The Heavens and the Law

Psalms 18

This psalm first praises the heavens and the sun for silently declaring the glory of God, then praises the law of the Lord as perfect and more desirable than gold or honey, closing with a prayer to be cleansed from hidden faults and kept blameless.

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, ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ.

KJV—

JPSFor the Leader. A Psalm of David.

ThomsonTHE heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands.

BrentonThe heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands.

GreekΟἱ οὐρανοὶ διηγοῦνται δόξαν Θεοῦ, ποίησιν δὲ χειρῶν αὐτοῦ ἀναγγέλλει τὸ στερέωμα.

KJVThe heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

JPSThe heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork;

ThomsonDay to day pronounceth a decree; and night to night proclaimeth knowledge.

BrentonDay to day utters speech, and night to night proclaims knowledge.

GreekἩμέρα τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐρεύγεται ῥῆμα, καὶ νὺξ νυκτὶ ἀναγγέλλει γνῶσιν.

KJVDay unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

JPSDay unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night revealeth knowledge;

ThomsonAre they not speeches and are they not words, of which is not their utterance heard?

BrentonThere are no speeches or words, in which their voices are not heard.

GreekΟὐκ εἰσὶ λαλιαὶ οὐδὲ λόγοι, ὧν οὐχὶ ἀκούονται αἱ φωναὶ αὐτῶν·

KJVThere is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

JPSThere is no speech, there are no words, neither is their voice heard.

Thomson—

BrentonTheir voice is gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

GreekΕἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος αὐτῶν, καὶ εἰς τὰ πέρατα τῆς οἰκουμένης τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν·

KJVTheir line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

JPSTheir line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath He set a tent for the sun,

ThomsonAnd he is like a bridegroom coming forth from his chamber. He will rejoice as a giant to run his course.

BrentonIn the sun he has set his tabernacle; and he comes forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber: he will exult as a giant to run his course.

Greekἐν τῷ ἡλίῳ ἔθετο τὸ σκήνωμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ αὐτὸς ὡς νυμφίος ἐκπορευόμενος ἐκ παστοῦ αὐτοῦ· ἀγαλλιάσεται ὡς γίγας δραμεῖν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ.

KJVWhich is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

JPSWhich is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course.

ThomsonHis going forth is from the summit of heaven; and his course is to the summit thereof, and from his heat none can be hid.

BrentonHis going forth is from the extremity of heaven, and his circuit to the other end of heaven: and no one shall be hidden from his heat.

GreekἈπʼ ἄκρου τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἡ ἔξοδος αὐτοῦ· καὶ τὸ κατάντημα αὐτοῦ ἕως ἄκρου τοῦ οὐρανοῦ· καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὃς ἀποκρυβήσεται τὴν θέρμην αὐτοῦ.

KJVHis going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

JPSHis going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

ThomsonThe law of the Lord is perfect, it restoreth souls: The testimony of the Lord is faithful, it maketh infants wise.

BrentonThe law of the Lord is perfect, converting souls: the testimony of the Lord is faithful, instructing babes.

GreekὉ νόμος τοῦ Κυρίου ἄμωμος ἐπιστρέφων ψυχὰς, ἡ μαρτυρία Κυρίου πιστὴ σοφίζουσα νήπια.

KJVThe law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

JPSThe law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. .

ThomsonThe statutes of the Lord are right, they rejoice the heart. The commandment of the Lord is clear, it enlighteneth the eyes.

BrentonThe ordinances of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is bright, enlightening the eyes.

GreekΤὰ δικαιώματα Κυρίου εὐθέα εὐφραίνοντα καρδίαν, ἡ ἐντολὴ Κυρίου τηλαυγὴς φωτίζουσα ὀφθαλμούς.

KJVThe statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

JPSThe precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

ThomsonThe fear of the Lord is pure, it endureth forever. The judgments of the Lord are true, they are justified for being so.

BrentonThe fear of the Lord is pure, enduring for ever and ever: the judgments of the Lord are true, and justified altogether.

GreekὉ φόβος Κυρίου ἁγνὸς διαμένων εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνος, τὰ κρίματα Κυρίου ἀληθινὰ δεδικαιωμένα ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό·

KJVThe fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

JPSThe fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, they are righteous altogether;

ThomsonThey are more to be desired than gold, or many precious stones; and sweeter than honey or the honeycomb.

BrentonTo be desired more than gold, and much precious stone: sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb.

GreekἘπιθυμητὰ ὑπὲρ χρυσίον καὶ λίθον τίμιον πολὺν, καὶ γλυκύτερα ὑπὲρ μέλι καὶ κηρίον.

KJVMore to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

JPSMore to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

ThomsonThese indeed Thy servant keepeth; for keeping them there is a great reward.

BrentonFor thy servant keeps to them: in the keeping of them there is great reward.

GreekΚαὶ γὰρ ὁ δοῦλός σου φυλάσσει αὐτὰ, ἐν τῷ φυλάσσειν αὐτὰ ἀνταπόδοσις πολλή.

KJVMoreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

JPSMoreover by them is Thy servant warned; in keeping of them there is great reward.

ThomsonWho can understand his errors?

BrentonWho will understand his transgressions? purge thou me from my secret sins.

GreekΠαραπτώματα τίς συνήσει; ἐκ τῶν κρυφίων μου καθάρισόν με,

KJVWho can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

JPS—

ThomsonCleanse thou me from those of mine which are hid; and for those of others, spare Thy servant. If they gain not a dominion over me: then shall I be spotless, and clean from great transgression.

BrentonAnd spare thy servant the attack of strangers: if they do not gain the dominion over me, then shall I be blameless, and I shall be clear from great sin.

Greekκαὶ ἀπὸ ἀλλοτρίων φεῖσαι τοῦ δούλου σου· ἐὰν μή μου κατακυριεύσωσι, τότε ἄμωμος ἔσομαι, καὶ καθαρισθήσομαι ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας μεγάλης.

KJVKeep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

JPSKeep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins, that they may not have dominion over me; then shall I be faultless, and I shall be clear from great transgression.

ThomsonAnd the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, will be continually acceptable in Thy sight—O Lord, my helper and my redeemer.

BrentonSo shall the sayings of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be pleasing continually before thee, O Lord my helper, and my redeemer.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσονται εἰς εὐδοκίαν τὸ λόγια τοῦ στόματός μου, καὶ ἡ μελέτη τῆς καρδίας μου ἐνώπιόν σου διαπαντός· Κύριε βοηθέ μου, καὶ λυτρωτά μου.

KJVLet the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

JPSLet the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before Thee, O LORD, my Rock, and my Redeemer.