A New Song of Deliverance
Psalms 39
The psalmist recounts waiting patiently for the Lord, who lifted him out of a pit of misery and set his feet on a rock, putting a new song of praise in his mouth. He declares that the Lord desired obedience to his will rather than sacrifice, and prays for continued deliverance from surrounding troubles and enemies.
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, a Psalm of David.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, τῷ Δαυὶδ ψαλμός.
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader. A Psalm of David.
2
ThomsonI WAITED patiently for the Lord and He attended to me and heard my prayer:
BrentonI waited patiently for the Lord; and he attended to me, and hearkened to my supplication.
GreekὙπομένων ὑπέμεινα τὸν Κύριον, καὶ προσέσχε μοι, καὶ εἰσήκουσε τῆς δεήσεώς μου.
KJVI waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
JPSI waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
3
Thomsonand brought me up from a horrible pit and from miry clay; and set my feet on a rock and directed my steps,
BrentonAnd he brought me up out of a pit of misery, and from miry clay: and he set my feet on a rock, and ordered my goings aright.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνήγαγέ με ἐκ λάκκου ταλαιπωρίας, καὶ ἀπὸ πηλοῦ ἰλύος· καὶ ἔστησεν ἐπὶ πέτραν τοὺς πόδας μου, καὶ κατεύθυνε τὰ διαβήματά μου.
KJVHe brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
JPSHe brought me up also out of the tumultuous pit, out of the miry clay; and He set my feet upon a rock, He established my goings.
4
Thomsonand put in my mouth a new song—a hymn to our God. Many will see and be struck with awe, and trust in the Lord.
BrentonAnd he put a new song into my mouth, even a hymn to our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall hope in the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ ἐνέβαλεν εἰς τὸ στόμα μου ᾆσμα καινὸν, ὕμνον τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν· ὄψονται πολλοὶ καὶ φοβηθήσονται, καὶ ἐλπιοῦσιν ἐπὶ Κύριον.
KJVAnd he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
JPSAnd He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
5
ThomsonHappy the man, whose hope is the name of the Lord, and who hath not looked to vanities and lying fooleries.
BrentonBlessed is the man whose hope is the name of the Lord, and who has not regarded vanities and false frenzies.
GreekΜακάριος ἀνὴρ, οὗ ἐστι τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου ἐλπὶς αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐπέβλεψεν εἰς ματαιότητας καὶ μανίας ψευδεῖς.
KJV—
JPS—
6
ThomsonMany are Thy wonders which thou, O Lord my God, hast wrought; and for Thy thoughts there is none to be compared to Thee. I have declared and spoken. They are multiplied beyond computation.
BrentonO Lord my God, thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, and in thy thoughts there is none who shall be likened to thee: I declared and spoke of them: they exceeded number.
GreekΠολλὰ ἐποίησας σὺ Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου τὰ θαυμάσιά σου, καὶ τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς σου οὐκ ἔστι τίς ὁμοιωθήσεταί σοι· ἀπήγγειλα καὶ ἐλάλησα, ἐπληθύνθησαν ὑπὲρ ἀριθμόν.
KJVMany, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
JPSMany things hast Thou done, O LORD my God, even Thy wonderful works, and Thy thoughts toward us; there is none to be compared unto Thee! If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be told.
7
ThomsonSacrifice and offerings Thou didst not desire, but preparedst for me a body; whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin Thou didst not require.
BrentonSacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; but a body hast thou prepared me: whole-burnt-offering and sacrifice for sin thou didst not require.
GreekΘυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας, σῶμα δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι· ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ ᾔτησας.
KJVSacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
JPSSacrifice and meal-offering Thou hast no delight in; mine ears hast Thou opened; burnt-offering and sin-offering hast Thou not required.
8
ThomsonThen I said, Behold I come; (in the volume of a book it is written respecting me)
BrentonThen I said, Behold, I come: in the volume of the book it is written concerning me,
GreekΤότε εἶπον, ἰδοὺ ἥκω· ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ,
KJVThen said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
JPSThen said I: 'Lo, I am come with the roll of a book which is prescribed for me;
9
Thomsonto perform, O my God, Thy will, I was determined, even that law of Thine, within my heart.
BrentonI desired to do thy will, O my God, and thy law in the midst of mine heart.
Greekτοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημά σου ὁ Θεός μου ἠβουλήθην, καὶ τὸν νόμον σου ἐν μέσῳ τῆς καρδίας μου.
KJVI delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
JPSI delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is in my inmost parts.'
10
ThomsonI have published the good news of Thy righteousness, in a great congregation. Behold I will not refrain my lips; Thou, O Lord, knowest my righteousness.
BrentonI have preached righteousness in the great congregation; lo! I will not refrain my lips; O Lord, thou knowest my righteousness.
GreekΕὐηγγελισάμην δικαιοσύνην ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ μεγάλῃ, ἰδοὺ τὰ χείλη μου οὐ μὴ κωλύσω. Κύριε, σὺ ἔγνως
KJVI have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
JPSI have preached righteousness in the great congregation, Lo, I did not refrain my lips; O LORD, Thou knowest.
11
ThomsonI have not hid Thy truth in my heart, but have mentioned Thy salvation—I have not concealed Thy mercy and Thy truth from a great congregation.
BrentonI have not hid thy truth within my heart, and I have declared thy salvation; I have not hid thy mercy and thy truth from the great congregation.
Greekτὴν δικαιοσύνην μου, οὐκ ἔκρυψα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ μου τὴν ἀλήθειάν σου, καὶ τὸ σωτήριόν σου εἶπα· οὐκ ἔκρυψα τὸ ἔλεός σου καὶ τὴν ἀλήθειάν σου ἀπὸ συναγωγῆς πολλῆς.
KJVI have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
JPSI have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation; I have not concealed Thy mercy and Thy truth from the great congregation.
12
ThomsonWithhold not Thou then, O Lord, Thy tender mercies from me. Thy mercy and Thy truth have continually upheld me.
BrentonBut thou, Lord, remove not thy compassion far from me; thy mercy and thy truth have helped me continually.
GreekΣὺ δέ Κύριε μὴ μακρύνῃς τοὺς οἰκτιρμούς σου ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ, τὸ ἔλεός σου καὶ ἡ ἀλήθειά σου διαπαντὸς ἀντελάβοντό μου.
KJVWithhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
JPSThou, O LORD, wilt not withhold Thy compassions from me; let Thy mercy and Thy truth continually preserve me.
13
ThomsonBecause evils without number encompassed me—mine iniquities had overtaken me, therefore I was notable to look up; they were multiplied above the hairs of my head, therefore my heart failed me.
BrentonFor innumerable evils have encompassed me; my transgressions have taken hold of me, and I could not see; they are multiplied more than the hairs of my head; and my heart has failed me.
GreekὍτι περιέσχον με κακὰ, ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν ἀριθμὸς, κατέλαβόν με αἱ ἀνομίαι μου, καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνάσθην τοῦ βλέπειν· ἐπληθύνθησαν ὑπὲρ τὰς τρίχας τῆς κεφαλῆς μου, καὶ ἡ καρδία μου ἐγκατέλιπέ με.
KJVFor innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
JPSFor innumerable evils have compassed me about, mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me.
14
ThomsonBe pleased, O Lord, to deliver me. O Lord, draw near to my assistance.
BrentonBe pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, draw nigh to help me.
GreekΕὐδόκησον Κύριε τοῦ ῥύσασθαί με, Κύριε εἰς τὸ βοηθῆσαί μοι πρόσχες.
KJVBe pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
JPSBe pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me.
15
ThomsonLet them who seek my life to destroy it, be shamed and confounded together. Let them be turned back and shamed who wish me evil;
BrentonLet those that seek my soul, to destroy it, be ashamed and confounded together; let those that wish me evil be turned backward and put to shame.
GreekΚαταισχυνθείησαν καὶ ἐντραπείησαν ἅμα οἱ ζητοῦντες τὴν ψυχήν μου, τοῦ ἐξάραι αὐτήν· ἀποστραφείησαν εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, καὶ ἐντραπείησαν οἱ θέλοντές μοι κακά.
KJVLet them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
JPSLet them be ashamed and abashed together that seek after my soul to sweep it away; let them be turned backward and brought to confusion that delight in my hurt.
16
Thomsonlet those quickly bear their shame who say to me, Ha! ha!
BrentonLet those that say to me, Aha, aha, quickly receive shame for their reward.
GreekΚομισάσθωσαν παραχρῆμα αἰσχύνην αὐτῶν, οἱ λέγοντές μοι, εὖγε, εὖγε.
KJVLet them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
JPSLet them be appalled by reason of their shame that say unto me: 'Aha, aha.'
17
ThomsonLet all who seek Thee, O Lord, rejoice and be glad for Thee; let them who love Thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified!
BrentonLet all those that seek thee, O Lord, exult and rejoice in thee; and let them that love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.
GreekἈγαλλιάσαιντο καὶ εὐφρανθείησαν ἐπὶ σοὶ πάντες οἱ ζητοῦντές σε Κύριε· καὶ εἰπάτωσαν διαπαντὸς, μεγαλυνθήτω ὁ Κύριος, οἱ ἀγαπῶντες τὸ σωτήριόν σου.
KJVLet all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
JPSLet all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee; let such as love Thy salvation say continually: 'The LORD be magnified.'
18
ThomsonAs for me, I am distressed and needy, the Lord will care for me. Thou art my helper and my protector, O my God, make no delay.
BrentonBut I am poor and needy; the Lord will take care of me; thou art my helper, and my defender, O my God, delay not.
GreekἘγὼ δὲ πτωχὸς καὶ πένης εἰμὶ, Κύριος φροντιεῖ μου· βοηθός μου καὶ ὑπερασπιστής μου εἶ σὺ ὁ Θεός μου, μὴ χρονίσῃς.
KJVBut I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
JPSBut, as for me, that am poor and needy, the Lord will account it unto me; Thou art my help and my deliverer; O my God, tarry not.