A Thirst for God
Psalms 62
Set in the wilderness of Idumea, the psalm describes an intense longing for God, comparing the soul's thirst to a dry and waterless land, and recalls having beheld God's power and glory in the sanctuary. The psalmist rejoices that God's mercy is better than life itself and expresses confidence that those who seek to destroy him will instead be brought to ruin, while the king rejoices in God and every true worshiper is praised.
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—
BrentonA Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Idumea.
GreekΨαλμὸς τῷ Δαυὶδ, ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τῆς Ἰδουμαίας.
KJV—
JPSA Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
2
ThomsonO GOD, my God! to approach Thee, I rise early. My soul thirsted for Thee. For Thee [I thirst] with all the vehement desire with which my flesh pines in a land, desert, trackless and without water.
BrentonO God, my God, I cry to thee early; my soul has thirsted for thee: how often has my flesh longed after thee, in a barren and trackless and dry land!
GreekὉ Θεὸς ὁ Θεός μου πρὸς σὲ ὀρθρίζω, ἐδίψησέ σοι ἡ ψυχή μου, ποσαπλῶς σοι ἡ σάρξ μου, ἐν γῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ ἀβάτῳ καὶ ἀνύδρῳ,
KJVO God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
JPSO God, Thou art my God, earnestly will I seek Thee; My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee, In a dry and weary land, where no water is.
3
ThomsonThus have I appeared to Thee in the sanctuary; that I might see Thy power and Thy glory.
BrentonThus have I appeared before thee in the sanctuary, that I might see thy power and thy glory.
Greekοὕτως ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ ὤφθην σοι, τοῦ ἰδεῖν τὴν δύναμίν σου καὶ τὴν δόξαν σου.
KJVTo see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
JPSSo have I looked for Thee in the sanctuary, To see Thy power and Thy glory. .
4
ThomsonBecause Thy kindness is better than life; my lips shall continually praise Thee.
BrentonFor thy mercy is better than life: my lips shall praise thee.
GreekὍτι κρεῖσσον τὸ ἔλεός σου ὑπὲρ ζωὰς, τὰ χείλη μου ἐπαινέσουσί σε.
KJVBecause thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
JPSFor Thy lovingkindness is better than life; My lips shall praise Thee.
5
ThomsonThus will I bless Thee while I live: and in Thy name I will lift up my hands.
BrentonThus will I bless thee during my life: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
GreekΟὕτως εὐλογήσω σε ἐν τῇ ζωῇ μου, ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου ἀρῶ τὰς χεῖράς μου.
KJVThus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
JPSSo will I bless Thee as long as I live; In Thy name will I lift up my hands.
6
ThomsonLet my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: that my joyful lips may praise Thy name.
BrentonLet my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness; and my joyful lips shall praise thy name.
GreekὩσεὶ στέατος καὶ πιότητος ἐμπλησθείη ἡ ψυχή μου, καὶ χείλη ἀγαλλιάσεως αἰνέσει τὸ ὄνομά σου.
KJVMy soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
JPSMy soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness; And my mouth doth praise Thee with joyful lips;
7
ThomsonIf I recollected Thee on my bed: in the morning watches I meditated on Thee.
BrentonForasmuch as I have remembered thee on my bed: in the early seasons I have meditated on thee.
GreekΕἰ ἐμνημόνευόν σου ἐπὶ τῆς στρωμνῆς μου, ἐν τοῖς ὄρθροις ἐμελέτων εἰς σέ.
KJV—
JPS—
8
ThomsonBecause Thou hast been my helper: therefore in the shadow of Thy wings I will rejoice.
BrentonFor thou hast been my helper, and in the shelter of thy wings will I rejoice.
GreekὍτι ἐγενήθης βοηθός μου, καὶ ἐν τῇ σκέπῃ τῶν πτερύγων σου ἀγαλλιάσομαι.
KJVBecause thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
JPSFor Thou hast been my help, And in the shadow of Thy wings do I rejoice.
9
ThomsonMy soul hath kept close to Thee: Thy right hand hath supported me.
BrentonMy soul has kept very close behind thee: thy right hand has upheld me.
GreekἘκολλήθη ἡ ψυχή μου ὀπίσω σου, ἐμοῦ ἀντελάβετο ἡ δεξιά σου.
KJVMy soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
JPSMy soul cleaveth unto Thee; Thy right hand holdeth me fast.
10
ThomsonBut as for these who sought my life in vain; they shall go to the lowest parts of the earth.
BrentonBut they vainly sought after my soul; they shall go into the lowest parts of the earth.
GreekΑὐτοὶ δὲ εἰς μάτην ἐζήτησαν τὴν ψυχήν μου, εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὰ κατώτατα τῆς γῆς,
KJVBut those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
JPSBut those that seek my soul, to destroy it, Shall go into the nethermost parts of the earth.
11
ThomsonThey shall be delivered up to the edge of the sword: they shall be portions for jackals.
BrentonThey shall be delivered up to the power of the sword; they shall be portions for foxes.
Greekπαραδοθήσονται εἰς χεῖρας ῥομφαίας, μερίδες ἀλωπέκων ἔσονται.
KJVThey shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
JPSThey shall be hurled to the power of the sword; They shall be a portion for foxes.
12
ThomsonBut the joy of the king will be in God. Every one who sweareth by Him shall glory; because the mouth of them who speak lies is stopped.
BrentonBut the king shall rejoice in God; every one that swears by him shall be praised; for the mouth of them that speak unjust things has been stopped.
GreekὉ δὲ βασιλεὺς εὐφρανθήσεται ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ, ἐπαινεθήσεται πᾶς ὁ ὀμνύων ἐν αὐτῷ, ὅτι ἐνεφράγη στόμα λαλούντων ἄδικα.
KJVBut the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
JPSBut the king shall rejoice in God; Every one that sweareth by Him shall glory; For the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.