The Song of Moses

Deuteronomy 32

Moses recites a song recounting the Lord's care for Israel in the wilderness, the people's ingratitude in turning to other gods, and the judgment and vengeance the Lord will bring on his enemies, after which the Lord directs Moses to view the promised land from Mount Nabau before his death.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonLISTEN, O heaven, and I will speak, And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.

BrentonAttend, O heaven, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words out of my mouth.

GreekΠρόσεχε οὐρανὲ, καὶ λαλήσω, καὶ ἀκουέτω ἡ γῆ ῥήματα ἐκ στόματός μου.

KJVGive ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

JPSGive ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.

ThomsonLet my doctrine be expected like rain, And my words distil as the dew; Like gentle rain on the tender herb, And like a heavy shower on the grass.

BrentonLet my speech be looked for as the rain, and my words come down as dew, as the shower upon the herbage, and as snow upon the grass.

GreekΠροσδοκάσθω ὡς ὑετὸς τὸ ἀπόφθεγμά μου, καὶ καταβήτω ὡς δρόσος τὰ ῥήματά μου, ὡσεὶ ὄμβρος ἐπʼ ἄγρωστιν, καὶ ὡσεὶ νιφετὸς ἐπὶ χόρτον.

KJVMy doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

JPSMy doctrine shall drop as the rain, My speech shall distil as the dew; As the small rain upon the tender grass, And as the showers upon the herb.

ThomsonSince I have proclaimed the name of the Lord, Ascribe ye majesty to our God.

BrentonFor I have called on the name of the Lord: assign ye greatness to our God.

GreekὍτι τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου ἐκάλεσα· δότε μεγαλωσύνην τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.

KJVBecause I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

JPSFor I will proclaim the name of the LORD; Ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

ThomsonHe is God, His works are perfect; All His ways are acts of judgment— A faithful God; He doth no injustice; Righteous and holy is the Lord.

BrentonAs for God, his works are true, and all his ways are judgment: God is faithful, and there is no unrighteousness in him; just and holy is the Lord.

GreekΘεὸς, ἀληθινὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ, καὶ πᾶσαι αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτοῦ κρίσεις· Θεὸς πιστὸς, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀδικία· δίκαιος καὶ ὅσιος Κύριος.

KJVHe is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

JPSThe Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice; A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is He. .

ThomsonThey have sinned! blemished children are not His. Crooked and perverse generation!

BrentonThey have sinned, not pleasing him; spotted children, a froward and perverse generation.

GreekἩμάρτοσαν οὐκ αὐτῷ τέκνα μωμητά· γενεὰ σκολιὰ καὶ διεστραμμένη.

KJVThey have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.

JPSIs corruption His? No; His children’s is the blemish; A generation crooked and perverse.

ThomsonDo ye thus requite the Lord? Are the people so foolish and unwise? Did not this thy father purchase thee? Did he not make and fashion thee?

BrentonDo ye thus recompense the Lord? is the people thus foolish and unwise? did not he himself thy father purchase thee, and make thee, and form thee?

GreekΤαῦτα Κυρίῳ ἀνταποδίδοτε; οὕτω λαὸς μωρὸς καὶ οὐχὶ σοφός; οὐκ αὐτὸς οὗτός σου πατὴρ ἐκτήσατό σε καὶ ἐποίησέ σε καὶ ἔπλασέ σε;

KJVDo ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

JPSDo ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? Is not He thy father that hath gotten thee? Hath He not made thee, and established thee?

ThomsonRemember the days of old; Consider the years of ages past; Ask thy father; he can tell thee— Thine elders; they can inform thee:

BrentonRemember the days of old, consider the years for past ages: ask thy father, and he shall relate to thee, thine elders, and they shall tell thee.

GreekΜνήσθητε ἡμέρας αἰῶνος, σύνετε ἔτη γενεῶν γενεαῖς. ἐπερώτησον τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ ἀναγγελεῖ σοι, τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους σου καὶ ἐροῦσί σοι.

KJVRemember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

JPSRemember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations; Ask thy father, and he will declare unto thee, Thine elders, and they will tell thee.

ThomsonWhen the Most High divided nations— When He dispersed the children of Adam, He settled the boundaries of nations, According to the number of God’s messengers;

BrentonWhen the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God.

GreekὍτε διεμέριζεν ὁ ὕψιστος ἔθνη, ὡς διέσπειρεν υἱοὺς Αδὰμ, ἔστησεν ὅρια ἐθνῶν κατὰ ἀριθμὸν ἀγγέλων Θεοῦ.

KJVWhen the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

JPSWhen the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of men, He set the borders of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel.

ThomsonAnd the Lord’s portion was His people Jacob— Israel was His lot of inheritance.

BrentonAnd his people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, Israel was the line of his inheritance.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγενήθη μερὶς Κυρίου λαὸς αὐτοῦ Ἰακώβ· σχοίνισμα κληρονομίας αὐτοῦ Ἰσραήλ.

KJVFor the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

JPSFor the portion of the LORD is His people, Jacob the lot of His inheritance.

ThomsonHe sustained them in the wilderness, In the drought of heat, in a land without water. He led them about, and instructed them— He kept them as the apple of His eye.

BrentonHe maintained him in the wilderness, in burning thirst and a dry land: he led him about and instructed him, and kept him as the apple of an eye.

GreekΑὐτάρκησεν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἐν δίψει καύματος ἐν γῇ ἀνύδρῳ· ἐκύκλωσεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπαίδευσεν αὐτὸν, καὶ διεφύλαξεν αὐτὸν, ὡς κόρην ὀφθαλμοῦ·

KJVHe found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.

JPSHe found him in a desert land, and in the waste, a howling wilderness; He compassed him about, He cared for him, He kept him as the apple of His eye.

ThomsonAs an eagle would defend his nest, And, when anxious for his young, Would spread out his wings, and receive them, And bare them up on his shoulders;

BrentonAs an eagle would watch over his brood, and yearns over his young, receives them having spread his wings, and takes them up on his back:

GreekὩς ἀετὸς σκεπάσαι νοσσιὰν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς νοσσοῖς αὐτοῦ ἐπεπόθησε, διεὶς τὰς πτέρυγας αὐτοῦ ἐδέξατο αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀνέλαβεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν μεταφρένων αὐτοῦ.

KJVAs an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

JPSAs an eagle that stirreth up her nest, Hovereth over her young, Spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, Beareth them on her pinions—

ThomsonThe Lord alone conducted them, And there was not a strange god with them.

Brentonthe Lord alone led them, there was no strange god with them.

GreekΚύριος μόνος ἦγεν αὐτοὺς, οὐκ ἦν μετʼ αὐτῶν θεὸς ἀλλότριος.

KJVSo the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.

JPSThe LORD alone did lead him, And there was no strange god with Him.

ThomsonHe brought them up to the strength of this land, He fed them with the products of the fields— They sucked honey out of a rock, And oil out of a flinty rock;

BrentonHe brought them up on the strength of the land; he fed them with the fruits of the fields; they sucked honey out of the rock, and oil out of the solid rock.

GreekἈνεβίβασεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὴν ἰσχὺν τῆς γῆς· ἐψώμισεν αὐτοὺς γεννήματα ἀγρῶν· ἐθήλασαν μέλι ἐκ πέτρας, καὶ ἔλαιον ἐκ στερεᾶς πέτρας.

KJVHe made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

JPSHe made him ride on the high places of the earth, And he did eat the fruitage of the field; And He made him to suck honey out of the crag, And oil out of the flinty rock;

ThomsonWith butter of kine, and with milk of sheep; With the fattest of lambs and rams, young bulls and goats, And with bread of the choicest wheat; And they drank wine, the pure juice of the grape.

BrentonButter of cows, and milk of sheep, with the fat of lambs and rams, of calves and kids, with fat of kidneys of wheat; and he drank wine, the blood of the grape.

GreekΒούτυρον βοῶν, καὶ γάλα προβάτων, μετὰ στέατος ἀρνῶν καὶ κριῶν, υἱῶν ταύρων καὶ τράγων, μετὰ στέατος νεφρῶν πυροῦ, καὶ αἷμα σταφυλῆς ἔπιεν οἶνον.

KJVButter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

JPSCurd of kine, and milk of sheep, With fat of lambs, And rams of the breed of Bashan, and he-goats, With the kidney-fat of wheat; And of the blood of the grape thou drankest foaming wine.

ThomsonWhen Jacob had eaten and was filled, Then he who was beloved began to kick; He grew fat, waxed thick, and became corpulent, Then he forsook the God who made him; And apostatised from God his saviour.

BrentonSo Jacob ate and was filled, and the beloved one kicked; he grew fat, he became thick and broad: then he forsook the God that made him, and departed from God his Saviour.

GreekΚαὶ ἔφαγεν Ἰακὼβ καὶ ἐνεπλήσθη, καὶ ἀπελάκτισεν ὁ ἠγαπημένος· ἐλιπάνθη, ἐπαχύνθη, ἐπλατύνθη, καὶ ἐγκατέλιπε τὸν Θεὸν τὸν ποιήσαντα αὐτὸν, καὶ ἀπέστη ἀπὸ Θεοῦ σωτῆρος αὐτοῦ.

KJVBut Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

JPSBut Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked— Thou didst wax fat, thou didst grow thick, thou didst become gross— And he forsook God who made him, And contemned the Rock of his salvation.

ThomsonThey exasperated me with strange gods, With their abominations they provoked me,

BrentonThey provoked me to anger with strange gods; with their abominations they bitterly angered me.

GreekΠαρώξυνάν με ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίοις· ἐν βδελύγμασιν αὐτῶν παρεπίκρανάν με.

KJVThey provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.

JPSThey roused Him to jealousy with strange gods, With abominations did they provoke Him.

ThomsonThey sacrificed to demons, and not to God— To gods, which they had never known, Which had started up, new and fictitious, Of which their fathers had no knowledge,

BrentonThey sacrificed to devils, and not to God; to gods whom they knew not: new and fresh gods came in, whom their fathers knew not.

GreekΕθυσαν δαιμονίοις, καὶ οὐ Θεῷ· θεοῖς οἷς οὐκ ᾔδεισαν· καινοὶ πρόσφατοι ἥκασιν, οὓς οὐκ ᾔδεισαν οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν.

KJVThey sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

JPSThey sacrificed unto demons, no-gods, Gods that they knew not, New gods that came up of late, Which your fathers dreaded not.

ThomsonThe God who begot thee, thou hast forsaken, And hast forgot the God who nourished thee;

BrentonThou hast forsaken God that begot thee, and forgotten God who feeds thee.

GreekΘεὸν τὸν γεννήσαντά σε ἐγκατέλιπες, καὶ ἐπελάθου Θεοῦ τοῦ τρέφοντός σε.

KJVOf the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

JPS—

ThomsonAnd the Lord saw, and was provoked to jealousy— He was provoked at the temper of his sons and daughters,

BrentonAnd the Lord saw, and was jealous; and was provoked by the anger of his sons and daughters,

GreekΚαὶ εἶδε Κύριος, καὶ ἐζήλωσε· καὶ παρωξύνθη διʼ ὀργὴν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ θυγατέρων,

KJVAnd when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.

JPSAnd the LORD saw, and spurned, Because of the provoking of His sons and His daughters.

ThomsonAnd said, I will turn away my face from them, And shew what shall befall them in the latter days. Because they are a perverse generation— Children, who have no faith in them—

Brentonand said, I will turn away my face from them, and will show what shall happen to them in the last days; for it is a perverse generation, sons in whom is no faith.

Greekκαὶ εἶπεν, ἀποστρέψω τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἀπʼ αὐτῶν, καὶ δείξω τί ἔσται αὐτοῖς ἐπʼ ἐσχάτων ἡμερῶν· ὅτι γενεὰ ἐξεστραμμένη ἐστίν, υἱοὶ οἷς οὐκ ἔστι πίστις ἐν αὐτοῖς.

KJVAnd he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

JPSAnd He said: ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be; For they are a very froward generation, Children in whom is no faithfulness.

ThomsonThey have provoked me by what is not God— Have exasperated me with their idols; I therefore will provoke them by what is not a nation, By a foolish nation I will vex them.

BrentonThey have provoked me to jealousy with that which is not God, they have exasperated me with their idols; and I will provoke them to jealousy with them that are no nation, I will anger them with a nation void of understanding.

GreekΑὐτοὶ παρεζήλωσάν με ἐπʼ οὐ Θεῷ, παρώξυνάν με ἐν τοῖς εἰδώλοις αὐτῶν· κᾀγὼ παραζηλώσω αὐτοὺς ἐπʼ οὐκ ἔθνει, ἐπὶ ἔθνει ἀσυνέτῳ παροργιῶ αὐτούς.

KJVThey have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

JPSThey have roused Me to jealousy with a no-god; They have provoked Me with their vanities; And I will rouse them to jealousy with a no-people; I will provoke them with a vile nation.

ThomsonSince a fire is kindled because of my wrath, It shall burn down to the lowest Hades; It shall consume the land, and the products thereof; It shall set on fire the foundations of mountains:

BrentonFor a fire has been kindled out of my wrath, it shall burn to hell below; it shall devour the land, and the fruits of it; it shall set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

GreekὍτι πῦρ ἐκκέκαυται ἐκ τοῦ θυμοῦ μου, καυθήσεται ἕως ᾄδου κάτω· καταφάγεται γῆν καὶ τὰ γεννήματα αὐτῆς· φλέξει θεμέλια ὀρέων.

KJVFor a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

JPS—

ThomsonI will assemble evils against them, And hurl my bolts at them.

BrentonI will gather evils upon them, and will fight with my weapons against them.

GreekΣυνάξω εἰς αὐτοὺς κακὰ, καὶ τὰ βέλη μου συμπολεμήσω εἰς αὐτούς.

KJV—

JPSI will heap evils upon them; I will spend Mine arrows upon them;

ThomsonWhile they are wasting by famine, and voracious birds; The burning carbuncle also-shall be incurable; I will send against them the teeth of wild beasts, With the venom of serpents, trailing on the ground.

BrentonThey shall be consumed with hunger and the devouring of birds, and there shall be irremediable destruction: I will send forth against them the teeth of wild beasts, with the rage of serpents creeping on the ground.

GreekΤηκόμενοι λιμῷ καὶ βρώσει ὀρνέων, καὶ ὀπισθότονος ἀνίατος· ὀδόντας θηρίων ἐπαποστελῶ εἰς αὐτοὺς, μετὰ θυμοῦ συρόντων ἐπὶ γῆν.

KJVThey shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.

JPSThe wasting of hunger, and the devouring of the fiery bolt, And bitter destruction; And the teeth of beasts will I send upon them, With the venom of crawling things of the dust.

ThomsonAbroad the sword shall bereave them of children, And in their chambers terror shall destroy. The youth shall perish with the young virgin, The sucking infant with the venerable sage.

BrentonWithout, the sword shall bereave them of children, and terror shall issue out of the secret chambers; the young man shall perish with the virgin, the suckling with him who has grown old.

GreekἜξωθεν ἀτεκνώσει αὐτοὺς μάχαιρα, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ταμιείων, φόβος· νεανίσκος σὺν παρθένῳ, θηλάζων μετὰ καθεστηκότος πρεσβύτου.

KJVThe sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.

JPSWithout shall the sword bereave, And in the chambers terror; Slaying both young man and virgin, The suckling with the man of gray hairs.

ThomsonI had determined to disperse them, And cause the remembrance of them to cease among men;

BrentonI said, I will scatter them, and I will cause their memorial to cease from among men.

GreekΕἶπα, διασπερῶ αὐτοὺς, παύσω δὲ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῶν.

KJVI said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

JPSI thought I would make an end of them, I would make their memory cease from among men;

ThomsonHad it not been for the temper of enemies; That the adversaries might not out live them— That they might not fall upon them at once; Lest they should say, Our own high hand, And not the Lord, hath done all this.

BrentonWere it not for the wrath of the enemy, lest they should live long, lest their enemies should combine against them; lest they should say, Our own high arm, and not the Lord, has done all these things.

GreekΕἰ μὴ διʼ ὀργὴν ἐχθρῶν, ἵνα μὴ μακροχρονίσωσι, ἵνα μὴ συνεπιθῶνται οἱ ὑπεναντίοι· μὴ εἴπωσιν, ἡ χεὶρ ἡμῶν ἡ ὑψηλὴ, καὶ οὐχὶ Κύριος, ἐποίησε ταῦτα πάντα.

KJVWere it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this.

JPSWere it not that I dreaded the enemy’s provocation, Lest their adversaries should misdeem, Lest they should say: Our hand is exalted, And not the LORD hath wrought all this.’

ThomsonIt is a nation devoid of counsel; There is no knowledge among them.

BrentonIt is a nation that has lost counsel, neither is there understanding in them.

GreekἜθνος ἀπολωλεκὸς βουλήν ἐστι, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐπιστήμη.

KJVFor they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.

JPSFor they are a nation void of counsel, And there is no understanding in them.

ThomsonThey have not bent their minds to understand; Let them lay up these things for time to come.

BrentonThey had not sense to understand: let them reserve these things against the time to come.

GreekΟὐκ ἐφρόνησαν συνιέναι· ταῦτα καταδεξάσθωσαν εἰς τὸν ἐπιόντα χρόνον.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonNow could one man chase a thousand, And two put myriads to flight, If God had not cast them off— Had not the Lord delivered them up?

BrentonHow should one pursue a thousand, and two rout tens of thousands, if God had not sold them, and the Lord delivered them up?

GreekΠῶς διώξεται εἷς χιλίους, καὶ δύο μετακινήσουσι μυριάδας, εἰ μὴ ὁ Θεὸς ἀπέδοτο αὐτοὺς, καὶ Κύριος παρέδωκεν αὐτούς;

KJVHow should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

JPSHow should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had given them over And the LORD had delivered them up?

ThomsonFor their gods are not like our God; And our enemies are without understanding.

BrentonFor their gods are not as our God, but our enemies are void of understanding.

GreekὍτι οὐκ εἰσὶν ὡς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν οἱ θεοὶ αὐτῶν· οἱ δὲ ἐχθροὶ ἡμῶν ἀνόητοι.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAs their vine is from the vine of Sodom And their shoot from that of Gomorra; Their cluster of grapes will be a cluster of gall— A cluster of bitterness it shall be to them:

BrentonFor their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and their vine-branch of Gomorrha: their grape is a grape of gall, their cluster is one of bitterness.

GreekἘκ γὰρ ἀμπέλου Σοδόμων ἡ ἄμπελος αὐτῶν, καὶ ἡ κληματὶς αὐτῶν ἐκ Γομόῤῥας· σταφυλὴ αὐτῶν σταφυλὴ χολῆς, βότρυς πικρίας αὐτοῖς.

KJVFor their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:

JPSFor their vine is of the vine of Sodom, And of the fields of Gomorrah; Their grapes are grapes of gall, Their clusters are bitter;

ThomsonTheir wine shall be the venom of dragons— The incurable venom of asps.

BrentonTheir wine is the rage of serpents, and the incurable rage of asps.

GreekΘυμὸς δρακόντων ὁ οἶνος αὐτῶν, καὶ θυμὸς ἀσπίδων ἀνίατος.

KJVTheir wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

JPSTheir wine is the venom of serpents, And the cruel poison of asps.

ThomsonBehold! are not these things stored up with me? And sealed up among my treasures?

BrentonLo! are not these things stored up by me, and sealed among my treasures?

GreekΟὐκ ἰδοὺ ταῦτα συνῆκται παρʼ ἐμοὶ, καὶ ἐσφράγισται ἐν τοῖς θησαυροῖς μου;

KJVIs not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?

JPS—

ThomsonIn the day of vengeance I will requite, When their foot shall be supplanted. Because the day of destruction is nigh for them, Therefore at hand are the things prepared for you.

BrentonIn the day of vengeance I will recompense, whensoever their foot shall be tripped up; for the day of their destruction is near to them, and the judgments at hand are close upon you.

GreekἘν ἡμέρᾳ ἐκδικήσεως ἀνταποδώσω, ὅταν σφαλῇ ὁ ποὺς αὐτῶν· ὅτι ἐγγὺς ἡμέρα ἀπωλίας αὐτοῖς, καὶ πάρεστιν ἕτοιμα ὑμῖν.

KJVTo me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

JPSVengeance is Mine, and recompense, Against the time when their foot shall slip; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things that are to come upon them shall make haste.

ThomsonBecause the Lord will judge His people— When He shall be appeased for his servants, (For He saw that they were enfeebled, Made faint by hostile invasions and dejected)

BrentonFor the Lord shall judge his people, and shall be comforted over his servants; for he saw that they were utterly weakened, and failed in the hostile invasion, and were become feeble:

GreekὍτι κρινεῖ Κύριος τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ παρακληθήσεται· εἶδε γὰρ παραλελυμένους αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐκλελοιπότας ἐν ἐπαγωγῇ, καὶ παρειμένους·

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonThen the Lord said, Where are their gods— The gods in which they placed their confidence?

Brentonand the Lord said, Where are their gods on whom they trusted?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος, ποῦ εἰσιν οἱ θεοὶ αὐτῶν, ἐφʼ οἷς ἐπεποίθεισαν ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς,

KJVAnd he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,

JPSAnd it is said: Where are their gods, The rock in whom they trusted;

ThomsonThe fat of those sacrifices you ate And drank the wine of their libations? Let them arise and help you, And let them be your protectors.

Brentonthe fat of whose sacrifices ye ate, and ye drank the wine of their drink-offerings? let them arise and help you, and be your protectors.

Greekὧν τὸ στέαρ τῶν θυσιῶν αὐτῶν ἠσθίετε, καὶ ἐπίνετε τὸν οἶνον τῶν σπονδῶν αὐτῶν; ἀναστήτωσαν καὶ βοηθησάτωσαν ὑμῖν καὶ γενηθήτωσαν ὑμῖν σκεπασταί.

KJVWhich did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

JPSWho did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink-offering? Let him rise up and help you, Let him be your protection.

ThomsonSee! See! that I am the Self-existent, And that there is no God besides Me; I kill, and I can cause to live, I can smite and I can heal, And none can rescue out of My hand—

BrentonBehold, behold that I am he, and there is no god beside me: I kill, and I will make to live: I will smite, and I will heal; and there is none who shall deliver out of my hands.

GreekἼδετε ἴδετε ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι Θεὸς πλὴν ἐμοῦ· ἐγὼ ἀποκτείνω, καὶ ζῇν ποιήσω· πατάξω, κἀγὼ ἰάσομαι· καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὃς ἐξελεῖται ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν μου.

KJVSee now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

JPSSee now that I, even I, am He, And there is no god with Me; I kill, and I make alive; I have wounded, and I heal; And there is none that can deliver out of My hand.

ThomsonFor I can lift up My hand to heaven, And swear by My right hand, and say, as I live forever,

BrentonFor I will lift up my hand to heaven, and swear by my right hand, and I will say, I live for ever.

GreekὍτι ἀρῶ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν τὴν χεῖρά μου, καὶ ὀμοῦμαι τὴν δεξιάν μου· καὶ ἐρῶ, ζῶ ἐγὼ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα·

KJVFor I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.

JPSFor I lift up My hand to heaven, And say: As I live for ever,

ThomsonI will make My sword sharp as lightning, And My hand will support judgment; And I will execute vengeance on Mine enemies, And make retribution to them who hate me.

BrentonFor I will sharpen my sword like lightning, and my hand shall take hold of judgment; and I will render judgment to my enemies, and will recompense them that hate me.

GreekὍτι παροξυνῶ ὡς ἀστραπὴν τὴν μάχαιράν μου, καὶ ἀνθέξεται κρίματος ἡ χείρ μου, καὶ ἀποδώσω δίκην τοῖς ἐχθροῖς, καὶ τοῖς μισοῦσί με ἀνταποδώσω.

KJVIf I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.

JPSIf I whet My glittering sword, And My hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to Mine adversaries, And will recompense them that hate Me.

ThomsonI will make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword shall devour flesh With the blood of slain and captives, From the head of enemy chiefs.

BrentonI will make my weapons drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh, it shall glut itself with the blood of the wounded, and from the captivity of the heads of their enemies that rule over them.

GreekΜεθύσω τὰ βέλη μου ἀφʼ αἵματος, καὶ ἡ μάχαιρά μου φάγεται κρέα ἀφʼ αἵματος τραυματιῶν καὶ αἰχμαλωσίας ἀπὸ κεφαλῆς ἀρχόντων ἐχθρῶν.

KJVI will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.

JPSI will make Mine arrows drunk with blood, And My sword shall devour flesh; With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the long-haired heads of the enemy.’

ThomsonRejoice, O heavens, with Him, And let all the angels of God worship Him: Rejoice, O nations, with His people, And let all the children of God rely on Him: For he avengeth the blood of His children, And will judge, and execute vengeance on His enemies, To them who hate Him he will render retribution, And the Lord will purify the land of His people.

BrentonRejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him; rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him; and the Lord shall purge the land of his people.

GreekΕὐφράνθητε οὐρανοὶ ἅμα αὐτῷ, καὶ προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι Θεοῦ· εὐφράνθητε ἔθνη μετὰ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνισχυσάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ὅτι τὸ αἷμα τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ ἐκδικᾶται· καὶ ἐκδικήσει καὶ ἀνταποδώσει δίκην τοῖς ἐχθροῖς, καὶ τοῖς μισοῦσιν ἀνταποδώσει· καὶ ἐκκαθαριεῖ Κύριος τὴν γῆν τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ.

KJVRejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

JPSSing aloud, O ye nations, of His people; For He doth avenge the blood of His servants, And doth render vengeance to His adversaries, And doth make expiation for the land of His people.

ThomsonNow on that day when Moses had written this Ode and taught it to the children of Israel; and he and Joshua, the son of Naue, had come, and spoken all the words of this law in the hearing of the people,

BrentonAnd Moses wrote this song in that day, and taught it to the children of Israel; and Moses went in and spoke all the words of this law in the ears of the people, he and Joshua the son of Naue.

GreekΚαὶ ἔγραψε Μωυσῆς τὴν ᾠδὴν ταύτην ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ ἐδίδαξεν αὐτὴν τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραήλ· καὶ εἰσῆλθε Μωυσῆς, καὶ ἐλάλησε πάντας τοὺς λόγους τοῦ νόμου τούτου εἰς τὰ ὦτα τοῦ λαοῦ, αὐτὸς καὶ Ἰησοῦς ὁ τοῦ Ναυή.

KJVAnd Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.

JPSAnd Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.

ThomsonMoses concluded his speech to all Israel with this address to them,

BrentonAnd Moses finished speaking to all Israel.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξετέλεσε Μωυσῆς λαλῶν παντὶ Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel:

JPSAnd when Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel,

ThomsonAttend with your heart to all these words which I this day testify to you, and which you are to give in charge to your children, that they may keep, and perform all the words of this law;

BrentonAnd he said to them, Take heed with your heart to all these words, which I testify to you this day, which ye shall command your sons, to observe and do all the words of this law.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς, προσέχετε τῇ καρδίᾳ ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς λόγους τούτους, οὓς ἐγὼ διαμαρτύρομαι ὑμῖν σήμερον, ἃ ἐντελεῖσθε τοῖς υἱοῖς ὑμῶν, φυλάσσειν καὶ ποιεῖν πάντας τοὺς λόγους τοῦ νόμου τούτου.

KJVAnd he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.

JPShe said unto them: ‘Set your heart unto all the words wherewith I testify against you this day; that ye may charge your children therewith to observe to do all the words of this law.

Thomsonfor this is not a vain thing for you; for it is your life; and, for the sake of this word, you shall prolong your days in the land to which you are going, to cross the Jordan to take possession.

BrentonFor this is no vain word to you; for it is your life, and because of this word ye shall live long upon the land, into which ye go over Jordan to inherit it.

GreekὍτι οὐχὶ λόγος κενὸς οὗτος ὑμῖν· ὅτι αὕτη ἡ ζωὴ ὑμῶν, καὶ ἕνεκεν τοῦ λόγου τούτου μακροημερεύσετε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, εἰς ἣν ὑμεῖς διαβαίνετε τὸν Ἰορδάνην ἐκεῖ κληρονομῆσαι.

KJVFor it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

JPSFor it is no vain thing for you; because it is your life, and through this thing ye shall prolong your days upon the land, whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it.’

ThomsonThen the Lord spoke to Moses that day, saying,

BrentonAnd the Lord spoke to Moses in this day, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ, λέγων,

KJVAnd the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying,

JPSAnd the LORD spoke unto Moses that selfsame day, saying:

ThomsonGo up the mountain Abarim, to that mount Nabo, which is in the land of Moab, fronting Jericho, and take a view of the land of Chanaan, which I give to the children of Israel;

BrentonGo up to the mount Abarim, this mountain Nabau which is in the land of Moab over against Jericho, and behold the land of Chanaan, which I give to the sons of Israel:

Greekἀνάβηθι εἰς τὸ ὄρος τὸ Ἀβαρίμ, τοῦτο ὄρος Ναβαῦ ὅ ἐστιν ἐν γῇ Μωὰβ κατὰ πρόσωπον Ἰεριχὼ, καὶ ἴδε τὴν γῆν Χαναάν, ἣν ἐγὼ δίδωμι τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ,

KJVGet thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession:

JPS’Get thee up into this mountain of Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession;

Thomsonand die on the mount to which thou goest up, and be gathered to thy people, in the same manner as thy brother Aaron died on mount Or, and was gathered to his people,

Brentonand die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be added to thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Or, and was added to his people.

Greekκαὶ τελεύτα ἐν τῷ ὄρει εἰς ὃ ἀναβαίνεις ἐκεῖ, καὶ προστέθητι πρὸς τὸν λαόν σου· ὃν τρόπον ἀπέθανεν Ἀαρὼν ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἐν Ὢρ τῷ ὄρει, καὶ προσετέθη πρὸς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:

JPSand die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people.

Thomsonbecause you disobeyed My word among the children of Israel, at the water of strife, at Kades, in the wilderness of Sin.

BrentonBecause ye disobeyed my word among the children of Israel, at the waters of strife of Cades in the wilderness of Sin; because ye sanctified me not among the sons of Israel.

GreekὍτι ἠπειθήσατε τῷ ῥήματί μου ἐν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ ἐπὶ τοῦ ὕδατος ἀντιλογίας Κάδης ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ Σὶν, διότι οὐχ ἡγιάσατέ με ἐν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ.

KJVBecause ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of MeribahKadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.

JPSBecause ye trespassed against Me in the midst of the children of Israel at the waters of Meribath-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified Me not in the midst of the children of Israel.

ThomsonBecause you did not hallow Me among the children of Israel, thou shalt see the land at a distance, but shalt not go in thither.

BrentonThou shalt see the land before thee, but thou shalt not enter into it.

GreekἈπέναντι ὄψει τὴν γῆν, καὶ ἐκεῖ οὐκ εἰσελεύσῃ.

KJVYet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel.

JPSFor thou shalt see the land afar off; but thou shalt not go thither into the land which I give the children of Israel.’