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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.
69:1 A request for help
Prayer for Deliverance from Persecution; A Cry for Help
For the musical director: a song by David ≈to be sung to the tune of ‘Lilies’.
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.; To the leader: according to Lilies. Of David.; For the leader: set to ‘Lilies’: for David; For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Lilies.”
69 Save me, God, because the waters have reached my neck.
2 I sink in deep mud where there’s nowhere to stand.
≈I have come into deep waters where the floods flow over me.
3 I’m exhausted from my crying for help—my throat is dry.
My eyes have failed while I’ve been waiting for my God.
4 ≈There’s more >people who hate me ≈without even knowing why, than there are hairs on my head.
≈I have many enemies who want to destroy me, but for no good reason.
I’m forced to ‘give back’ what I didn’t steal in the first place.
5 God, you know ≈the silly things that I do,
and none of my sins can be hidden from you.
6 Don’t let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me, my master, army commander Yahweh.
≈Don’t let those who ≈need your help be humiliated because of me, God of Yisrael.
7 I’ve ≈been ridiculed for following you—
8 I’ve become a stranger to my siblings—
≈yes, a foreigner to my mother’s children
9 because &my zeal for your ≈temple has eaten me up,
and the rebukes of those who rebuke you have fallen on me.
10 When I wept and ≈chose not to eat,
≈they insulted me.
11 When I ≈put on rough sackcloth,
≈they just turned me into a joke.
12 Those who sit around the ≈community court talk about me,
and ≈drunkards sing about me.
13 ≈Even so, my prayer is to you, Yahweh,
≈when you’re feeling favourable towards me.
≈From the strength of your loyal commitment,
answer me ≈for sure by rescuing me.
14 Pull me out of the mud, and don’t let me sink.
≈Rescue me from those who hate me, and from deep waters.
15 Don’t let the floods of water overwhelm me,
or let the deep swallow me up.
Don’t let the pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, Yahweh, because your loyal commitment is good.
≈Turn to me because ≈you’ve shown so much mercy towards me.
17 Don’t hide from me, your servant.
≈Answer me quickly, because I’m in distress.
18 Come to me and redeem me.
Ransom me because of my enemies.
19 You know my rebuke, my shame, and my dishonour.
All my adversaries ≈report my failings to you.
20 Their ≈insults have broken my heart—I’m full of heaviness.
I looked for someone to take pity, but no one was there.
≈I looked for ≈someone to encourage me, but I didn’t find anyone.
21 They gave me poison ≈to eat.
≈≈When I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their table become a snare ≈to catch them in their own schemes.
≈When they think they’re safe, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened so they won’t be able to see anything,
and make their ≈legs continually shake.
24 Pour your indignation out on them,
≈and let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
25 Let their place become uninhabited.
≈Don’t let anyone live in their tents
26 because they persecuted the one you struck down.
≈They multiplied the pain of those that you had already wounded.
27 Add sin after sin to their record.
≈Don’t let them ≈try to tell you about their ‘innocence’.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of ≈life
≈and not have their names written down along with the names of the godly.
29 As for me, I’m suffering and in pain.
≈Yes God, protect me and rescue me.
30 I’ll praise God with a song
≈and with thankfulness, I’ll ≈tell about his goodness.
31 That will please Yahweh better than sacrificing a cow,
≈or a physical bull that has horns and hooves.
32 Humble >people will see it and be glad.
You who ≈want to obey God, let your hearts live
33 because Yahweh listens to the poor,
and he doesn’t despise his ≈people when they’re imprisoned.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
including the seas and everything in them that moves.
35 For God will save Tsiyyon (Zion)
and will rebuild the cities of Yehudah.
The people will live there and have it ≈for their own.
36 The descendants of his people will inherit it,
and those who love him will live there safely.
↑ 69 For_the_director on Shoshannim of_Dāvid.
2 \f + \fr 69:2 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
1\f* save_me Oh_god if/because waters they_have_come to the_neck.
3 \f + \fr 69:3 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
2\f* I_have_sunk in/on/at/with_mire_of depth and_there_is_no a_foothold I_have_come in/on/at/with_deep_of water and_flood sweeps_over_me.
4 \f + \fr 69:4 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
3\f* I_have_become_weary in/on/at/with_crying_my throat_of_my it_has_become_parched eyes_of_my they_have_failed waiting for_god_of_my.
5 \f + \fr 69:5 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
4\f* they_are_many more_than_hairs_of my_head hate_of_me without_cause they_are_numerous destroy_of_me enemies_of_my falsehood that_which not I_stole then I_will_return.
6 \f + \fr 69:6 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
5\f* Oh_god you you_know to_folly_of_my and_wrongs_of_my from_you not they_are_hidden.
7 \f + \fr 69:7 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
6\f* not let_them_be_ashamed in/on/at/with_me wait_for_of_you my_master YHWH hosts not let_them_be_humiliated in/on/at/with_me seek_of_you Oh_god_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel).
8 \f + \fr 69:8 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
7\f* if/because for_sake_your I_have_borne reproach ignominy it_has_covered face_of_my.
9 \f + \fr 69:9 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
8\f* estranged\f + \fr 69:9 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.
Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.
\f* I_have_become to_brothers_of_my and_alien to_sons_of mother’s_of_my.
10 \f + \fr 69:10 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
9\f* if/because the_zeal_of house_of_your consumed_me and_insults_of insult_of_you they_have_fallen on_me.
11 \f + \fr 69:11 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
10\f* and_wept in/on/at/with_fasting soul_of_my and_it_became of_reproach to_me.
12 \f + \fr 69:12 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
11\f* and_made clothing_of_my sackcloth and_became to/for_them as_byword.
13 \f + \fr 69:13 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
12\f* they_speak in/on/at/with_me those_who_sit_of the_gate and_songs of_drinkers_of strong_drink.
14 \f + \fr 69:14 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
13\f* and_me prayer_of_my to/for_yourself(m) Oh_YHWH a_time_of favour Oh_god in/on/at/with_abundance_of steadfast_love_of_your answer_me in/on/at/with_sure_of salvation_of_your.
15 \f + \fr 69:15 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
14\f* rescue_me from_mire and_not let_me_sink may_I_be_delivered from_hate_of_me and_from_deep_of water.
16 \f + \fr 69:16 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
15\f* not sweep_over_me a_flood_of water and_not swallow_up_me the_deep and_don’t let_it_close over_me the_pit her/its_mouth.
17 \f + \fr 69:17 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
16\f* answer_me Oh_YHWH if/because is_good steadfast_love_of_your according_to_abundant_of mercy_of_your turn to_me.
18 \f + \fr 69:18 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
17\f* and_not hide face_of_your from_servant_of_your if/because it_is_distress to_me hurry answer_me.
19 \f + \fr 69:19 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
18\f* draw_near to soul_of_my redeem_it on_account_of enemies_of_my ransom_me.
20 \f + \fr 69:20 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
19\f* you you_know reproach_of_I and_shame_of_my and_dishonour_of_my before_you all_of adversaries_of_my.
21 \f + \fr 69:21 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
20\f* reproach it_has_broken heart_of_my and_sick and_looked for_sympathy and_there_was_none and_for_THE_comforters and_not I_found_them.
22 \f + \fr 69:22 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
21\f* and_gave in/on/at/with_food_of_my poison and_for_thirst_of_my gave_to_drink_me vinegar.
23 \f + \fr 69:23 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
22\f* may_it_become table_of_their before_face/front_them as_snare and_for_peace as_trap.
24 \f + \fr 69:24 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
23\f* eyes_of_their may_they_grow_dim cannot_see and_loins_of_their continually make_to_shake.
25 \f + \fr 69:25 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
24\f* pour_out on_them indignation_of_your and_fierceness_of anger_of_your overtake_them.
26 \f + \fr 69:26 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
25\f* may_it_be camp_of_their made_desolate in/on/at/with_tents_of_their not may_anyone_be dwelling.
27 \f + \fr 69:27 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
26\f* if/because you those_whom you_struck they_have_harassed and_near/to the_pain_of wounded_of_you they_have_recounted.
28 \f + \fr 69:28 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
27\f* add iniquity to guilt_of_their and_not let_them_come in/on/at/with_righteousness_of_your.
29 \f + \fr 69:29 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
28\f* may_they_be_wiped_out of_book_of life and_with righteous_people not may_they_be_written_down.
30 \f + \fr 69:30 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
29\f* and_I am_afflicted and_in_pain salvation_of_your Oh_god protect_me.
31 \f + \fr 69:31 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
30\f* I_will_praise the_name_of god in/on/at/with_song and_magnify_him in/on/at/with_thanksgiving.
32 \f + \fr 69:32 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
31\f* and_please to/for_YHWH more_than_ox a_young_bull having_horns having_hooves.
33 \f + \fr 69:33 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
32\f* they_will_see humble_people they_will_rejoice Oh_you_all_who_seek_of (of)_god and_revive heart_of_your_all’s.
34 \f + \fr 69:34 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
33\f* if/because is_listening to needy_people YHWH and_DOM prisoners_of_his not he_despises.
35 \f + \fr 69:35 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
34\f* praise_him heaven and_earth the_seas and_all thing_which_moves in/on/at/with_them.
36 \f + \fr 69:36 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
35\f* if/because god he_will_save Tsiyyōn/(Zion) and_rebuild the_cities_of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_dwell there and_possess_it.
37 \f + \fr 69:37 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
69.
36\f* and_children_of servants_of_his inherit_it and_love_of his/its_name they_will_dwell in/on/at/with_it.
Previous Book (JOB) PSA 68 OET Book index, Intro, and Key PSA 70 Next Book (PRO) FAQs Glossary