Thanksgiving Before the Angels

Psalms 137

David gives thanks to the Lord with his whole heart for hearing his prayer and magnifying his name, declares that even the kings of the earth will praise the Lord's ways, and affirms that the Lord, though high, regards the lowly and preserves those in affliction.

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

ThomsonI WILL adore Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart. And with instrumental music sing to Thee before angels: because Thou hast heard all the words of my mouth.

BrentonA Psalm for David, of Aggæus and Zacharias. I will give thee thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; and I will sing psalms to thee before the angels; for thou hast heard all the words of my mouth.

GreekΨαλμὸς τῷ Δαυὶδ, Ἀγγαίου καὶ Ζαχαρίου. Ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι Κύριε ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ μου, καὶ ἐναντίον ἀγγέλων ψαλῶ σοι, ὅτι ἤκουσας πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ στόματός μου.

KJVI will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

JPS[A Psalm] of David. I will give Thee thanks with my whole heart, In the presence of the mighty will I sing praises unto Thee.

ThomsonI will worship before Thy holy temple; and adore Thy name for Thy mercy and Thy truth; because Thou hast magnified above all Thy holy name.

BrentonI will worship toward thy holy temple, and give thanks to thy name, on account of thy mercy and thy truth; for thou hast magnified thy holy name above every thing.

GreekΠροσκυνήσω πρὸς ναὸν ἅγιόν σου, καὶ ἐξομολογήσομαι τῷ ὀνόματί σου, ἐπὶ τῷ ἐλέει σου καὶ τῇ ἀληθείᾳ σου· ὅτι ἐμεγάλυνας ἐπὶ πᾶν τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ἅγιόν σου.

KJVI will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

JPSI will bow down toward Thy holy temple, And give thanks unto Thy name for Thy mercy and for Thy truth; For Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.

ThomsonOn the day when I invoke Thee, O answer me speedily: Thou canst strengthen me in my soul with Thy strength;

BrentonIn whatsoever day I shall call upon thee, hear me speedily; thou shalt abundantly provide me with thy power in my soul.

GreekἘν ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπικαλέσωμαί σε, ταχὺ ἐπάκουσόν μου· πολυωρήσεις με ἐν ψυχῇ μου δυνάμει σου.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonlet all the kings of this land adore Thee, O Lord, because they have heard all the words of Thy mouth.

BrentonLet all the kings of the earth, O Lord, give thanks unto thee; for they have heard all the words of thy mouth.

GreekἘξομολογησάσθωσάν σοι Κύριε πάντες οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς, ὅτι ἤκουσαν πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ στόματός σου.

KJVAll the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

JPSAll the kings of the earth shall give Thee thanks, O LORD, For they have heard the words of Thy mouth.

ThomsonAnd let them sing in the ways of the Lord: because the glory of the Lord is great.

BrentonAnd let them sing in the ways of the Lord; for great is the glory of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ᾀσάτωσαν ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς Κυρίου, ὅτι μεγάλη ἡ δόξα Κυρίου.

KJVYea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.

JPSYea, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD; For great is the glory of the LORD.

ThomsonFor the Lord is high and looketh down on the things which are low: and from afar He knoweth the things which are high.

BrentonFor the Lord is high, and yet regards the lowly; and he knows high things from afar off.

GreekὍτι ὑψηλὸς Κύριος, καὶ τὰ ταπεινὰ ἐφορᾷ, καὶ τὰ ὑψηλὰ ἀπομακρόθεν γινώσκει.

KJVThough the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

JPSFor though the LORD be high, yet regardeth He the lowly, And the haughty He knoweth from afar.

ThomsonThough I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou canst keep me alive. Against the rage of enemies Thou hast stretched forth Thy hand: and Thy right hand hath saved me.

BrentonThough I should walk in the midst of affliction, thou wilt quicken me; thou hast stretched forth thine hands against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand has saved me.

GreekἘὰν πορευθῶ ἐν μέσῳ θλίψεως, ζήσεις με· ἐπʼ ὀργὴν ἐχθρῶν μου ἐξέτεινας χεῖράς σου, καὶ ἔσωσέ με ἡ δεξιά σου.

KJVThough I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

JPSThough I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou quickenest me; Thou stretchest forth Thy hand against the wrath of mine enemies, And Thy right hand doth save me.

ThomsonThou, O Lord wilt retribute for me. O Lord, Thy mercy endureth forever; overlook not the works of Thy hands.

BrentonO Lord, thou shalt recompense them on my behalf: thy mercy, O Lord, endures for ever: overlook not the works of thine hands.

GreekΚύριε ἀνταποδώσεις ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ· Κύριε τὸ ἔλεός σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σου μὴ παρίδῃς.

KJVThe LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

JPSThe LORD will accomplish that which concerneth me; Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever; Forsake not the work of Thine own hands.