Blessed Is He Who Considers the Poor
Psalms 40
The psalm opens by blessing the one who cares for the poor and needy, promising the Lord's protection in time of sickness, then shifts to describe the psalmist's own illness, during which enemies wish for his death and even a trusted friend who ate his bread turns against him. He asks the Lord to raise him up and closes with a blessing on the God of Israel.
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, ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ.
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader. A Psalm of David.
2
ThomsonHAPPY he who is considerate with regard to the distressed and needy; in time of trouble the Lord will deliver him.
BrentonBlessed is the man who thinks on the poor and needy: the Lord shall deliver him in an evil day.
GreekΜακαρίος ὁ συνιῶν ἐπὶ πτωχὸν καὶ πένητα, ἐν ἡμέρᾳ πονηρᾷ ῥύσεται αὐτὸν ὁ Κύριος.
KJVBlessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
JPSHappy is he that considereth the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of evil.
3
ThomsonMay the Lord preserve him and keep him alive, and make him happy in the land, and may He never deliver him into the hands of his enemy!
BrentonMay the Lord preserve him and keep him alive, and bless him on the earth, and not deliver him into the hands of his enemy.
GreekΚύριος φυλάξαι αὐτὸν καὶ ζήσαι αὐτὸν, καὶ μακαρίσαι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ γῇ, καὶ μὴ παραδοῖ αὐτὸν εἰς χεῖρας ἐχθροῦ αὐτοῦ.
KJVThe LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
JPSThe LORD preserve him, and keep him alive, let him be called happy in the land; and deliver not Thou him unto the greed of his enemies.
4
ThomsonMay the Lord support him on his bed of languishing! Thou hast made all his bed in this sickness of his.
BrentonMay the Lord help him upon the bed of his pain; thou hast made all his bed in his sickness.
GreekΚύριος βοηθήσαι αὐτῷ ἐπὶ κλίνης ὀδύνης αὐτοῦ, ὅλην τὴν κοίτην αὐτοῦ ἔστρεψας ἐν τῇ ἀῤῥωστίᾳ αὐτοῦ.
KJVThe LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
JPSThe LORD support him upon the bed of illness; mayest Thou turn all his lying down in his sickness.
5
ThomsonI said, Lord be merciful to me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.
BrentonI said, O Lord, have mercy upon me; heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
GreekἘγὼ εἶπα, Κύριε ἐλέησόν με, ἴασαι τὴν ψυχήν μου, ὅτι ἥμαρτόν σοι.
KJVI said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
JPSAs for me, I said: 'O LORD, be gracious unto me; heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee.'
6
ThomsonMine enemies said wickedly of me, When will he die and his name perish?
BrentonMine enemies have spoken evil against me, saying, When shall he die, and his name perish?
GreekΟἱ ἐχθροί μου εἶπαν κακά μοι, πότε ἀποθανεῖται καὶ ἀπολεῖται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ;
KJVMine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
JPSMine enemies speak evil of me: 'When shall he die, and his name perish?'
7
ThomsonAnd if one came to see me, his heart spoke vainly. He collected iniquity for himself; he went abroad and spoke for that purpose.
BrentonAnd if he came to see me, his heart spoke vainly; he gathered iniquity to himself; he went forth and spoke in like manner.
GreekΚαὶ εἰ εἰσεπορεύετο τοῦ ἰδεῖν, μάτην ἐλάλει ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ, συνήγαγεν ἀνομίαν ἑαυτῷ, ἐξεπορεύετο ἔξω, καὶ ἐλάλει
KJV—
JPS—
8
ThomsonAll mine enemies spread whispers against me; against me they devised things hurtful to me. They hurled a wicked word against me:
BrentonAll my enemies whispered against me; against me they devised my hurt.
Greekἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό. Κατʼ ἐμοῦ ἐψιθύριζον πάντες οἱ ἐχθροί μου, κατʼ ἐμοῦ ἐλογίζοντο κακά μοι.
KJVAll that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
JPSAll that hate me whisper together against me, against me do they devise my hurt:
9
ThomsonNow he is confined to his bed, let him never rise again.
BrentonThey denounced a wicked word against me, saying, Now that he lies, shall he not rise up again?
GreekΛόγον παράνομον κατέθεντο κατʼ ἐμοῦ, μὴ ὁ κοιμώμενος οὐχὶ προσθήσει τοῦ ἀναστῆναι;
KJV—
JPS—
10
ThomsonNay, mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, lifted up his heel against me.
BrentonFor even the man of my peace, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, lifted up his heel against me.
GreekΚαὶ γὰρ ὁ ἄνθρωπος τῆς εἰρήνης μου ἐφʼ ὃν ἤλπισα, ὁ ἐσθίων ἄρτους μου ἐμεγάλυνεν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ πτερνισμόν.
KJVYea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
JPSYea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.
11
ThomsonBut Thou, O Lord, have compassion on me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
BrentonBut thou, O Lord, have compassion upon me, and raise me up, and I shall requite them.
GreekΣὺ δὲ Κύριε ἐλέησόν με, καὶ ἀνάστησόν με, καὶ ἀνταποδώσω αὐτοῖς.
KJVBut thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
JPSBut Thou, O LORD, be gracious unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
12
ThomsonBy this, I know that Thou hast delighted in me, because mine enemy hath not triumphed over me.
BrentonBy this I know that thou hast delighted in me, because mine enemy shall not rejoice over me.
GreekἘν τούτῳ ἔγνων, ὅτι τεθέληκάς με ὅτι οὐ μὴ ἐπιχαρῇ ὁ ἐχθρός μου ἐπʼ ἐμέ.
KJVBy this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
JPSBy this I know that Thou delightest in me, that mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
13
ThomsonAnd for mine innocence Thou hast upheld me; and established me before Thee forever.
BrentonBut thou didst help me because of mine innocence, and hast established me before thee for ever.
GreekἘμοῦ δὲ διὰ τὴν ἀκακίαν ἀντελάβου, καὶ ἐβεβαίωσάς με ἐνώπιόν σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
KJVAnd as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
JPSAnd as for me, Thou upholdest me because of mine integrity, and settest me before Thy face for ever.
14
ThomsonBlessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen. Amen.
BrentonBlessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. So be it, so be it.
GreekΕὐλογητὸς Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσραὴλ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· γένοιτο, γένοιτο.
KJVBlessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
JPSBlessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.