Deliverance from Violent Men

Psalms 139

David prays for rescue from evil and unjust men who plot war, sharpen their tongues like serpents, and set snares and traps for his feet, expressing confidence that the Lord will bring their mischief back upon their own heads and will maintain the cause of the poor and needy.

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

Thomson—

BrentonFor the end, a Psalm of David.

GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, τῷ Δαυὶδ ψαλμός.

KJV—

JPSFor the Leader. A Psalm of David.

ThomsonDELIVER me, O Lord, from a wicked commoner: from an unjust man of rank, preserve me;

BrentonRescue me, O Lord, from the evil man; deliver me from the unjust man.

GreekἘξελοῦ με Κύριε ἐξ ἀνθρώπου πονηροῦ, ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς ἀδίκου ῥῦσαί με·

KJVDeliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;

JPSDeliver me, O LORD, from the evil man; Preserve me from the violent man;

Thomsonwho hath contrived mischief in their heart. All the day long they prepared battles:

BrentonWho have devised injustice in their hearts; all the day they prepared war.

Greekοἵτινες ἐλογίσαντο ἀδικίας ἐν καρδίᾳ, ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν παρετάσσοντο πολέμους.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonthey sharpened their tongue like that of a serpent: the poison of asps was under their lips.

BrentonThey have sharpened their tongue as the tongue of a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips. Pause.

GreekἨκόνησαν γλῶσσαν αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ ὄφεως, ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν· διάψαλμα.

KJVThey have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.

JPSThey have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Vipers' venom is under their lips. Selah

ThomsonKeep me, O Lord, from the hand of a sinner: deliver me from unjust men; who have formed contrivances to supplant my steps.

BrentonKeep me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner; rescue me from unjust men; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

GreekΦύλαξόν με Κύριε ἐκ χειρὸς ἁμαρτωλοῦ, ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπων ἀδίκων ἐξελοῦ με· οἵτινες ἐλογίσαντο τοῦ ὑποσκελίσαι τὰ διαβήματά μου.

KJVKeep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

JPSKeep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from the violent man; Who have purposed to make my steps slip.

ThomsonThe haughty hid a snare for me—they spread out nets for my feet—close by the way they laid for me a stumbling block.

BrentonThe proud have hid a snare for me, and have stretched out ropes for snares for my feet; they set a stumbling-block for me near the path. Pause.

GreekἜκρυψαν ὑπερήφανοι παγίδα μοι· καὶ σχοινία διέτειναν παγίδας τοῖς ποσί μου, ἐχόμενα τρίβου σκάνδαλον ἔθεντό μοι· διάψαλμα.

KJVThe proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

JPSThe proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set gins for me. Selah

ThomsonI said to the Lord, Thou art my God. Hear O Lord, the voice of my supplication.

BrentonI said to the Lord, Thou art my God; hearken, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication.

GreekΕἶπα τῷ Κυρίῳ, Θεός μου εἶ σὺ· ἐνώτισαι, Κύριε, τὴν φωνὴν τῆς δεήσεώς μου.

KJVI said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.

JPSI have said unto the LORD: 'Thou art my God'; Give ear, O LORD, unto the voice of my supplications.

ThomsonO Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation! Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

BrentonO Lord God, the strength of my salvation; thou hast screened my head in the day of battle.

GreekΚύριε Κύριε, δύναμις τῆς σωτηρίας μου, ἐπεσκίασας ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλήν μου ἐν ἡμέρᾳ πολέμου.

KJVO GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

JPSO GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Who hast screened my head in the day of battle,

ThomsonDeliver me not up to the wicked from my desire. Against me they have formed devices: Forsake me not, lest they be exalted.

BrentonDeliver me not, O Lord, to the sinner, according to my desire: they have devised mischief against me; forsake me not, lest they should be exalted. Pause.

GreekΜὴ παραδῷς με, Κύριε, ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας μου ἁμαρτωλῷ· διελογίσαντο κατʼ ἐμοῦ, μὴ ἐγκαταλίπῃς με, μή ποτε ὑψωθῶσι· διάψαλμα.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonLet them that encompass me—the mischief of their lips will cover them.

BrentonAs for the head of them that compass me, the mischief of their lips shall cover them.

GreekἩ κεφαλὴ τοῦ κυκλώματος αὐτῶν, κόπος τῶν χειλέων αὐτῶν καλύψει αὐτούς.

KJVAs for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

JPSAs for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

ThomsonOn them shall fall coals of fire in the land; and Thou wilt overthrow them with miseries; that they may not rise up again.

BrentonCoals of fire shall fall upon them on the earth; and thou shalt cast them down in afflictions: they shall not bear up under them.

GreekΠεσοῦνται ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ἄνθρακες πυρὸς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ καταβαλεῖς αὐτοὺς ἐν ταλαιπωρίαις, οὐ μὴ ὑποστῶσιν.

KJVLet burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

JPSLet burning coals fall upon them; Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

ThomsonA tattling chief cannot prosper in the land: evils will hunt to destruction a man of violence.

BrentonA talkative man shall not prosper on the earth: evils shall hunt the unrighteous man to destruction.

GreekἈνὴρ γλωσσώδης οὐ κατευθυνθήσεται ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· ἄνδρα ἄδικον κακὰ θηρεύσει εἰς καταφθοράν.

KJVLet not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

JPS—

ThomsonI know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the needy:

BrentonI know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the poor, and the right of the needy ones.

GreekἜγνων ὅτι ποιήσει Κύριος τὴν κρίσιν τοῦ πτωχοῦ, καὶ τὴν δίκην τῶν πενήτων.

KJVI know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

JPSI know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the poor, And the right of the needy.

Thomsonmoreover, that the righteous will adore Thy name—that the upright shall dwell in Thy presence.

BrentonSurely the righteous shall give thanks to thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

GreekΠλὴν δίκαιοι ἐξομολογήσονται τῷ ὀνόματί σου, κατοικήσουσιν εὐθεῖς σὺν τῷ προσώπῳ σου.

KJVSurely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

JPSSurely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name; The upright shall dwell in Thy presence.