Israel's Persecutors Confounded
Psalms 128
A Song of Degrees in which Israel recalls being warred against many times from its youth without being overcome, though sinners plowed upon its back. It calls for those who hate Sion to be put to shame and to wither like grass on the housetops that is never gathered into sheaves.
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
ThomsonMANY a time have they warred against me from my youth, let Israel now say—
BrentonA Song of Degrees. Many a time have they warred against me from my youth, let Israel now say:
GreekὨδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. Πλεονάκις ἐπολέμησάν με ἐκ νεότητός μου, εἰπάτω δὴ Ἰσραήλ·
KJVMany a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
JPSA Song of Ascents. 'Much have they afflicted me from my youth up', Let Israel now say;
2
ThomsonMany a time they warred against me from my youth; they did not however prevail over me.
BrentonMany a time have they warred against me from my youth: and yet they prevailed not against me.
GreekΠλεονάκις ἐπολέμησάν με ἐκ νεότητός μου, καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἠδυνήθησάν μοι.
KJVMany a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
JPS'Much have they afflicted me from my youth up; But they have not prevailed against me.
3
ThomsonUpon my back the wicked hammered, they prolonged their iniquity:
BrentonThe sinners wrought upon my back: they prolonged their iniquity.
GreekἘπὶ τὸν νῶτόν μου ἐτέκταινον οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ, ἐμάκρυναν τὴν ἀνομίαν αὐτῶν.
KJVThe plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.
JPSThe plowers plowed upon my back; They made long their furrows.
4
Thomsonthe righteous Lord hath broken the necks of the wicked.
BrentonThe righteous Lord has cut asunder the necks of sinners.
GreekΚύριος δίκαιος συνέκοψεν αὐχένας ἁμαρτωλῶν.
KJVThe LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
JPSThe LORD is righteous; He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.'
5
ThomsonLet all who hate Sion be confounded and turned back.
BrentonLet all that hate Sion be put to shame and turned back.
GreekΑἰσχυνθήτωσαν καὶ ἀποστραφήτωσαν εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω πάντες οἱ μισοῦντες Σιών.
KJVLet them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.
JPSLet them be ashamed and turned backward, All they that hate Zion.
6
ThomsonLet them be like a blade on the house tops, which withereth before it is pulled up,
BrentonLet them be as the grass of the house-tops, which withers before it is plucked up.
GreekΓενηθήτωσαν ὡσεὶ χόρτος δωμάτων, ὃς πρὸ τοῦ ἐκσπασθῆναι ἐξηράνθη·
KJV—
JPS—
7
Thomsonwith which the reaper hath not filled his hand, nor he who gathereth the sheaves, his bosom;
BrentonWherewith the reaper fills not his hand, nor he that makes up the sheaves, his bosom.
GreekΟὗ οὐκ ἐπλήρωσεν τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ὁ θερίζων, καὶ τὸν κόλπον αὐτοῦ ὁ τὰ δράγματα συλλέγων.
KJVWherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
JPSWherewith the reaper filleth not his hand, Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
8
Thomsonso that they who passed by did not say, The blessing of the Lord is upon you. We have blessed you in the name of the Lord.
BrentonNeither do they that go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ οὐκ εἶπαν οἱ παράγοντες, εὐλογία Κυρίου ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς, εὐλογήκαμεν ὑμᾶς ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου.
KJVNeither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.
JPSNeither do they that go by say: ‘The blessing of the LORD be upon you; We bless you in the name of the LORD.'