Betrayed by a Familiar Friend
Psalms 54
Troubled by the voice of the enemy and the oppression of the wicked, the psalmist longs for wings like a dove to flee into the wilderness and escape the violence, treachery, and strife filling the city. He grieves especially over a former companion who once walked with him in fellowship to the house of God but has since turned against him, and resolves to cast his care upon the Lord, who sustains the righteous and will bring deceitful and bloodthirsty men down to destruction.
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, among Hymns of instruction by David.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ἐν ὕμνοις συνέσεως τῷ Δαυίδ.
KJV—
JPS—
2
ThomsonGIVE ear, O God, to my prayer; and overlook not my supplication.
BrentonHearken, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.
GreekἘνωτίσαι ὁ Θεὸς τὴν προσευχήν μου, καὶ μὴ ὑπερίδῃς τὴν δέησίν μου·
KJVGive ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
JPSGive ear, O God, to my prayer; And hide not Thyself from my supplication.
3
ThomsonAttend to me and hear me. I have mourned in my meditation and am troubled:
BrentonAttend to me, and hearken to me: I was grieved in my meditation, and troubled;
GreekΠρόσχες μοι, καὶ εἰσάκουσόν μου· ἐλυπήθην ἐν τῇ ἀδολεσχίᾳ μου, καὶ ἐταράχθην
KJV—
JPS—
4
Thomsonbecause of the voice of an enemy and because of the oppression of a sinner. Because upon me they cast iniquity and boiled with malice against me;
Brentonbecause of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner: for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me.
Greekἀπὸ φωνῆς ἐχθροῦ, καὶ ἀπὸ θλίψεως ἁμαρτωλοῦ· ὅτι ἐξέκλιναν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἀνομίαν, καὶ ἐν ὀργῇ ἐνεκότουν μοι.
KJVBecause of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
JPSBecause of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast mischief upon me, and in anger they persecute me.
5
Thomsonmy heart within me was troubled; and the terror of death fell upon me.
BrentonMy heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.
GreekἩ καρδία μου ἐταράχθη ἐν ἐμοὶ, καὶ δειλία θανάτου ἐπέπεσεν ἐπʼ ἐμέ.
KJVMy heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
JPSMy heart doth writhe within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
6
ThomsonFear and trembling came against me; and a dark gloom overwhelmed me.
BrentonFear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.
GreekΦόβος καὶ τρόμος ἦλθεν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ καὶ ἐκάλυψέ με σκότος.
KJVFearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
JPSFear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
7
ThomsonSo that I said, O that I had wings like those of a dove; that I might fly away and be at rest.
BrentonAnd I said, O that I had wings as those of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπα, τίς δώσει μοι πτέρυγας ὡσεὶ περιστερᾶς; καὶ πετασθήσομαι καὶ καταπαύσω.
KJVAnd I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
JPSAnd I said: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.
8
Thomson—
BrentonLo! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. Pause.
GreekἸδοὺ ἐμάκρυνα φυγαδεύων, καὶ ηὐλίσθην ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ· διάψαλμα.
KJV—
JPS—
9
ThomsonI waited for him who delivereth me from distress and a furious tempest.
BrentonI waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.
GreekΠροσεδεχόμην τὸν σώζοντά με ἀπὸ ὀλιγοψυχίας καὶ καταιγίδος.
KJV—
JPS—
10
ThomsonConfound, O Lord, and divide their tongues, for I saw iniquity and contradiction in the city.
BrentonDestroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gainsaying in the city.
GreekΚαταπόντισον Κύριε καὶ καταδίελε τὰς γλώσσας αὐτῶν, ὅτι εἶδον ἀνομίαν καὶ ἀντιλογίαν ἐν τῇ πόλει.
KJVDestroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
JPSDestroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
11
ThomsonDay and night shall transgression go round it on its walls
BrentonDay and night he shall go round about it upon its walls: iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness are in the midst of it;
GreekἩμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς κυκλώσει αὐτὴν ἐπὶ τὰ τείχη αὐτῆς, ἀνομία καὶ πόνος ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς
KJVDay and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
JPSDay and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.
12
Thomsonand trouble be in the midst of it, and injustice? Usury and fraud have not departed from its streets.
Brentonand usury and craft have not failed from its streets.
Greekκαὶ ἀδικία, καὶ οὐκ ἐξέλιπεν ἐκ τῶν πλατειῶν αὐτῆς τόκος καὶ δόλος.
KJV—
JPS—
13
ThomsonHad an enemy reproached me I could have borne it. And had the man who hated me magnified himself against me, I could have hid myself from him.
BrentonFor if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated me had spoken vauntingly against me, I would have hid myself from him.
GreekὍτι εἰ ἐχθρὸς ὠνείδισέ με, ὑπήνεγκα ἂν, καὶ εἰ ὁ μισῶν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἐμεγαλοῤῥημόνησεν, ἐκρύβην ἂν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ.
KJVFor it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
JPSFor it was not an enemy that taunted me, Then I could have borne it; Neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me, Then I would have hid myself from him.
14
ThomsonBut thou, O man, my second self, my guide, mine intimate friend!
BrentonBut thou, O man likeminded, my guide, and my acquaintance,
GreekΣὺ δὲ ἄνθρωπε ἰσόψυχε, ἡγεμών μου καὶ γνωστέ μου,
KJVBut it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
JPS—
15
ThomsonWho being with me didst sweeten my repasts! In the house of God, we walked in unanimity.
Brentonwho in companionship with me sweetened our food: we walked in the house of God in concord.
Greekὃς ἐπιτοαυτὸ ἐγλύκανας ἐδέσματα, ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπορεύθημεν ἐν ὁμονοίᾳ.
KJVWe took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
JPSWe took sweet counsel together, In the house of God we walked with the throng.
16
ThomsonLet death come upon them; Let them go down alive to the mansion of the dead: because there was wickedness in their dwellings—in the midst of them.
BrentonLet death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the midst of them.
GreekἘλθέτω θάνατος ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, καὶ καταβήτωσαν εἰς ᾅδου ζῶντες· ὅτι πονηρία ἐν ταῖς παροικίαις αὐτῶν ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν.
KJVLet death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
JPSMay He incite death against them, Let them go down alive into the nether-world; For evil is in their dwelling, and within them.
17
ThomsonAs for me, I cried to God, and the Lord heard me.
BrentonI cried to God, and the Lord hearkened to me.
GreekἘγὼ πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ἐκέκραξα, καὶ ὁ Κύριος εἰσήκουσέ μου.
KJVAs for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
JPSAs for me, I will call upon God; And the LORD shall save me.
18
ThomsonEvening and morning and at noon I will declare and proclaim; and He will hearken to my voice.
BrentonEvening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known my wants: and he shall hear my voice.
GreekἙσπέρας καὶ πρωῒ καὶ μεσημβρίας διηγήσομαι, καὶ ἀπαγγελῶ, καὶ εἰσακούσεται τῆς φωνῆς μου.
KJVEvening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
JPSEvening, and morning, and at noon, will I complain, and moan; And He hath heard my voice.
19
ThomsonHe will deliver my soul in peace from them who come near me. Because they among many were with me;
BrentonHe shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw nigh to me: for they were with me in many cases.
GreekΛυτρώσεται ἐν εἰρήνῃ τὴν ψυχήν μου ἀπὸ τῶν ἐγγιζόντων μοι, ὅτι ἐν πολλοῖς ἦσαν σὺν ἐμοί.
KJVHe hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
JPSHe hath redeemed my soul in peace so that none came nigh me; For they were many that strove with me.
20
Thomson—
BrentonGod shall hear, and bring them low, even he that has existed from eternity. Pause. For they suffer no reverse, and therefore they have not feared God.
GreekΕἰσακούσεται ὁ Θεὸς καὶ ταπεινώσει αὐτοὺς, ὁ ὑπάρχων πρὸ τῶν αἰώνων· διάψαλμα·
KJVGod shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
JPSGod shall hear, and humble them, even He that is enthroned of old, Selah, such as have no changes, and fear not God.
21
ThomsonHe hath stretched forth His hand with retribution. They profaned and broke His covenant:
BrentonHe has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.
GreekΟὐ γάρ ἐστιν αὐτοῖς ἀντάλλαγμα, καὶ οὐκ ἐφοβήθησαν τὸν Θεόν. Ἐξέτεινε τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ ἀποδιδόναι· ἐβεβήλωσαν τὴν διαθήκην αὐτοῦ.
KJV—
JPSHe hath put forth his hands against them that were at peace with him; He hath profaned his covenant.
22
Thomsonthey were scattered by the indignation of His countenance. When His heart was near, His words were smoother than oil. Now they are daggers.
BrentonThey were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew nigh them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.
GreekΔιεμερίσθησαν ἀπὸ ὀργῆς τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἤγγισεν ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ· ἡπαλύνθησαν οἱ λόγοι αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ ἔλαιον, καὶ αὐτοί εἰσι βολίδες.
KJVThe words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
JPSSmoother than cream were the speeches of his mouth, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet were they keen-edged swords.
23
ThomsonCast Thy care on the Lord, and He will sustain thee. He will never suffer the righteous to be shaken.
BrentonCast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
GreekἘπίῤῥιψον ἐπὶ Κύριον τὴν μέριμνάν σου, καὶ αὐτός σε διαθρέψει, οὐ δώσει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα σάλον τῷ δικαίῳ.
KJVCast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
JPSCast thy burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
24
ThomsonBut Thou, O God, wilt drag them down to the pit of destruction. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live half their days. But as for me I will trust in Thee, O Lord.
BrentonBut thou, O God, shalt bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in thee, O Lord.
GreekΣὺ δὲ ὁ Θεὸς κατάξεις αὐτοὺς εἰς φρέαρ διαφθορᾶς· ἄνδρες αἱμάτων καὶ δολιότητος οὐ μὴ ἡμισεύσωσι τὰς ἡμέρας αὐτῶν· ἐγὼ δὲ ἐλπιῶ ἐπὶ σε, Κύριε.
KJVBut thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
JPSBut Thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the nethermost pit; Men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days; But as for me, I will trust in Thee.