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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.
79:1 A prayer for national restoration
A Prayer for the Nation’s Deliverance; Plea for Mercy for Jerusalem
A song by Asaf.
A Psalm of Asaph.; A psalm: for Asaph; A psalm of Asaph.
79 God, foreign nations have come into the land you gave as an inheritance.
They have defiled your holy temple.
They have turned Yerushalem (Jerusalem) into a heap of ruins.
2 They have given the dead bodies of your servants as food to the birds in the skies—
the bodies of your faithful ones to the animals on the ground.
3 They’ve shed their blood around Yerushalem like water,
and there wasn’t anyone to bury them.
4 We have become a reproach for our neighbours—
mocked and scorned by those around us.
5 How long, Yahweh? Will you stay angry forever?
For how long will your jealous anger burn like fire?
6 Pour out your rage on the nations that don’t know you
and on the kingdoms that don’t ≈pray to you,
7 because they’ve devoured Yakov (Jacob/Israel)
and destroyed his villages.
8 Don’t hold the sins of our ancestors against us.
May ≈we experience your acts of mercy, because we’re very ≈discouraged.
9 Help us, God of our salvation, for the sake of the glory of your name.
≈Save us and forgive our sins for the sake of your ≈reputation.
10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Let your servants’ blood that was shed
be avenged on the nations before our eyes.
11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you.
Keep ≈those condemned to death alive with the greatness of your power.
12 Pay back seven times as much into the laps of our neighbouring countries
as repayment for the insults with which they have insulted you, Lord.
13 So we your people, and sheep of your pasture,
will give you thanks forever.
≈We will tell your praises to all generations.
↑ 79 A_song of_ʼĀşāf\f + \fr 79:1 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
79.
1\f* Oh_god they_have_come the_nations in/on/at/with_inheritance_of_your they_have_made_unclean DOM the_temple_of holy_of_your they_have_made DOM Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) in_ruins.
2 They_have_given DOM the_corpses_of your_servants food to_birds_of the_heavens the_flesh_of faithful_of_your to_beasts_of the_earth.
3 They_have_poured_out blood_of_their like_the_water round_about_of Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) and_there_was_no one_who_buried_them.
4 We_have_become a_reproach to_neighbours_of_our mockery and_derision to_around_of_us.
5 Until when Oh_YHWH will_you_be_angry to_forever will_it_burn like fire jealousy_of_your.
6 Pour_out severe_anger_of_your against the_nations which not know_you and_on kingdoms which in/on/at/with_name_of_your not they_call.
7 If/because it_has_consumed DOM Yaˊₐqoⱱ¦257580 and_DOM habitation_of_his they_have_devastated.
8 Do_not remember to/for_us the_iniquities the_forefathers quickly come_tomeet_us compassion_of_your if/because we_have_become_low exceedingly.
9 Help_us Oh_god_of salvation_of_our on the_matter_of the_glory_of your(ms)_name and_deliver_us and_forgive on sins_of_our for_the_sake_of name’s_of_your.
10 To/for_what will_they_say the_nations where god_of_their let_it_be_known in/on/at/with_nations\f + \fr 79:10 \ft OSHB variant note: ב/גיים: (x-qere) ’בַּ/גּוֹיִ֣ם’: lemma_b/1471 a morph_HRd/Ncmpa id_19XXo בַּ/גּוֹיִ֣ם\f* before_eyes_of_our the_vengeance_of the_blood_of your_servants the_outpoured.
11 May_it_come to_your_face the_groaning_of the_prisoner according_to_great_of power_of_your leave_over the_sons_of death.
12 And_return to_neighbours_of_our sevenfold into bosom_of_their reproach_of_their which taunted_you my_master.
13 And_we people_of_your and_sheep_of pasture_of_your we_will_give_thanks to_you to_forever to_generation and_generation we_will_recount praise_of_your.
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