The Apple of the Eye

Psalms 16

David prays for a righteous hearing from the Lord, recalling how he has been tested and found faithful, asks to be guarded like the apple of the eye from enemies who surround him like a lion, and declares his confidence that he will appear before God's face in righteousness.

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

ThomsonHEARKEN, O Lord, to my justification; attend to my supplication: give ear to my prayer which is not made with feigned lips.

BrentonA Prayer of David. Hearken, O Lord of my righteousness, attend to my petition; give ear to my prayer not uttered with deceitful lips.

GreekΠροσευχὴ τοῦ Δαυίδ. Εἰσάκουσον Κύριε τῆς δικαιοσύνης μου, πρόσχες τῇ δεήσει μου· ἐνώτισαι τὴν προσευχήν μου οὐκ ἐν χείλεσι δολίοις.

KJVHear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

JPSA Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry; Give ear unto my prayer from lips without deceit.

ThomsonLet my sentence come forth from Thy presence: Let mine eyes behold righteous decisions.

BrentonLet my judgment come forth from thy presence; let mine eyes behold righteousness.

GreekἘκ προσώπου σου τὸ κρίμα μου ἐξέλθοι, οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου ἰδέτωσαν εὐθύτητας.

KJVLet my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

JPSLet my judgment come forth from Thy presence; Let Thine eyes behold equity.

ThomsonThou hast proved my heart: Thou hast watched me by night: Thou hast tried me: and in me there was found no injustice.

BrentonThou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me by night; thou hast tried me as with fire, and unrighteousness has not been found in me: I am purposed that my mouth shall not speak amiss.

GreekἘδοκίμασας τὴν καρδίαν μου, ἐπεσκέψω νυκτὸς, ἐπύρωσάς με, καὶ οὐχ εὑρέθη ἐν ἐμοὶ ἀδικία·

KJVThou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

JPSThou hast tried my heart, Thou hast visited it in the night; Thou hast tested me, and Thou findest not That I had a thought which should not pass my mouth.

ThomsonThat my mouth might not speak the works of these men; I, because of the words of Thy lips, kept rugged ways.

BrentonAs for the works of men, by the words of thy lips I have guarded myself from hard ways.

Greekὅπως ἂν μὴ λαλήσῃ τὸ στόμα μου. Τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἀνθρώπων, διὰ τοὺς λόγους τῶν χειλέων σου ἐγὼ ἐφύλαξα ὁδοὺς σκληράς.

KJVConcerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

JPSAs for the doings of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent.

Thomson—

BrentonDirect my steps in thy paths, that my steps slip not.

GreekΚατάρτισαι τὰ διαβήματά μου ἐν ταῖς τρίβοις σου, ἵνα μὴ σαλευθῇ τὰ διαβήματά μου.

KJVHold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

JPSMy steps have held fast to Thy paths, My feet have not slipped.

ThomsonI have cried, because Thou, O God, didst hear me: incline Thine ear to me and hear my words.

BrentonI have cried, for thou heardest me, O God: incline thine ear to me, and hearken to my words.

GreekἘγὼ ἐκεκραξα, ὅτι ἐπήκουσας μου ὁ Θεός· κλῖνον τὸ οὖς σου ἐμοὶ, καὶ εἰσάκουσον τῶν ῥημάτων μου.

KJVI have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

JPSAs for me, I call upon Thee, for Thou wilt answer me, O God; Incline Thine ear unto me, hear my speech.

ThomsonDisplay marvellously Thy mercies, O Thou, who, with Thy right hand, savest from adversaries them who trust in Thee.

BrentonShew the marvels of thy mercies, thou that savest them that hope in thee.

GreekΘαυμάστωσον τὰ ἐλέη σου, ὁ σώζων τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπὶ σέ· ἐκ τῶν ἀνθεστηκότων τῇ δεξιᾷ σου,

KJVShew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

JPSMake passing great Thy mercies, O Thou that savest by Thy right hand From assailants them that take refuge in Thee.

ThomsonKeep me as the apple of an eye: with the cover of Thy wings Thou wilt shelter me

BrentonKeep me as the apple of the eye from those that resist thy right hand: thou shalt screen me by the covering of thy wings,

Greekφύλαξόν με ὡς κόρην ὀφθαλμοῦ· ἐν σκέπῃ τῶν πτερύγων σου σκεπάσεις με,

KJVKeep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

JPSKeep me as the apple of the eye, Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings,

Thomsonfrom the face of the wicked who afflict me.

Brentonfrom the face of the ungodly that have afflicted me: mine enemies have compassed about my soul.

Greekἀπὸ προσώπου ἀσεβῶν τῶν ταλαιπωρησάντων με· οἱ ἐχθροί μου τὴν ψυχήν μου περιέσχον.

KJVFrom the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

JPSFrom the wicked that oppress, My deadly enemies, that compass me about.

Thomson—

BrentonThey have enclosed themselves with their own fat: their mouth has spoken pride.

GreekΤὸ στέαρ αὐτῶν συνέκλεισαν, τὸ στόμα αὐτῶν ἐλάλησεν ὑπερηφανίαν.

KJVThey are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

JPS—

ThomsonHaving driven me out they now enclosed me. They set their eyes inclining to the ground.

BrentonThey have now cast me out and compassed me round about: they have set their eyes so as to bow them down to the ground.

GreekἘκβαλόντες με νυνὶ περιεκύκλωσάν με, τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτὼν ἔθεντο ἐκκλῖναι ἐν τῇ γῇ.

KJVThey have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

JPSAt our every step they have now encompassed us; They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.

ThomsonThey observed me, like a lion eager for prey, and like a young lion lurking in coverts.

BrentonThey laid wait for me as a lion ready for prey, and like a lion's whelp dwelling in secret places.

GreekὙπέλαβόν με ὡσεὶ λέων ἕτοιμος εἰς θήραν, καὶ ὡσεὶ σκύμνος οἰκῶν ἐν ἀποκρύφοις.

KJVLike as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

JPSHe is like a lion that is eager to tear in pieces, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.

ThomsonArise, O Lord, prevent them and cause them to stumble. Deliver my soul from the wicked:

BrentonArise, O Lord, prevent them, and cast them down: deliver my soul from the ungodly: draw thy sword,

GreekἈνάστηθι Κύριε, πρόφθασον αὐτοὺς, καὶ ὑποσκέλισον αὐτοὺς, ῥῦσαι τὴν ψυχήν μου ἀπὸ ἀσεβοῦς, ῥομφαίαν σου

KJVArise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

JPSArise, O LORD, confront him, cast him down; Deliver my soul from the wicked, by Thy sword;

Thomsonwrest Thy sword from Thine enemies’ hand. Dismiss them, O Lord, from the land: disperse them in their lifetime. Though their belly was filled with Thy stores, they glutted themselves with swine’s flesh, and left the remains for their children.

Brentonbecause of the enemies of thine hand: O Lord, destroy them from the earth; scatter them in their life, though their belly has been filled with thy hidden treasures: they have been satisfied with uncleanness, and have left the remnant of their possessions to their babes.

Greekἀπὸ ἐχθρῶν τῆς χειρός σου· Κύριε ἀπολύων ἀπὸ γῆς, διαμέρισον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτῶν, καὶ τῶν κεκρυμμένων σου ἐπλήσθη ἡ γαστὴρ αὐτῶν· ἐχορτάσθησαν ὑείων, καὶ ἀφῆκαν τὰ κατάλοιπα τοῖς νηπίοις αὐτῶν.

KJVFrom men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

JPSFrom men, by Thy hand, O LORD, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life, And whose belly Thou fillest with Thy treasure; Who have children in plenty, And leave their abundance to their babes.

ThomsonBut as for me, let me appear righteous before Thee; let me be satisfied with a display of Thy glory.

BrentonBut I shall appear in righteousness before thy face: I shall be satisfied when thy glory appears.

GreekἘγὼ δὲ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ὀφθήσομαι τῷ προσώπῳ σου, χορτασθήσομαι ἐν τῷ ὀφθῆναι τὴν δόξαν σου.

KJVAs for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

JPSAs for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.