A Hymn of Creation and Providence
Psalms 32
The righteous are called to praise the Lord with song and instruments because his word is right and his works faithful, for by his word the heavens and the seas were made. The psalm contrasts the futility of trusting in armies, kings, or horses with the security of those who fear the Lord and hope in his mercy.
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
ThomsonREJOICE ye righteous in the Lord: praise becometh the upright.
BrentonA Psalm of David. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; praise becomes the upright.
GreekΤῷ Δαυίδ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν τῷ Κυρίῳ, τοῖς εὐθέσι πρέπει αἴνεσις.
KJVRejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
JPSRejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous, Praise is comely for the upright.
2
ThomsonPraise the Lord with the kithara—with the ten stringed psaltery sing praises to Him.
BrentonPraise the Lord on the harp; play to him on a psaltery of ten strings.
GreekἘξομολογεῖσθε τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐν κιθάρᾳ, ἐν ψαλτηρίῳ δεκαχόρδῳ ψάλατε αὐτῷ.
KJVPraise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
JPSGive thanks unto the LORD with harp, Sing praises unto Him with the psaltery of ten strings.
3
ThomsonSing to Him a new song; sing in harmonious and triumphant strains.
BrentonSing to him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
GreekἌσατε αὐτῷ ᾆσμα καινὸν, καλῶς ψάλατε ἐν ἀλαλαγμῷ.
KJVSing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
JPSSing unto Him a new song; Play skilfully amid shouts of joy.
4
ThomsonFor the word of the Lord is right, and all His works are true.
BrentonFor the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are faithful.
GreekὍτι εὐθὴς ὁ λόγος τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν πίστει.
KJVFor the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
JPSFor the word of the LORD is upright; And all His work is done in faithfulness.
5
ThomsonHe loveth mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
BrentonHe loves mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
GreekἈγαπᾷ ἐγεημοσύνην καὶ κρίσιν, τοῦ ἐλέους Κυρίου πλήρης ἡ γῆ.
KJVHe loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
JPSHe loveth righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.
6
ThomsonBy the word of the Lord the heavens were established, and all their host by the breath of His mouth.
BrentonBy the word of the Lord the heavens were established; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
GreekΤῷ λόγῳ τοῦ Κυρίου οἱ οὐρανοὶ ἐστερεώθησαν, καὶ τῷ πνεύματι τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ πᾶσα ἡ δύναμις αὐτῶν.
KJVBy the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
JPSBy the word of the LORD were the heavens made; And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
7
ThomsonHe gathered as in a vessel the waters of the sea; He laid up the deeps in store houses.
BrentonWho gathers the waters of the sea as in a bottle; who lays up the deeps in treasuries.
GreekΣυνάγων ὡσεὶ ἀσκὸν ὕδατα θαλάσσης, τιθεὶς ἐν θησαυροῖς ἀβύσσους.
KJV—
JPSHe gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap; He layeth up the deeps in storehouses.
8
ThomsonLet all the earth fear the Lord; and all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him;
BrentonLet all the earth fear the Lord; and let all that dwell in the world be moved because of him.
GreekΦόβηθήτω τὸν Κύριον πᾶσα ἡ γῆ, ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ δὲ σαλευθήτωσαν πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν οἰκουμένην.
KJVLet all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
JPSLet all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9
Thomson—
BrentonFor he spoke, and they were made; he commanded, and they were created.
GreekὍτι αὐτὸς εἶπε καὶ ἐγενήθησαν, αὐτὸς ἐνετείλατο καὶ ἐκτίσθησαν.
KJV—
JPSFor He spoke, and it was; He commanded, and it stood.
10
ThomsonHe commanded and they were created. The Lord dissipateth the counsels of nations, and disannulleth the devices of peoples. He disannulleth also the counsels of chiefs.
BrentonThe Lord frustrates the counsels of the nations; he brings to nought also the reasonings of the peoples, and brings to nought the counsels of princes.
GreekΚύριος διασκεδάζει βουλὰς ἐθνῶν, ἀθετεῖ δὲ λογισμοὺς λαῶν, καὶ ἀθετεῖ βουλὰς ἀρχόντων.
KJV—
JPSThe LORD bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.
11
ThomsonBut the counsel of the Lord shall endure forever, the thoughts of His heart from generations to generations.
BrentonBut the counsel of the Lord endures for ever, the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.
GreekἩ δὲ βουλὴ τοῦ Κυρίου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα μένει, λογισμοὶ τῆς καρδίας αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ γενεῶν εἰς γενεάς.
KJVThe counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
JPSThe counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, The thoughts of His heart to all generations.
12
ThomsonHappy is the nation, whose God is the Lord—the people, whom He hath chosen for His heritage.
BrentonBlessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.
GreekΜακάριον τὸ ἔθνος οὗ ἐστι Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς αὐτοῦ, λαὸς ὃν ἐξελέξατο εἰς κληρονομίαν ἑαυτῷ.
KJVBlessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
JPSHappy is the nation whose God is the LORD; The people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.
13
ThomsonOut of heaven the Lord looked down; He took a view of all the children of men.
BrentonThe Lord looks out of heaven; he beholds all the sons of men.
GreekἘξ οὐρανοῦ ἐπέβλεψεν ὁ Κύριος, εἶδε πάντας τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
KJVThe LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
JPSThe LORD looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men;
14
ThomsonHe looked down from His fixed habitation on all the inhabitants of the earth.
BrentonHe looks from his prepared habitation on all the dwellers on the earth;
GreekἘξ ἑτοίμου κατοικητηρίου αὐτοῦ ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν γῆν.
KJVFrom the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
JPSFrom the place of His habitation He looketh intently Upon all the inhabitants of the earth;
15
ThomsonIt is He alone who formed their hearts: He knoweth completely all their works.
Brentonwho fashioned their hearts alone; who understands all their works.
GreekὉ πλάσας κατὰ μόνας τὰς καρδίας αὐτῶν, ὁ συνιεὶς πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν.
KJVHe fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
JPSHe that fashioneth the hearts of them all, That considereth all their doings.
16
ThomsonA king is not saved because of a numerous army: nor can a giant be saved by his abundant strength.
BrentonA king is not saved by reason of a great host; and a giant shall not be delivered by the greatness of his strength.
GreekΟὐ σώζεται βασιλεὺς διὰ πολλὴν δύναμιν, καὶ γίγας οὐ σωθήσεται ἐν πλήθει ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ.
KJVThere is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
JPSA king is not saved by the multitude of a host; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
17
ThomsonA horse is a false thing for safety; nor can he with all his power save himself.
BrentonA horse is vain for safety; neither shall he be delivered by the greatness of his power.
GreekΨευδὴς ἵππος εἰς σωτηρίαν, ἐν δὲ πλήθει δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ οὐ σωθήσεται.
KJVAn horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
JPSA horse is a vain thing for safety; Neither doth it afford escape by its great strength.
18
ThomsonBehold the eyes of the Lord are on them who fear Him—on them who confide in His mercy;
BrentonBehold, the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him, those that hope in his mercy;
GreekἸδοὺ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ Κυρίου ἐπὶ τοὺς φοβουμένους αὐτὸν, τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπὶ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ,
KJVBehold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
JPSBehold, the eye of the LORD is toward them that fear Him, Toward them that wait for His mercy;
19
Thomsonto deliver their souls from death; and to nourish them in a famine.
Brentonto deliver their souls from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Greekῥύσασθαι ἐκ θανάτου τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν, καὶ διαθρέψαι αὐτοὺς ἐν λιμῷ.
KJVTo deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
JPSTo deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.
20
ThomsonLet our soul wait for the Lord; because He is our helper and our protector.
BrentonOur soul waits on the Lord; for he is our helper and defender.
GreekἩ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν ὑπομένει τῷ Κυρίῳ, ὅτι βοηθὸς καὶ ὑπερασπιστὴς ἡμῶν ἐστιν.
KJVOur soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
JPSOur soul hath waited for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.
21
ThomsonBecause by Him our heart can be made glad, therefore in His Holy Name we have trusted.
BrentonFor our heart shall rejoice in him, and we have hoped in his holy name.
GreekὍτι ἐν αὐτῷ εὐφρανθήσεται ἡ καρδία ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τῷ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ ἠλπίσαμεν.
KJVFor our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
JPSFor in Him doth our heart rejoice, Because we have trusted in His holy name.
22
ThomsonLet Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have put our trust in Thee.
BrentonLet thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in thee.
GreekΓένοιτο τὸ ἔλεός σου, Κύριε, ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς, καθάπερ ἠλπίσαμεν ἐπὶ σέ.
KJVLet thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
JPSLet Thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have waited for Thee.