The Wickedness of Man and the Mercy of God
Psalms 35
The psalm first describes the inward mind of the transgressor, who has no fear of God and delights in deceit and evil. It then turns to praise the Lord's mercy, which reaches to the heavens and gives shelter and life to all who trust in him, and prays for protection from the proud and the workers of iniquity.
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
Thomson—
BrentonFor the end, by David the servant of the Lord.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, τῷ δούλῳ Κυρίου τῷ Δαυίδ.
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader. [A Psalm] of David the servant of the LORD.
2
ThomsonTHE transgressor, in order that he may sin, saith within himself, [that] he hath, before his eyes, no fear of God’s finding out and hating his iniquity:
BrentonThe transgressor, that he may sin, says within himself, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
GreekΦησὶν ὁ παράνομος τοῦ ἁμαρτάνειν ἐν ἑαυτῷ, οὐκ ἔστι φόβος Θεοῦ ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ.
KJVThe transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
JPSTransgression speaketh to the wicked, methinks— There is no fear of God before his eyes.
3
Thomson—
BrentonFor he has dealt craftily before him, to discover his iniquity and hate it.
GreekὍτι ἐδόλωσεν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, τοῦ εὑρεῖν τὴν ἀνομίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ μισῆσαι.
KJV—
JPS—
4
ThomsonThe words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He would not be wise to do good.
BrentonThe words of his mouth are transgression and deceit: he is not inclined to understand how to do good.
GreekΤὰ ῥήματα τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ ἀνομία καὶ δόλος, οὐκ ἠβουλήθη συνιέναι τοῦ ἀγαθῦναι.
KJVThe words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
JPSThe words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit; He hath left off to be wise, to do good.
5
ThomsonHe contrived mischief on his bed; he persisted in every course which was not good, and did not abhor wickedness.
BrentonHe devises iniquity on his bed; he gives himself to every evil way; and does not abhor evil.
GreekἈνομίαν ἐλογίσατο ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης αὐτοῦ, παρέστη πάσῃ ὁδῷ οὐκ ἀγαθῇ, τῇ δὲ κακίᾳ οὐ προσώχθισε.
KJVHe deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
JPSHe deviseth iniquity upon his bed; He setteth himself in a way that is not good; He abhorreth not evil.
6
ThomsonO Lord, Thy mercy is in the heavens, and Thy truth reacheth to the clouds.
BrentonO Lord, thy mercy is in the heaven; and thy truth reaches to the clouds.
GreekΚύριε, ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ τὸ ἔλεός σου, καὶ ἡ ἀλήθειά σου ἕως τῶν νεφελῶν.
KJVThy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
JPS—
7
ThomsonThy saving goodness is like the mountains of God, and Thy judgments like the vasty deep. Thou, O Lord, preservest men and beasts.
BrentonThy righteousness is as the mountains of God, thy judgments are as a great deep: O Lord, thou wilt preserve men and beasts.
GreekἩ δικαιοσύνη σου ὡς ὄρη Θεοῦ, τὰ κρίματά σου ὡσεὶ ἄβυσσος πολλή· ἀνθρώπους καὶ κτήνη σώσεις Κύριε.
KJVThy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
JPSThy righteousness is like the mighty mountains; Thy judgments are like the great deep; Man and beast Thou preservest, O LORD.
8
ThomsonAs Thou, O Lord, hast multiplied Thy mercy: let the sons of men therefore trust in the shelter of Thy wings.
BrentonHow hast thou multiplied thy mercy, O God! so the children of men shall trust in the shelter of thy wings.
GreekὩς ἐπλήθυνας τὸ ἔλεός σου ὁ Θεός· οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐν σκέπῃ τῶν πτερύγων σου ἐλπιοῦσι.
KJVHow excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
JPSHow precious is Thy lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Thy wings.
9
ThomsonWith the fatness of Thy house they shall be plentifully fed; and Thou wilt give them for drink, the full flowing stream of Thy pleasures:
BrentonThey shall be fully satisfied with the fatness of thine house; and thou shalt cause them to drink of the full stream of thy delights.
GreekΜεθυσθήσονται ἀπὸ πιότητος οἴκου σου, καὶ τὸν χειμάῤῥουν τῆς τρυφῆς σου ποτιεῖς αὐτούς.
KJVThey shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
JPSThey are abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; And Thou makest them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.
10
Thomsonfor with Thee there is a fountain of life, and by Thy light we shall see light.
BrentonFor with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light we shall see light.
GreekὍτι παρὰ σοὶ πηγὴ ζωῆς, ἐν τῷ φωτί σου ὀψόμεθα φῶς.
KJVFor with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
JPSFor with Thee is the fountain of life; In Thy light do we see light.
11
ThomsonExtend thy mercy to them that know Thee, and Thy goodness to them who are upright in heart.
BrentonExtend thy mercy to them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
GreekΠαράτεινον τὸ ἔλεός σου τοῖς γινώσκουσί σε, καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην σου τοῖς εὐθέσι τῇ καρδίᾳ.
KJVO continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
JPSO continue Thy lovingkindness unto them that know Thee; And Thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
12
ThomsonLet not the foot of pride come against me, nor the hand of sinners shake me.
BrentonLet not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of sinners move me.
GreekΜὴ ἐλθέτω μοι ποῦς ὑπερηφανίας, καὶ χεὶρ ἁμαρτωλῶν μὴ σαλεύσαι με·
KJVLet not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
JPSLet not the foot of pride overtake me, And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.
13
ThomsonThere all the workers of iniquity are fallen! They were thrust out and could not stand.
BrentonThere have all the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast out, and shall not be able to stand.
GreekἘκεῖ ἔπεσον πάντες οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν, ἐξώσθησαν καὶ οὐ μὴ δύνωνται στῆναι.
KJVThere are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
JPSThere are the workers of iniquity fallen; They are thrust down, and are not able to rise.