Bless the Lord, O My Soul
Psalms 102
This psalm calls the soul to bless the Lord for his forgiveness, healing, and mercy, comparing his compassion to a father's pity for his children and noting that he remembers human frailty, since people are like grass that soon fades. It closes by declaring the Lord's throne established in heaven and calling on his angels, hosts, and all his works to bless him.
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
ThomsonBLESS the Lord, O my soul; and all within me, His holy name.
BrentonA Psalm of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
GreekΤῷ Δαυίδ. Εὐλόγει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐντός μου τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ἅγιον αὐτοῦ.
KJVBless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
JPS[A Psalm] of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2
ThomsonBless the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all the praises of Him;
BrentonBless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his praises:
GreekΕὐλόγει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον, καὶ μὴ ἐπιλανθάνου πάσας τὰς αἰνέσεις αὐτοῦ·
KJVBless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
JPSBless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits;
3
ThomsonWho pardoneth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases;
Brentonwho forgives all thy transgressions, who heals all thy diseases;
GreekΤὸν εὐιλατεύοντα πάσαις ταῖς ἀνομίαις σου, τὸν ἰώμενον πάσας τὰς νόσους σου,
KJVWho forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
JPSWho forgiveth all thine iniquity; Who healeth all Thy diseases;
4
ThomsonWho redeemeth thy life from destruction: Who crowneth thee with mercy and kindness;
Brentonwho redeems thy life from corruption; who crowns thee with mercy and compassion;
Greekτὸν λυτρούμενον ἐκ φθορᾶς τὴν ζωήν σου, τὸν στεφανοῦντά σε ἐν ἐλέει καὶ οἰκτιρμοῖς,
KJVWho redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
JPSWho redeemeth Thy life from the pit; Who encompasseth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5
ThomsonWho satisfieth thy desire with good things that thy youth may be renewed like an eagle’s.
Brentonwho satisfies thy desire with good things: so that thy youth shall be renewed like that of the eagle.
Greekτὸν ἐμπιπλῶντα ἐν ἀγαθοῖς τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν σου· ἀνακαινισθήσεται ὡς ἀετοῦ ἡ νεότης σου.
KJVWho satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
JPSWho satisfieth thine old age with good things; So that Thy youth is renewed like the eagle.
6
ThomsonIt is the Lord, Who exerciseth mercy and judgment for all who were oppressed.
BrentonThe Lord executes mercy and judgment for all that are injured.
GreekΠοιῶν ἐλεημοσύνας ὁ Κύριος, καὶ κρίμα πᾶσι τοῖς ἀδικουμένοις.
KJVThe LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
JPSThe LORD executeth righteousness, And acts of justice for all that are oppressed.
7
ThomsonHe made known His ways to Moses—His pleasure to the children of Israel.
BrentonHe made known his ways to Moses, his will to the children of Israel.
GreekἘγνώρισε τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ τῷ Μωυσῇ, τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ τὰ θελήματα αὐτοῦ.
KJVHe made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
JPSHe made known His ways unto Moses, His doings unto the children of Israel.
8
Thomson—
BrentonThe Lord is compassionate and pitiful, long-suffering, and full of mercy.
GreekΟἰκτίρμων καὶ ἐλεήμων ὁ Κύριος, μακρόθυμος καὶ πολυέλεος.
KJV—
JPSThe LORD is full of compassion and gracious, Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9
Thomson—
BrentonHe will not be always angry; neither will he be wrathful for ever.
GreekΟὐκ εἰς τέλος ὀργισθήσεται, οὐδὲ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα μηνιεῖ.
KJVHe will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
JPSHe will not always contend; Neither will He keep His anger for ever.
10
ThomsonHe hath not dealt with us according to our sins; nor retributed to us according to our iniquities.
BrentonHe has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor recompensed us according to our iniquities.
GreekΟὐ κατὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν ἐποίησεν ἡμῖν, οὐδὲ κατὰ τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῶν ἀνταπέδωκεν ἡμῖν.
KJVHe hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
JPSHe hath not dealt with us after our sins, Nor requited us according to our iniquities.
11
ThomsonFor high as the heaven is from the earth; the Lord hath enlarged His mercy for them who fear Him.
BrentonFor as the heaven is high above the earth, the Lord has so increased his mercy toward them that fear him.
GreekὍτι κατὰ τὸ ὕψος τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, ἐκραταίωσε Κύριος τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς φοβουμένους αὐτόν.
KJVFor as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
JPSFor as the heaven is high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.
12
ThomsonFar as the east is distant from the west, He hath removed from us our transgressions.
BrentonAs far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
GreekΚαθόσον ἀπέχουσιν ἀνατολαὶ ἀπὸ δυσμῶν, ἐμάκρυνεν ἀφʼ ἡμῶν τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῶν.
KJVAs far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
JPSAs far as the east is from the west, So far hath He removed our transgressions from us.
13
ThomsonAs a father pitieth his children; the Lord hath pitied them who fear Him,
BrentonAs a father pities his children, the Lord pities them that fear him.
GreekΚαθὼς οἰκτείρει πατὴρ υἱοὺς, ᾠκτείρησε Κύριος τοὺς φοβουμένους αὐτόν.
KJVLike as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
JPSLike as a father hath compassion upon his children, So hath the LORD compassion upon them that fear Him. .
14
Thomsonbecause He knew our formation. O remember that we are dust.
BrentonFor he knows our frame: remember that we are dust.
GreekὍτι αὐτὸς ἔγνω τὸ πλάσμα ἡμῶν· μνήσθητι ὅτι χοῦς ἐσμεν.
KJVFor he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
JPSFor He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.
15
ThomsonAs for man, his days are like grass; like a flower of the field, so he may bloom.
BrentonAs for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so shall he flourish.
GreekἌνθρωπος, ὡσεὶ χόρτος αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτοῦ, ὡσεὶ ἄνθος τοῦ ἀγροῦ οὕτως ἐξανθήσει.
KJVAs for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
JPSAs for man, his days are as grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16
ThomsonBecause a blast of wind passed over it, it is gone. It shall no more know its place.
BrentonFor the wind passes over it, and it shall not be; and it shall know its place no more.
GreekὍτι πνεῦμα διῆλθεν ἐν αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐχ ὑπάρξει, καὶ οὐκ ἐπιγνώσεται ἔτι τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ.
KJVFor the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
JPSFor the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof knoweth it no more.
17
ThomsonBut the mercy of the Lord is from age to age over them who fear Him: and his saving goodness over children’s children,
BrentonBut the mercy of the Lord is from generation to generation upon them that fear him, and his righteousness to children's children;
GreekΤὸ δὲ ἔλεος τοῦ Κυρίου ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος ἐπὶ τοὺς φοβουμένους αὐτόν· καὶ ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ υἱοὺς υἱῶν,
KJVBut the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
JPSBut the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, And His righteousness unto children's children;
18
Thomsonfor them who keep His covenant, and remember His commands to do them.
Brentonto them that keep his covenant, and remember his commandments to do them.
Greekτοῖς φυλάσσουσι τὴν διαθήκην αὐτοῦ, καὶ μεμνημένοις τῶν ἐντολῶν αὐτοῦ τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτάς.
KJVTo such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
JPSTo such as keep His covenant, And to those that remember His precepts to do them.
19
ThomsonThe Lord hath established His throne in heaven, and His dominion is exercised over all.
BrentonThe Lord has prepared his throne in the heaven; and his kingdom rules over all.
GreekΚύριος ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἡτοίμασε τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἡ βασιλεία αὐτοῦ πάντων δεσπόζει.
KJVThe LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
JPSThe LORD hath established His throne in the heavens; And His kingdom ruleth over all.
20
ThomsonBless the Lord, all ye His angels—ye mighty powers, who execute His word, on hearing the voice of His commands.
BrentonBless the Lord, all ye his angels, mighty in strength, who perform his bidding, ready to hearken to the voice of his words.
GreekΕὐλογεῖτε τὸν Κύριον πάντες ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ, δυνατοὶ ἰσχύϊ ποιοῦντες τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ, τοῦ ἀκοῦσαι τῆς φωνῆς τῶν λόγων αὐτοῦ.
KJVBless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
JPSBless the LORD, ye angels of His, Ye mighty in strength, that fulfil His word, Hearkening unto the voice of His word.
21
ThomsonBless the Lord, all ye His armies—ye ministers of His, who perform His will.
BrentonBless the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his that do his will.
GreekΕὐλογεῖτε τὸν Κύριον πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις αὐτοῦ, λειτουργοὶ αὐτοῦ ποιοῦντες τὰ θελήματα αὐτοῦ.
KJVBless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
JPSBless the LORD, all ye His hosts; Ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure.
22
ThomsonBless the Lord all ye His works, in every place of His dominion. O my soul, bless thou the Lord.
BrentonBless the Lord, all his works, in every place of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.
GreekΕὐλογεῖτε τὸν Κύριον πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ, ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ τῆς δυναστείας αὐτοῦ· εὐλόγει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον.
KJVBless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
JPSBless the LORD, all ye His works, In all places of His dominion; Bless the LORD, O my soul.