The Blessing of the Harvest
Psalms 64
The psalm opens with praise due to God in Sion and prayer for the forgiveness of sins, blessing the one whom God has chosen to dwell in his courts and be satisfied with the holiness of his temple. It then turns to praise God's power over the mountains and the sea, and describes in vivid detail how he waters the earth, swells the rivers, and enriches the fields and flocks so that the whole land shouts and sings for joy at the harvest.
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 and Song of David.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ, ᾠδή.
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader. A Psalm. A Song of David.
2
ThomsonTO Thee, O God, a hymn in Sion is seemly: and to Thee a vow should be paid.
BrentonPraise becomes thee, O God, in Sion; and to thee shall the vow be performed.
GreekΣοὶ πρέπει ὕμνος, ὁ Θεὸς ἐν Σιὼν, καὶ σοὶ ἀποδοθήσεται εὐχή.
KJVPraise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
JPSPraise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Zion; and unto Thee the vow is performed.
3
ThomsonHearken to my prayer. To Thee all flesh should come.
BrentonHear my prayer; to thee all flesh shall come.
GreekΕἰσάκουσον προσευχῆς μου, πρὸς σὲ πᾶσα σὰρξ ἥξει.
KJVO thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
JPSO Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee doth all flesh come.
4
ThomsonThe acts of transgressors prevailed over us: but Thou canst pardon our sins.
BrentonThe words of transgressors have overpowered us; but do thou pardon our sins.
GreekΛόγοι ἀνόμων ὑπερδυνάμωσαν ἡμᾶς, καὶ τὰς ἀσεβείας ἡμῶν σὺ ἱλάσῃ.
KJV—
JPS—
5
ThomsonHappy he, whom Thou hast chosen and taken to Thyself! He shall dwell in Thy courts.
BrentonBlessed is he whom thou hast chosen and adopted; he shall dwell in thy courts; we shall be filled with the good things of thy house; thy temple is holy.
GreekΜακάριος, ὃν ἐξελέξω καὶ προσελάβου, κατασκηνώσει ἐν ταῖς αὐλαῖς σου· πλησθησόμεθα ἐν τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς τοῦ οἴκου σου, ἅγιος ὁ ναός σου,
KJVBlessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
JPSHappy is the man whom Thou choosest, and bringest near, that he may dwell in Thy courts; may we be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, the holy place of Thy temple!
6
ThomsonLet us be satisfied with the good things of Thy house: Thy temple is holy. Thou art wonderful for righteousness: hear us O God, our Saviour. Thou art the hope of all the ends of the earth: and of them at sea far off.
BrentonThou art wonderful in righteousness. Hearken to us, O God our Saviour; the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are on the sea afar off:
Greekθαυμαστὸς ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ. ἐπάκουσον ἡμῶν ὁ Θεὸς ὁ σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, ἡ ἐλπὶς πάντων τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς, καὶ τῶν ἐν θαλάσσῃ μακράν·
KJVBy terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
JPSWith wondrous works dost Thou answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation; Thou the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of the far distant seas;
7
ThomsonThou establishest the mountains by Thy power: Thou art begirt with majesty.
Brentonwho dost establish the mountains in thy strength, being girded about with power;
Greekἑτοιμάζων ὄρη ἐν τῇ ἰσχύϊ σου, περιεζωσμένος ἐν δυναστείᾳ·
KJVWhich by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
JPSWho by Thy strength settest fast the mountains, who art girded about with might;
8
Thomson—
Brentonwho troublest the depth of the sea, the sounds of its waves.
GreekὉ συνταράσσων τὸ κῦτος τῆς θαλάσσης, ἤχους κυμάτων αὐτῆς. Ταραχθήσονται τὰ ἔθνη,
KJV—
JPS—
9
ThomsonWhen nations are troubled and the inhabitants on its borders terrified at Thy signs; Thou canst make the outgoings of the morning and evening joyous.
BrentonThe nations shall be troubled, and they that inhabit the ends of the earth shall be afraid of thy signs; thou wilt cause the outgoings of morning and evening to rejoice.
Greekκαὶ φοβηθήσονται οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὰ πέρατα ἀπὸ τῶν σημείων σου· ἐξόδους πρωΐας καὶ ἑσπέρας τέρψεις.
KJVThey also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
JPSSo that they that dwell in the uttermost parts stand in awe of Thy signs; Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
10
ThomsonThou hast visited the earth and watered it: Thou hast multiplied the means of enriching it. The river of God is full of water: Thou hast provided the supply for it. Because such is Thy provision, O! water its furrows plenteously: multiply its productions.
BrentonThou hast visited the earth, and saturated it; thou hast abundantly enriched it. The river of God is filled with water; thou hast prepared their food, for thus is the preparation of it.
GreekἘπεσκέψω τὴν γῆν καὶ ἐμέθυσας αὐτὴν, ἐπλήθυνας τοῦ πλουτίσαι αὐτήν· ὁ ποταμὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπληρώθη ὑδάτων· ἡτοίμασας τὴν τροφὴν αὐτῶν, ὅτι οὕτως ἡ ἑτοιμασία.
KJVThou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
JPSThou hast remembered the earth, and watered her, greatly enriching her, with the river of God that is full of water; Thou preparest them corn, for so preparest Thou her.
11
Thomson—
BrentonSaturate her furrows, multiply her fruits; the crop springing up shall rejoice in its drops.
GreekΤοὺς αὔλακας αὐτῆς μέθυσον, πλήθυνον τὰ γεννήματα αὐτῆς, ἐν ταῖς σταγόσιν αὐτῆς εὐφρανθήσεται ἀνατέλλουσα.
KJV—
JPS—
12
ThomsonBless the crown of the year with Thy goodness: and let the fields be filled with fatness—
BrentonThou wilt bless the crown of the year because of thy goodness; and thy plains shall be filled with fatness.
GreekΕὐλογήσεις τὸν στέφανον τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ τῆς χρηστότητός σου, καὶ τὰ πεδία σου πλησθήσονται πιότητος.
KJVThou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
JPSThou crownest the year with Thy goodness; and Thy paths drop fatness.
13
Thomsonlet the mountains of the wilderness be made fertile; and the hills be girt with joy.
BrentonThe mountains of the wilderness shall be enriched; and the hills shall gird themselves with joy.
GreekΠιανθήσεται τὰ ὄρη τῆς ἐρήμου, καὶ ἀγαλλίασιν οἱ βουνοὶ περιζώσονται.
KJV—
JPSThe pastures of the wilderness do drop; and the hills are girded with joy.
14
ThomsonThe rams of the flocks have clothed themselves: and the valleys abound with corn. Let them shout and hymn Thy praise.
BrentonThe rams of the flock are clothed with wool, and the valleys shall abound in corn; they shall cry aloud, yea they shall sing hymns.
GreekἘνεδύσαντο οἱ κριοὶ τῶν προβάτων, καὶ αἱ κοιλάδες πληθυνοῦσι σῖτον, κεκράξονται, καὶ γὰρ ὑμνήσουσιν.
KJVThe pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
JPSThe meadows are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, yea, they sing.