The Righteous Judge

Psalms 7

Because of words spoken against him, David appeals to God for deliverance from his pursuers while affirming his own innocence, calls on the Lord to judge the nations, and describes how the wicked prepare harm for others only to fall into the ruin they have made.

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

Thomson—

BrentonA Psalm of David, which he sang to the Lord because of the words of Chusi the Benjamite.

GreekΨαλμὸς τῷ Δαυὶδ, ὃν ᾖσε τῷ Κυρίῳ ὑπὲρ τῶν λόγων Χουσὶ υἱοῦ Ἰεμενεί.

KJV—

JPSShiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning Cush a Benjamite.

ThomsonO LORD, my God, in Thee I have put my trust: save me from all my persecutors and deliver me:

BrentonO Lord my God, in thee have I trusted: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.

GreekΚύριε ὁ Θεός μου, ἐπὶ σοὶ ἤλπισα, σῶσόν με ἐκ πάντων τῶν διωκόντων με, καὶ ῥῦσαί με,

KJVO LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

JPSO LORD my God, in Thee have I taken refuge; Save me from all them that pursue me, and deliver me;

Thomsonperhaps he like a lion may tear my soul; if there be none to redeem—none to deliver.

BrentonLest at any time the enemy seize my soul as a lion, while there is none to ransom, nor to save.

Greekμή ποτε ἁρπάσῃ ὡς λέων τὴν ψυχήν μου, μὴ ὄντος λυτρουμένου, μηδὲ σώζοντος.

KJVLest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

JPSLest he tear my soul like a lion, Rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

ThomsonO Lord, my God, if I have done this—if there be iniquity in my hands:

BrentonO Lord my God, if I have done this; (if there is unrighteousness in my hands;)

GreekΚύριε ὁ Θεός μου, εἰ ἐποίησα τοῦτο, εἰ ἔστιν ἀδικία ἐν χερσί μου,

KJVO LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

JPSO LORD my God, if I have done this; If there be iniquity in my hands;

Thomsonif I have requited them evil who did me wrong; let me fall by mine enemies as a worthless man:

Brentonif I have requited with evil those who requited me with good; may I then perish empty by means of my enemies.

Greekεἰ ἀνταπέδωκα τοῖς ἀνταποδιδοῦσί μοι κακὰ, ἀποπέσοιμι ἄρα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου κενός·

KJV—

JPSIf I have requited him that did evil unto me, Or spoiled mine adversary unto emptiness;

Thomsonlet mine enemy pursue my soul and take it—let him tread down my life to the earth and lay my honour in the dust.

BrentonLet the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; and let him trample my life on the ground, and lay my glory in the dust. Pause.

GreekΚαταδιώξαι ὁ ἐχθρὸς τὴν ψυχήν μου καὶ καταλάβοι, καὶ καταπατήσαι εἰς γῆν τὴν ζωήν μου, καὶ τὴν δόξαν μου εἰς χοῦν κατασκηνώσαι· διάψαλμα.

KJVLet the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

JPSLet the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it, And tread my life down to the earth; Yea, let him lay my glory in the dust. Selah

ThomsonArise, O Lord, in thine indignation: exalt Thyself in the borders of mine enemies. Awake, O Lord my God, in the judgment Thou hast enjoined.

BrentonArise, O Lord, in thy wrath; be exalted in the utmost boundaries of mine enemies: awake, O Lord my God, according to the decree which thou didst command.

GreekἈνάστηθι Κύριε ἐν ὀργῇ σου, ὑψώθητι ἐν τοῖς πέρασι τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου· ἐξεγέρθητι Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου ἐν προστάγματι ᾧ ἐνετείλω,

KJVArise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAnd the congregation of the nations shall compass thee: and for this cause do thou return on high.

Greekκαὶ συναγωγὴ λαῶν κυκλώσει σε· καὶ ὑπὲρ ταύτης εἰς ὕψος ἐπίστρεψον.

KJVSo shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

JPSAnd let the congregation of the peoples compass Thee about, And over them return Thou on high.

ThomsonThe Lord is the judge of the tribes; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness: and according to mine innocence be for me.

BrentonThe Lord shall judge the nations: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my innocence that is in me.

GreekΚύριος κρινεῖ λαούς· κρίνον με Κύριε κατὰ τὴν δικαιοσύνην μου, καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἀκακίαν μου ἐπʼ ἐμοί.

KJVThe LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

JPSO LORD, who ministerest judgment to the peoples, Judge me, O LORD, According to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

ThomsonLet the wickedness of sinners be brought to an end. Thou wilt indeed direct the righteous: Thou art the God who searcheth hearts and inward parts.

BrentonOh let the wickedness of sinners come to an end; and then thou shalt direct the righteous, O God that searchest the hearts and reins.

GreekΣυντελεσθήτω δὴ πονηρία ἁμαρτωλῶν, καὶ κατευθυνεῖς δίκαιον, ἐτάζων καρδίας καὶ νεφροὺς ὁ Θεός.

KJVOh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

JPSOh that a full measure of evil might come upon the wicked, And that Thou wouldest establish the righteous; For the righteous God trieth the heart and reins.

ThomsonRightful is my help from that God Who saveth the upright in heart.

BrentonMy help is righteous, coming from God who saves the upright in heart.

GreekΔικαία ἡ βοήθειά μου παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ σώζοντος τοὺς εὐθεῖς τῇ καρδίᾳ.

KJVMy defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

JPSMy shield is with God, Who saveth the upright in heart.

ThomsonGod, Who is a judge just and powerful; (though He is longsuffering and doth not execute vengeance every day)

BrentonGod is a righteous judge, and strong, and patient, not inflicting vengeance every day.

GreekὉ Θεὸς κριτὴς δίκαιος, καὶ ἰσχυρὸς, καὶ μακρόθυμος, μὴ ὀργὴν ἐπάγων καθʼ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν.

KJVGod judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

JPSGod is a righteous judge, Yea, a God that hath indignation every day:

Thomson—

BrentonIf ye will not repent, he will furbish his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.

GreekἘὰν μὴ ἐπιστραφῆτε, τὴν ῥομφαίαν αὐτοῦ στιλβώσει, τὸ τόξον αὐτοῦ ἐνέτεινε, καὶ ἡτοίμασεν αὐτό.

KJVIf he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

JPSIf a man turn not, He will whet His sword, He hath bent His bow, and made it ready;

ThomsonHe hath bent His bow and made it ready: and hath fitted to it the instruments of death—those flaming bolts of His which He hath forged.

BrentonAnd on it he has fitted the instruments of death; he has completed his arrows for the raging ones.

GreekΚαὶ ἐν αὐτῷ ἡτοίμασε σκεύη θανάτου, τὰ βέλη αὐτοῦ τοῖς καιομένοις ἐξειργάσατο.

KJVHe hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

JPS—

ThomsonBehold this man hath travailed with injustice. He conceived mischief and brought forth iniquity:

BrentonBehold, he has travailed with unrighteousness, he has conceived trouble, and brought forth iniquity.

GreekἸδοὺ ὠδίνησεν ἀδικίαν, συνέλαβε πόνον, καὶ ἔτεκεν ἀνομίαν.

KJVBehold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

JPSBehold, he travaileth with iniquity; Yea, he conceiveth mischief, and bringeth forth falsehood.

Thomsonhe hath digged a pit and covered it: into the pit which he made he will fall:

BrentonHe has opened a pit, and dug it up, and he shall fall into the ditch which he has made.

GreekΛάκκον ὤρυξε καὶ ἀνέσκαψεν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς βόθρον ὃν εἰργάσατο.

KJVHe made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

JPSHe hath digged a pit, and hollowed it, And is fallen into the ditch which he made.

Thomsonhis mischief will return on his own head—on his own head his injustice will come down.

BrentonHis trouble shall return on his own head, and his unrighteousness shall come down on his own crown.

GreekἘπιστρέψει ὁ πόνος αὐτοῦ εἰς κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ κορυφὴν αὐτοῦ ἡ ἀδικία αὐτοῦ καταβήσεται.

KJVHis mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

JPSHis mischief shall return upon his own head, And his violence shall come down upon his own pate.

ThomsonI shall praise the Lord for His loving kindness. I shall sing to the name of the Lord Most High.

BrentonI will give thanks to the Lord according to his righteousness; I will sing to the name of the Lord most high.

GreekἘξομολογήσομαι Κυρίῳ κατὰ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ, ψαλῶ τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου τοῦ ὑψίστου.

KJVI will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

JPSI will give thanks unto the LORD according to His righteousness; And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.