The Lord My Portion
Psalms 15
David declares the Lord to be his refuge and the true portion of his inheritance, rejoicing that God instructs and guides him and will not abandon him to corruption, and expresses confidence in the ways of life and joy found in God's presence.
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
ThomsonPRESERVE me, O Lord: for in Thee I have trusted.
BrentonA writing of David. Keep me, O Lord; for I have hoped in thee.
GreekΣτηλογραφία τῷ Δαυίδ. Φύλαξον με Κύριε, ὅτι ἐπὶ σοὶ ἤλπισα.
KJV—
JPSMichtam of David. Keep me, O God; for I have taken refuge in Thee.
2
ThomsonI said to the Lord, Thou art my Lord: Thou hast no need of my goods.
BrentonI said to the Lord, Thou art my Lord; for thou hast no need of my goodness.
GreekΕἶπα τῷ Κυρίῳ, Κύριός μου εἶ σὺ, ὅτι τῶν ἀγαθῶν μου οὐ χρείαν ἔχεις.
KJVO my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
JPSI have said unto the LORD: 'Thou art my Lord; I have no good but in Thee';
3
Thomson—
BrentonOn behalf of the saints that are in his land, he has magnified all his pleasure in them.
GreekΤοῖς ἁγίοις τοῖς ἐν τῇ γῇ αὐτοῦ, ἐθαυμάστωσε πάντα τὰ θελήματα αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτοῖς.
KJVBut to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
JPS—
4
ThomsonTheir infirmities were multiplied: after these hallowed things they hastened. I will no more assemble their congregations for blood, nor make mention of their names with my lips.
BrentonTheir weaknesses have been multiplied; afterward they hasted. I will by no means assemble their bloody meetings, neither will I make mention of their names with my lips.
GreekἘπληθύνθησαν αἱ ἀσθένειαι αὐτῶν, μετὰ ταῦτα ἐτάχυναν· οὐ μὴ συναγάγω τὰς συναγωγὰς αὐτῶν ἐξ αἱμάτων, οὐδὲ μὴ μνησθῶ τῶν ὀνομάτων αὐτῶν διὰ χειλέων μου.
KJV—
JPS—
5
ThomsonThe Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou art He who restoreth me mine inheritance.
BrentonThe Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou art he that restores my inheritance to me.
GreekΚύριος μερὶς τῆς κληρονομίας μου καὶ τοῦ ποτηρίου μου, σὺ εἶ ὁ ἀποκαθιστῶν τὴν κληρονομίαν μου ἐμοί.
KJVThe LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
JPSO LORD, the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup, Thou maintainest my lot.
6
ThomsonThe lines have fallen to me in the best places: for this inheritance of mine is the best for me.
BrentonThe lines have fallen to me in the best places, yea, I have a most excellent heritage.
GreekΣχοινία ἐπέπεσάν μοι ἐν τοῖς κρατίστοις, καὶ γὰρ ἡ κληρονομία μου κρατίστη μοι ἐστίν.
KJVThe lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
JPSThe lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7
ThomsonI will bless the Lord Who hath given me understanding: even now at night my reigns have instructed me.
BrentonI will bless the Lord who has instructed me; my reins too have chastened me even till night.
GreekΕὐλογήσω τὸν Κύριον τὸν συνετίσαντά με, ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἕως νυκτὸς ἐπαίδευσάν με οἱ νεφροί μου.
KJVI will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
JPSI will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel; Yea, in the night seasons my reins instruct me.
8
ThomsonI saw the Lord continually before me. Because He is at my right hand that I may not be moved;
BrentonI foresaw the Lord always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
GreekΠροωρώμην τὸν Κύριον ἐνώπιόν μου διαπαντὸς, ὅτι ἐκ δεξιῶν μου ἐστὶν ἵνα μὴ σαλευθῶ.
KJVI have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
JPSI have set the LORD always before me; Surely He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9
Thomsontherefore my heart was gladdened; and my tongue exulted with joy: moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;
BrentonTherefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο ηὐφράνθη ἡ καρδία μου, καὶ ἠγαλλιάσατο ἡ γλῶσσά μου, ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἡ σάρξ μου κατασκηνώσει ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι·
KJVTherefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
JPSTherefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also dwelleth in safety;
10
Thomsonthat Thou wilt not leave my soul in the mansion of the dead nor suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Brentonbecause thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
GreekὍτι οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψεις τὴν ψυχήν μου εἰς ᾅδην, οὐδὲ δώσεις τὸν ὅσιόν σου ἰδεῖν διαφθοράν.
KJVFor thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
JPSFor Thou wilt not abandon my soul to the nether-world; Neither wilt Thou suffer Thy godly one to see the pit.
11
ThomsonThou hast made known to me the ways of life: Thou with Thy presence wilt fill me with joy. At Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.
BrentonThou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt fill me with joy with thy countenance: at thy right hand there are delights for ever.
GreekἘγνώρισάς μοι ὁδοὺς ζωῆς, πληρώσεις με εὐφροσύνης μετὰ τοῦ προσώπου σου, τερπνότητες ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ σου εἰς τέλος.
KJVThou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
JPSThou makest me to know the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy, In Thy right hand bliss for evermore.