Pure Words Amid Deceit
Psalms 11
David calls on the Lord to save him because truth and godliness have failed among men and deceitful speech has spread, and he sets the Lord's pure and trustworthy words, likened to silver refined seven times, against the empty boasting of the wicked.
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
1
Thomson—
BrentonFor the end, a Psalm of David, upon the eighth.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ τῆς ὀγδόης, ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ.
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader; on the Sheminith. A Psalm of David.
2
ThomsonSAVE me, O Lord! for a holy one hath ceased [to appear]; for truths are scarce among the sons of men.
BrentonSave me, O Lord; for the godly man has failed; for truth is diminished from among the children of men.
GreekΣῶσον με Κύριε, ὅτι ἐκλέλοιπεν ὅσιος, ὅτι ὠλιγώθησαν αἱ ἀλήθειαι ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
KJVHelp, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
JPSHelp, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men.
3
ThomsonThey spoke vanities one to another: their lips are deceitful, they spoke with a double heart.
BrentonEvery one has spoken vanity to his neighbour: their lips are deceitful, they have spoken with a double heart.
GreekΜάταια ἐλάλησεν ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ, χείλη δόλια, ἐν καρδίᾳ καὶ ἐν καρδίᾳ ἐλάλησαν.
KJVThey speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
JPSThey speak falsehood every one with his neighbour; With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.
4
ThomsonMay the Lord destroy all deceitful lips; and the tongue which speaketh swelling words—
BrentonLet the Lord destroy all the deceitful lips, and the tongue that speaks great words:
GreekἘξολοθρεύσαι Κύριος πάντα τὰ χείλη τὰ δόλια, καὶ γλῶσσαν μεγαλοῤῥήμονα·
KJVThe LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
JPSMay the LORD cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh proud things!
5
Thomsonthem who say, We will magnify our tongue: our lips are our own: who is Lord over us?
Brentonwho have said, We will magnify our tongue; our lips are our own: who is Lord of us?
GreekΤοὺς εἰπόντας, τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡμῶν μεγαλυνοῦμεν, τὰ χείλη ἡμῶν παρʼ ἡμῶν ἐστι· τίς ἡμῶν Κύριός ἐστιν;
KJVWho have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
JPSWho have said: 'Our tongue will we make mighty; Our lips are with us: who is lord over us?'
6
ThomsonBecause of the oppression of the poor, because of the groans of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set in safety and speak boldly.
BrentonBecause of the misery of the poor, and because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord, I will set them in safety; I will speak to them thereof openly.
GreekἈπὸ τῆς ταλαιπωρίας τῶν πτωχῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ στεναγμοῦ τῶν πενήτων, νῦν ἀναστήσομαι, λέγει Κύριος· θήσομαι ἐν σωτηρίῳ, παῤῥησιάσομαι ἐν αὐτῷ.
KJVFor the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
JPS'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise', saith the LORD; 'I will set him in safety at whom they puff.' .
7
ThomsonThe oracles of the Lord are pure oracles—tried silver, clear of dross, seven times purified.
BrentonThe oracles of the Lord are pure oracles; as silver tried in the fire, proved in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
GreekΤὰ λόγια Κυρίου, λόγια ἁγνά· ἀργύριον πεπυρωμένον, δοκίμιον τῇ γῇ, κεκαθαρισμένον ἑπταπλασίως.
KJVThe words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
JPSThe words of the LORD are pure words, As silver tried in a crucible on the earth, refined seven times.
8
ThomsonThou, O Lord, wilt keep us and preserve us, from this generation forth, and forever.
BrentonThou, O Lord, shalt keep us, and shalt preserve us, from this generation, and for ever.
GreekΣὺ Κύριε φυλάξεις ἡμᾶς· καὶ διατηρήσεις ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης, καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
KJVThou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
JPSThou wilt keep them, O LORD; Thou wilt preserve us from this generation for ever.
9
ThomsonThe wicked are walking about: Thou, in Thy sublimity, hast carefully observed the sons of men.
BrentonThe ungodly walk around: according to thy greatness thou hast greatly exalted the sons of men.
GreekΚύκλῳ οἱ ἀσεβεῖς περιπατοῦσι, κατὰ τὸ ὕψος σου ἐπολυώρησας τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
KJVThe wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
JPSThe wicked walk on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.