The Righteous Man's Reward
Psalms 111
This psalm pronounces blessing on the man who fears the Lord and delights in his commandments, describing him as generous to the poor, steady in heart, and unafraid of evil report. The sinner who sees this man's honor is filled with anger and gnashes his teeth, and his desire comes to nothing.
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
ThomsonHAPPY the man who feareth the Lord! in His commandments he will greatly delight.
BrentonAlleluia. Blessed is the man that fears the Lord: he will delight greatly in his commandments.
GreekἈλληλούϊα. Μακάριος ἀνὴρ ὁ φοβούμενος τὸν Κύριον, ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ θελήσει σφόδρα.
KJVPraise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
JPSHallelujah. Happy is the man that feareth the LORD, That delighteth greatly in His commandments.
2
ThomsonHis seed shall be mighty in the land: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
BrentonHis seed shall be mighty in the earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
GreekΔυνατὸν ἐν τῇ γῇ ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ, γενεὰ εὐθέων εὐλογηθήσεται·
KJVHis seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
JPSHis seed shall be mighty upon earth; The generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3
ThomsonGlory and riches are in his house; and his righteousness shall endure forever.
BrentonGlory and riches shall be in his house; and his righteousness endures for evermore.
GreekΔόξα καὶ πλοῦτος ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος.
KJVWealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
JPSWealth and riches are in his house; And his merit endureth for ever.
4
ThomsonTo the upright light sprang up in darkness. He is merciful, compassionate and just;
BrentonTo the upright light has sprung up in darkness: he is pitiful, and merciful, and righteous.
GreekἘξανέτειλεν ἐν σκότει φῶς τοῖς εὐθέσιν· ἐλεήμων καὶ οἰκτίρμων καὶ δίκαιος.
KJVUnto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
JPSUnto the upright He shineth as a light in the darkness, Gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5
Thomsona beneficent man who commiserateth and lendeth. He will manage his affairs with judgment;
BrentonThe good man is he that pities and lends: he will direct his affairs with judgment.
GreekΧρηστὸς ἀνὴρ ὁ οἰκτείρων καὶ κιχρῶν, οἰκονομήσει τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ ἐν κρίσει,
KJVA good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
JPS—
6
Thomsonbecause he is never to be shaken; the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance:
BrentonFor he shall not be moved for ever; the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
Greekὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα οὐ σαλευθήσεται· εἰς μνημόσυνον αἰώνιον ἔσται δίκαιος.
KJVSurely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
JPSFor he shall never be moved; The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.
7
Thomson—
BrentonHe shall not be afraid of any evil report: his heart is ready to trust in the Lord.
GreekἈπὸ ἀκοῆς πονηρᾶς οὐ φοβηθήσεται· ἑτοίμη ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ ἐλπίζειν ἐπὶ Κύριον·
KJVHe shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
JPSHe shall not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is stedfast, trusting in the LORD.
8
Thomsonhis heart is prepared to trust in the Lord. His heart is established, he could not be terrified; even when he beheld his enemies.
BrentonHis heart is established, he shall not fear, till he shall see his desire upon his enemies.
GreekἘστήρικται ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ, οὐ φοβηθῇ, ἕως οὗ ἐπίδῃ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὐτοῦ.
KJVHis heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
JPSHis heart is established, he shall not be afraid, Until he gaze upon his adversaries.
9
ThomsonHe hath dispersed, he hath given to the needy; his righteousness shall endure forever. His horn shall be gloriously exalted:
BrentonHe has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for evermore: his horn shall be exalted with honour.
GreekἘσκόρπισεν, ἔδωκε τοῖς πένησιν, ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος· τὸ κέρας αὐτοῦ ὑψωθήσεται ἐν δόξῃ.
KJVHe hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
JPSHe hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the needy; His righteousness endureth for ever; His horn shall be exalted in honour.
10
Thomsonthe wicked shall see and be enraged. Let him gnash his teeth and pine away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.
BrentonThe sinner shall see and be angry, he shall gnash his teeth, and consume away: the desire of the sinner shall perish.
GreekἉμαρτωλὸς ὄψεται καὶ ὀργισθήσεται, τοὺς ὀδόντας αὐτοῦ βρύξει καὶ τακήσεται· ἐπιθυμία ἁμαρτωλοῦ ἀπολεῖται.
KJVThe wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
JPSThe wicked shall see it, and be vexed; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.