr 59:13 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
12\f* the_sin_of mouths_of_their the_message_of lips_of_their and_caught in/on/at/with_pride_of_their and_for_curses and_for_lies which_they_speak.
14 \f + \fr 59:14 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
13\f* make_an_end in/on/at/with_severe_anger make_an_end and_no_more_they and_know if/because_that god is_ruling in/on/at/with_Yaˊₐqoⱱ/(Jacob) to_ends_of the_earth/land Şelāh.
15 \f + \fr 59:15 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
14\f* and_return at_the_evening they_growl like_a_dogs and_prowling_about the_city.
16 \f + \fr 59:16 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
15\f* they wander_about\f + \fr 59:16 \ft OSHB variant note: ינועו/ן: (x-qere) ’יְנִיע֣וּ/ן’: lemma_5128 morph_HVhi3mp/Sn id_199Hn יְנִיע֣וּ/ן\f* for_food if not they_are_satisfied and_growl.
17 \f + \fr 59:17 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
16\f* and_I I_will_sing strength_of_your and_sing_aloud in_the_morning steadfast_love_of_your if/because you_have_been a_refuge to_me and_refuge in/on_day when_it_is_distress to_me.
18 \f + \fr 59:18 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
59.
17\f* strength_of_my to_you I_will_sing_praises if/because god stronghold_of_my the_god_of steadfast_love_of_my.
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