Song (Psalm) 90

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

90:1 The people and the God

Of God and Human Beings; God’s Eternity and Human Frailty

A prayer by God’s man Mosheh (Moses).

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.; A prayer of Moses, the man of God.; A prayer of Moses the man of God.; A prayer: ascribed to Moses, the man of God

90 My master, you’ve been our ≈protection

throughout all generations.

2 Before the mountains were formed or you formed the earth and the world,

from ≈the entire past through to all the future, you are God.

3 You return man to dust,

and you say, “Return, you descendants of humanity,”

4 because a thousand years in your sight

are just like yesterday when it’s over,

≈and like a watch of several hours in the night.

5 You sweep them away as with a flood and they sleep.

In the morning they are like the grass that sprouts up:

6 In the morning it blooms and grows up,

but by the evening, it has withered and dried up.

7 Certainly we’re consumed in your anger,

≈and in your rage we’re terrified.

8 You’ve placed our ≈disobedience in front of you—

≈our hidden sins in the light of your presence,

9 because our life passes away under your rage—

our years pass quickly like a sigh does.

10 ≈We might reach the age of seventy,

or even eighty if we’re healthy,

but even our best years are marked by trouble and sorrow.

Yes, they pass quickly, then we ‘fly away’.

11 Who knows the intensity of your anger,

and your rage that’s equal to the ≈respect that we should have had for you?

12 So teach us to consider the fragility of our #lives

so that we might live wisely.

13 Turn back, Yahweh.

How long will ≈this last?

Have pity on your servants.

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your loyal commitment

so that we can celebrate and be glad for the rest of our lives.

15 Make us glad in proportion to the days you ≈made us suffer,

and to the years we have experienced trouble.

16 Let your servants see your ≈actions,

and let our children ≡see your splendour.

17 May the favour of my master God be ours.

Prosper the work of our hands.

≈Yes, prosper the work ≈that we do.

↑ 90  A_prayer of_Mosheh the_man_of the_ʼElohīm\f + \fr 90:1 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

90.

1\f* my_master a_dwelling_place you you_have_been to/for_ourselves in/on/at/with_generation and_generation.

2 In/on/at/with_before mountains they_were_born and_brought_forth the_earth and_world and_from_everlasting until perpetuity you are_god.

3 You_return humankind to crushed_matter and_she/it_said return Oh_children_of humankind.

4 If/because a_thousand years in/on/at/with_sight_of_your like_day yesterday if/because it_passes and_watch in/on/at/with_night.

5 Sweep_away_them sleep they_are in/on/at/with_morning like_the_grass which_it_sprouts_up.

6 In/on/at/with_morning it_flourishes and_renewed by_the_evening it_withers and_dries_up.

7 If/because we_come_to_an_end in/on/at/with_anger_of_your and_in/on/at/with_severe_anger_of_your we_are_terrified.

8 You_set\f + \fr 90:8 \ft OSHB variant note: שת: (x-qere) ’שַׁתָּ֣ה’: lemma_7896 morph_HVqp2ms id_19nDP שַׁתָּ֣ה\f* iniquities_of_our at_before_you secret_of_our in_light_of presence_of_your.

9 If/because all_of days_of_our they_turn in/on/at/with_severe_anger_of_your years_of_our we_finish like a_sigh.

10 The_days_of life_of_our in/among_them are_seventy years and_if in/on/at/with_strength eighty years and_span_of_their is_toil and_sorrow if/because it_passes_away quickly and_fly_away.

11 Who is_knowing the_strength_of anger_of_your and_according_to_fear_of_you severe_anger_of_your.

12 To_number days_of_our right teach_us and_gain a_heart_of wisdom.

13 Return Oh_YHWH until when and_have_compassion on servants_of_your.

14 Satisfy_us in/on/at/with_morning steadfast_love_of_your and_sing_for_joy and_glad in_all days_of_our.

15 Make_glad_us as_as_days_of afflicted_us the_years_of (of)_which_we_saw trouble.

16 May_it_appear to your_servants work_of_your and_splendour_of_your to children_of_their.

17 And_let_it_be the_kindness_of my_master god_of_our upon_us and_work_of our_both_hands establish for_us and_work_of our_both_hands establish_it.