The King of Glory
Psalms 23
The psalm declares that the earth and everything in it belong to the Lord, who founded it upon the seas, and describes the kind of person fit to ascend the Lord's holy mountain: one with clean hands and a pure heart. It closes with a call for the gates to be lifted up so that the King of glory, the Lord of hosts, may enter.
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
ThomsonTHE earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof, the world and all its inhabitants.
BrentonA Psalm for David on the first day of the week. The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; the world, and all that dwell in it.
GreekΨαλμὸς τῷ Δαυὶδ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτου. Τοῦ Κυρίου ἡ γῆ καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς, ἡ οἰκουμένη καὶ πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν αὐτῇ.
KJVThe earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
JPSA Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2
ThomsonUpon the seas He laid its foundations; and established it upon the floods.
BrentonHe has founded it upon the seas, and prepared it upon the rivers.
GreekΑὐτὸς ἐπὶ θαλασσῶν ἐθεμελιώσεν αὐτὴν, καὶ ἐπὶ ποταμῶν ἡτοίμασεν αὐτήν.
KJVFor he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
JPSFor He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3
ThomsonWho shall ascend to the hill of God, and who shall stand in His holy place?
BrentonWho shall go up to the mountain of the Lord, and who shall stand in his holy place?
GreekΤίς ἀναβήσεται εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ τίς στήσεται ἐν τόπῳ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ;
KJVWho shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
JPSWho shall ascend into the mountain of the LORD? And who shall stand in His holy place?
4
ThomsonHe whose hands are clean and whose heart is pure. Who hath not devoted his soul to vanity; nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.
BrentonHe that is innocent in his hands and pure in his heart; who has not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.
GreekἈθῶος χερσὶ καὶ καθαρὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὃς οὐκ ἔλαβεν ἐπὶ ματαίῳ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ὤμοσεν ἐπὶ δόλῳ τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ.
KJVHe that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
JPSHe that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not taken My name in vain, and hath not sworn deceitfully.
5
ThomsonSuch shall receive a blessing from the Lord; and bounteous supplies from God his saviour.
BrentonHe shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour.
GreekΟὗτος λήψεται εὐλογίαν παρὰ Κυρίου, καὶ ἐλεημοσύνην παρὰ Θεοῦ σωτῆρος αὐτοῦ.
KJVHe shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
JPSHe shall receive a blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6
ThomsonSuch is the generation of them who seek Him; who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
BrentonThis is the generation of them that seek him, that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Pause.
GreekΑὕτη ἡ γενεὰ ζητούντων αὐτὸν, ζητούντων τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ Θεοῦ Ἰακώβ. διάψαλμα.
KJVThis is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
JPSSuch is the generation of them that seek after Him, that seek Thy face, even Jacob. Selah
7
ThomsonOpen wide your gates, ye chiefs! and be opened wide, ye everlasting doors; that the glorious king may enter.
BrentonLift up your gates, ye princes, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in.
GreekἌρατε πύλας οἱ ἄρχοντες ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπάρθητε πύλαι αἰώνιοι, καὶ εἰσελεύσεται ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης.
KJVLift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
JPSLift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; that the King of glory may come in.
8
ThomsonWho is the glorious king? The Lord strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.
BrentonWho is this king of glory? the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
GreekΤίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης; Κύριος κραταιὸς καὶ δυνατὸς, Κύριος δυνατὸς ἐν πολέμῳ.
KJVWho is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
JPS'Who is the King of glory?' 'The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.'
9
ThomsonOpen wide your gates, ye chiefs; and be opened wide ye everlasting doors; that the glorious king may enter.
BrentonLift up your gates, ye princes; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in.
GreekἌρατε πύλας οἱ ἄρχοντες ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπάρθητε πύλαι αἰώνιοι, καὶ εἰσελεύσεται ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης.
KJVLift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
JPSLift up your heads, O ye gates, Yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors; That the King of glory may come in.
10
ThomsonWho is this glorious king? The Lord of Hosts. He is the king of glory.
BrentonWho is this king of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is this king of glory.
GreekΤίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης; Κύριος τῶν δυνάμεων, αὐτός ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης.
KJVWho is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
JPS'Who then is the King of glory?' 'The LORD of hosts; He is the King of glory.' Selah