A Prayer Against False Accusers
Psalms 108
The psalmist asks the Lord not to keep silence while wicked and deceitful men speak against him with hatred and repay his love with accusation and evil. He calls down a series of curses on his chief accuser, that his days be few, his children orphaned, his house desolate, and his name blotted out, then turns to ask the Lord for mercy and deliverance in his own poverty and affliction, so his enemies' shame will be evident and he can give thanks openly.
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
ThomsonO GOD, pass not by my praise in silence:
BrentonFor the end, a Psalm of David. O God, pass not over my praise in silence;
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ. Ὁ Θεὸς τὴν αἴνεσίν μου μὴ παρασιωπήσῃς,
KJVHold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
JPSFor the Leader. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, keep not silence;
2
Thomsonfor against me the mouth of a sinner; and the mouth of the deceitful is opened. They have spoken against me with a deceitful tongue.—
Brentonfor the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the crafty man have been opened against me: they have spoken against me with a crafty tongue.
Greekὅτι στόμα ἁμαρτωλοῦ καὶ στόμα δολίου ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἠνοίχθη· ἐλάλησαν κατʼ ἐμοῦ γλώσσῃ δολίᾳ,
KJVFor the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
JPSFor the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit have they opened against me; They have spoken unto me with a lying tongue.
3
ThomsonWith words of hatred they encompassed me about; and fought against me without provocation.
BrentonAnd they have compassed me with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
Greekκαὶ λόγοις μίσους ἐκύκλωσάν με, καὶ ἐπολέμησάν με δωρέαν.
KJVThey compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
JPSThey compassed me about also with words of hatred, And fought against me without a cause.
4
Thomson—
BrentonInstead of loving me, they falsely accused me: but I continued to pray.
GreekἈντὶ τοῦ ἀγαπᾷν με, ἐνδιέβαλλόν με, ἐγὼ δὲ προσηυχόμην.
KJV—
JPS—
5
Thomsonwhen they were rendering me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
BrentonAnd they rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
GreekΚαὶ ἔθεντο κατʼ ἐμοῦ κακὰ ἀντὶ ἀγαθῶν, καὶ μῖσος ἀντὶ τῆς ἀγαπήσεώς μου.
KJVAnd they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
JPSAnd they have laid upon me evil for good, And hatred for my love:
6
Thomson“Set a sinner over him; and let an accuser stand at his right hand.
BrentonSet thou a sinner against him; and let the devil stand at his right hand.
GreekΚατάστησον ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ἁμαρτωλὸν, καὶ διάβολος στήτω ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ.
KJVSet thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
JPS’Set Thou a wicked man over him; And let an adversary stand at his right hand.
7
ThomsonWhen he is judged let him be condemned; and let his supplication be deemed an offence.
BrentonWhen he is judged, let him go forth condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
GreekἘν τῷ κρίνεσθαι αὐτὸν, ἐξέλθοι καταδεδικασμένος, καὶ ἡ προσευχὴ αὐτοῦ γενέσθω εἰς ἁμαρτίαν.
KJVWhen he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
JPSWhen he is judged, let him go forth condemned; And let his prayer be turned into sin.
8
ThomsonLet his days be few; and let another take his office.
BrentonLet his days be few: and let another take his office of overseer.
GreekΓενηθήτωσαν αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτοῦ ὀλίγαι, καὶ τὴν ἐπισκοπὴν αὐτοῦ λάβοι ἕτερος.
KJVLet his days be few; and let another take his office.
JPSLet his days be few; Let another take his charge.
9
ThomsonLet his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.
BrentonLet his children be orphans, and his wife a widow.
GreekΓενηθήτωσαν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ὀρφανοὶ, καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ χήρα.
KJVLet his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
JPSLet his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow.
10
ThomsonLet his sons be vagabonds and beg: let them be cast out from their dwellings.
BrentonLet his children wander without a dwelling-place, and beg: let them be cast out of their habitations.
GreekΣαλευόμενοι μεταναστήτωσαν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπαιτησάτωσαν, ἐκβληθήτωσαν ἐκ τῶν οἰκοπέδων αὐτῶν.
KJVLet his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
JPSLet his children be vagabonds, and beg; And let them seek their bread out of their desolate places.
11
ThomsonLet an extortioner seize all that he hath; and strangers make spoil of his labours.
BrentonLet his creditor exact all that belongs to him: and let strangers spoil his labours.
GreekἘξερευνησάτω δανειστὴς πάντα ὅσα ὑπάρχει αὐτῷ, καὶ διαρπασάτωσαν ἀλλότριοι τοὺς πόνους αὐτοῦ.
KJVLet the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
JPSLet the creditor distrain all that he hath; And let strangers make spoil of his labour.
12
ThomsonLet there be none to help him; nor any to compassionate his orphan children.
BrentonLet him have no helper; neither let there be any one to have compassion on his fatherless children.
GreekΜὴ ὑπαρξάτω αὐτῷ ἀντιλήμπτωρ, μηδὲ γενηθήτω οἰκτίρμων τοῖς ὀρφανοῖς αὐτοῦ.
KJVLet there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
JPSLet there be none to extend kindness unto him; Neither let there be any to be gracious unto his fatherless children.
13
ThomsonLet his children be for destruction—In one generation let his name be blotted out.
BrentonLet his children be given up to utter destruction: in one generation let his name be blotted out.
GreekΓενηθήτω τὰ τέκνα αὐτοῦ εἰς ἐξολόθρευσιν, ἐν γενεᾷ μιᾷ ἐξαλειφθείη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.
KJVLet his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
JPSLet his posterity be cut off; In the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14
ThomsonLet the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
BrentonLet the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
GreekἈναμνησθείη ἡ ἀνομία τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ ἔναντι Κυρίου, καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ μὴ ἐξαλειφθείη.
KJVLet the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
JPSLet the iniquity of his fathers be brought to remembrance unto the LORD; And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15
ThomsonLet them be continually before the Lord. And let the memory of them be cut off from the earth:
BrentonLet them be before the Lord continually; and let their memorial be blotted out from the earth.
GreekΓενηθήτωσαν ἐναντίον Κυρίου διαπαντὸς, καὶ ἐξολοθρευθείη ἐκ γῆς τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῶν·
KJVLet them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
JPSLet them be before the LORD continually, That He may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
16
Thomsonbecause he did not remember to shew mercy; but persecuted a man needy and afflicted: to put to death one who was brokenhearted.
BrentonBecause he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the needy and poor man, and that to slay him that was pricked in the heart.
GreekἈνθʼ ὧν οὐκ ἐμνήσθη ποιῆσαι ἔλεος, καὶ κατεδίωξεν ἄνθρωπον πένητα καὶ πτωχὸν, καὶ κατανενυγμένον τῇ καρδίᾳ τοῦ θανατῶσαι.
KJVBecause that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
JPSBecause that he remembered not to do kindness, But persecuted the poor and needy man, And the broken in heart he was ready to slay.
17
ThomsonAs he loved cursing, let it come on him: as he delighted not in blessing let it be far from him.
BrentonHe loved cursing also, and it shall come upon him; and he took not pleasure in blessing, so it shall be removed far from him.
GreekΚαὶ ἠγάπησε κατάραν, καὶ ἥξει αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν εὐλογίαν, καὶ μακρυνθήσεται ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ.
KJVAs he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
JPSYea, he loved cursing, and it came unto him; And he delighted not in blessing, and it is far from him.
18
ThomsonAs he clothed himself with cursing as with a mantle; and it came like water in his bowels; and like oil into his bones:
BrentonYea, he put on cursing as a garment, and it is come as water into his bowels, and as oil into his bones.
GreekΚαὶ ἐνεδύσατο κατάραν ὡς ἱμάτιον, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὡσεὶ ὕδωρ εἰς τὰ ἔγκατα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὡσεὶ ἔλαιον ἐν τοῖς ὀστέοις αὐτοῦ.
KJVAs he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
JPSHe clothed himself also with cursing as with his raiment, And it is come into his inward parts like water, And like oil into his bones.
19
Thomsonlet it be to him as the mantle which covereth him: and as the girdle with which he is continually girded.”
BrentonLet it be to him as a garment which he puts on, and as a girdle with which he girds himself continually.
GreekΓενηθήτω αὐτῷ ὡς ἱμάτιον ὃ περιβάλλεται, καὶ ὡσεὶ ζώνη ἣν διαπαντὸς περιζώννυται.
KJVLet it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
JPSLet it be unto him as the garment which he putteth on, And for the girdle wherewith he is girded continually.'
20
ThomsonFrom the Lord is this work of them who traduce me: and of them who speak evil against my soul.
BrentonThis is the dealing of the Lord with those who falsely accuse me, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
GreekΤοῦτο τὸ ἔργον τῶν ἐνδιαβαλλόντων με παρὰ Κυρίου, καὶ τῶν λαλούντων πονηρὰ κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς μου.
KJVLet this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
JPSThis would mine adversaries effect from the LORD, And they that speak evil against my soul.
21
ThomsonDo Thou, O Lord God, deal with me for Thy name’s sake: for Thy mercy is good.
BrentonBut thou, O Lord, Lord, deal mercifully with me, for thy name's sake: for thy mercy is good.
GreekΚαὶ σὺ Κύριε Κύριε ποίησον μετʼ ἐμοῦ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου, ὅτι χρηστὸν τὸ ἔλεός σου.
KJVBut do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
JPSBut Thou, O GOD the Lord, deal with me for Thy name's sake; Because Thy mercy is good, deliver Thou me.
22
ThomsonDeliver me, for I am afflicted and needy; and my heart is troubled within me.
BrentonDeliver me, for I am poor and needy; and my heart is troubled within me.
GreekῬῦσαί με ὅτι πτωχὸς καὶ πένης εἰμὶ ἐγὼ, καὶ ἡ καρδία μου τετάρακται ἐντός μου.
KJVFor I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
JPSFor I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.
23
ThomsonLike a declining shadow I have glided away;—I have been shaken off like locusts.
BrentonI am removed as a shadow in its going down: I am tossed up and down like locusts.
GreekὩσεὶ σκιὰ ἐν τῷ ἐκκλῖναι αὐτὴν ἀντανῃρέθην, ἐξετινάχθην ὡσεὶ ἀκρίδες.
KJVI am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
JPS—
24
ThomsonMy knees are weakened by fasting; and my flesh is changed for want of oil.
BrentonMy knees are weakened through fasting, and my flesh is changed by reason of the want of oil.
GreekΤὰ γόνατά μου ἠσθένησαν ἀπὸ νηστείας, καὶ ἡ σάρξ μου ἠλλοιώθη διʼ ἔλαιον.
KJVMy knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.
JPSMy knees totter through fasting; And my flesh is lean, and hath no fatness.
25
ThomsonAs for me, I became their scoff; they beheld me—they shook their heads.
BrentonI became also a reproach to them: when they saw me they shook their heads.
GreekΚᾀγὼ ἐγενήθην ὄνειδος αὐτοῖς· εἴδοσάν με, ἐσάλευσαν κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν.
KJVI became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.
JPS—
26
ThomsonHelp me, O Lord, my God: and save me according to Thy mercy.
BrentonHelp me, O Lord my God; and save me according to thy mercy.
GreekΒοήθησόν μοι Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου, καὶ σῶσόν με κατὰ τὸ ἔλεός σου.
KJVHelp me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:
JPSHelp me, O LORD my God; O save me according to Thy mercy;
27
ThomsonLet them know that this is Thy hand; and that Thou; O Lord hast done this.
BrentonAnd let them know that this is thy hand; and that thou, Lord, hast wrought it.
GreekΚαὶ γνώτωσαν ὅτι ἡ χείρ σου αὕτη, καὶ σὺ Κύριε ἐποίησας αὐτήν.
KJVThat they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it.
JPSThat they may know that this is Thy hand; That Thou, LORD, hast done it.
28
ThomsonLet them curse, Thou indeed wilt bless. Let them who rise up against me be put to shame: but let Thy servant be made glad.
BrentonLet them curse, but thou shalt bless: let them that rise up against me be ashamed, but let thy servant rejoice.
GreekΚαταράσονται αὐτοὶ, καὶ σὺ εὐλογήσεις· οἱ ἐπανιστάμενοί μοι αἰσχυνθήτωσαν, ὁ δὲ δοῦλός σου εὐφρανθήσεται.
KJVLet them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
JPSLet them curse, but bless Thou; When they arise, they shall be put to shame, but Thy servant shall rejoice.
29
ThomsonLet them who traduce me, be clothed with shame: let them be covered with their shame as with a mantle.
BrentonLet those that falsely accuse me be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their shame as with a mantle.
GreekἘνδυσάσθωσαν οἱ ἐνδιαβάλλοντές με ἐντροπήν· καὶ περιβαλέσθωσαν ὡς διπλοΐδα αἰσχύνην αὐτῶν.
KJVLet mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
JPS—
30
ThomsonWith my mouth I will greatly thank the Lord; and praise Him in the midst of many:
BrentonI will give thanks to the Lord abundantly with my mouth; and in the midst of many I will praise him.
GreekἘξομολογήσομαι τῷ Κυρίῳ σφόδρα ἐν τῷ στόματί μου, καὶ ἐν μέσῳ πολλῶν αἰνέσω αὐτόν·
KJVI will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
JPSI will give great thanks unto the LORD with my mouth; Yea, I will praise Him among the multitude;
31
Thomsonbecause He stood at the right of the needy: to save from them who seek my life.
BrentonFor he stood on the right hand of the poor, to save me from them that persecute my soul.
GreekὍτι παρέστη ἐκ δεξιῶν πένητος, τοῦ σῶσαι ἐκ τῶν καταδιωκόντων τὴν ψυχήν μου.
KJVFor he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.
JPSBecause He standeth at the right hand of the needy, To save him from them that judge his soul.