Israel's Inheritance Divided
Psalms 59
Recalling David's wars against the Syrians of Mesopotamia and Zobah and Joab's victory over twelve thousand in the Valley of Salt, the psalm opens with a lament that God has cast his people off and shaken the land, then turns to God's own promise to divide Shechem, measure out the valley of Succoth, and claim Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, Judah, Moab, Edom, and Philistia as his own. It ends with a plea for help against enemies, since deliverance by man alone is vain, and confidence that through God Israel will act valiantly.
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, for them that shall yet be changed; for an inscription by David for instruction,
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, τοῖς ἀλλοιωθησομένοις ἔτι, εἰς στηλογραφίαν τῷ Δαυὶδ εἰς διδαχὴν,
KJV—
JPS—
2
Thomson—
Brentonwhen he had burned Mesopotamia of Syria, and Syria Sobal, and Joab had returned and smitten in the valley of salt twelve thousand.
Greekὁπότε ἐνεπύρισε τὴν Μεσοποταμίαν Συρίας, καὶ τὴν Συρίαν Σοβὰλ, καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Ἰωὰβ, καὶ ἐπάταξε τὴν φάραγγα τῶν ἁλῶν, δώδεκα χιλιάδας.
KJV—
JPSwhen he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the Valley of Salt twelve thousand.
3
ThomsonO GOD, Thou didst cast us off and destroy us; Thou wast angry, but hast had compassion on us.
BrentonO God, thou hast rejected and destroyed us; thou hast been angry, yet hast pitied us.
GreekὉ Θεὸς ἀπώσω ἡμᾶς καὶ καθεῖλες ἡμᾶς, ὠργίσθης καὶ ᾠκτείρησας ἡμᾶς.
KJVO God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.
JPSO God, Thou hast cast us off, Thou hast broken us down; Thou hast been angry; O restore us.
4
ThomsonThou hast shaken the land and troubled it. Heal the breaches of it; for it hath been shaken.
BrentonThou hast shaken the earth, and troubled it; heal its breaches, for it has been shaken.
GreekΣυνέσεισας τὴν γῆν καὶ συνετάραξας αὐτὴν, ἴασαι τὰ συντρίμματα αὐτῆς, ὅτι ἐσαλεύθη.
KJVThou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
JPSThou hast made the land to shake, Thou hast cleft it; Heal the breaches thereof; for it tottereth.
5
ThomsonThou hast shewn Thy people hard things; Thou hast made us drink the wine of astonishment.
BrentonThou hast shewn thy people hard things: thou hast made us drink the wine of astonishment.
GreekἜδειξας τῷ λαῷ σου σκληρὰ, ἐπότισας ἡμᾶς οἶνον κατανύξεως.
KJVThou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.
JPSThou hast made Thy people to see hard things; Thou hast made us to drink the wine of staggering.
6
ThomsonThou hast given to them who fear Thee, a signal to flee from the face of the bow—
BrentonThou hast given a token to them that fear thee, that they might flee from the bow. Pause.
GreekἜδωκας τοῖς φοβουμένοις σε σημείωσιν, τοῦ φυγεῖν ἀπὸ προσώπου τόξον· διάψαλμα.
KJVThou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
JPSThou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah
7
Thomsonthat Thy beloved may be delivered, save with Thy right hand and hearken to me.
BrentonThat thy beloved ones may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.
GreekὍπως ἂν ῥυσθῶσιν οἱ ἀγαπητοί σου, σῶσον τῇ δεξιᾷ σου καὶ ἐπάκουσόν μου.
KJVThat thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.
JPSThat Thy beloved may be delivered, Save with Thy right hand, and answer me.
8
ThomsonGod hath spoken in His sanctuary. I shall rejoice and divide Sikima, and mete out the valley of tents.
BrentonGod has spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, and divide Sicima, and measure out the valley of tents.
GreekὉ Θεὸς ἐλάλησεν ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ, ἀγαλλιάσομαι καὶ διαμεριῶ Σίκιμα, καὶ τὴν κοιλάδα τῶν σκηνῶν διαμετρήσω.
KJVGod hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
JPSGod spoke in His holiness, that I would exult; That I would divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
9
ThomsonGalaad is mine; and mine is Manasses: Ephraim is the strength of my head; Juda, my king;
BrentonGalaad is mine, and Manasse is mine; and Ephraim is the strength of my head;
GreekἘμός ἐστι Γαλαὰδ, καὶ ἐμός ἐστι Μανασσῆ, καὶ Ἐφραὶμ κραταίωσις τῆς κεφαλῆς μου· Ἰούδας βασιλεύς μου,
KJVGilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
JPSGilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the defence of my head; Judah is my sceptre.
10
ThomsonMoab is the cauldron of my hope. Over Idumea I will extend my march: to me the Philistines are subjected.
BrentonJudas is my king; Moab is the caldron of my hope; over Idumea will I stretch out my shoe; the Philistines have been subjected to me.
GreekΜωὰβ λέβης τῆς ἐλπίδος μου, ἐπὶ τὴν Ἰδουμαίαν ἐκτενῶ τὸ ὑπόδημά μου, ἐμοὶ ἀλλόφυλοι ὑπετάγησαν.
KJVMoab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
JPS—
11
ThomsonWho will lead me to the fortified city: who will guide me to Idumea?
BrentonWho will lead me into the fortified city? who will guide me as far as Idumea?
GreekΤίς ἀπάξει με εἰς πόλιν περιοχῆς; τίς ὁδηγήσει με ἕως τῆς Ἰδουμαίας;
KJVWho will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
JPSWho will bring me into the fortified city? Who will lead me unto Edom?
12
ThomsonWilt not Thou, O God, Who didst cast us off—wilt not Thou, O God, go out with our armies?
BrentonWilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our forces?
GreekΟὐχὶ σὺ ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ ἀπωσάμενος ἡμᾶς; καὶ οὐκ ἐξελεύσῃ, ὁ Θεὸς ἐν ταῖς δυνάμεσιν ἡμῶν;
KJVWilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?
JPSHast not Thou, O God, cast us off? And Thou goest not forth, O God, with our hosts.
13
ThomsonGrant us help, because of affliction; safety from man is indeed vain.
BrentonGive us help from trouble: for vain is the deliverance of man.
GreekΔὸς ἡμῖν βοήθειαν ἐκ θλίψεως, καὶ ματαία σωτηρία ἀνθρώπου.
KJVGive us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
JPSGive us help against the adversary; For vain is the help of man.
14
ThomsonThrough God we can exert power, He can bring to nothing them who afflict us.
BrentonIn God will we do valiantly; and he shall bring to nought them that harass us.
GreekἘν τῷ Θεῷ ποιήσομεν δύναμιν, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξουδενώσει τοὺς θλίβοντας ἡμᾶς.
KJVThrough God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
JPSThrough God we shall do valiantly; For He it is that will tread down our adversaries.