The Exodus and the Idols
Psalms 113
This psalm recalls how the sea fled and the Jordan turned back when Israel came out of Egypt, and how the mountains skipped at the presence of the Lord, then contrasts the living God who does whatever he pleases with the silver and gold idols of the nations, which have mouths, eyes, and ears but cannot speak, see, or hear. It calls Israel, the house of Aaron, and all who fear the Lord to trust in him as their helper, and closes with a call for the living to bless the Lord forever.
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
ThomsonAT the departure of Israel from Egypt; of the house of Jacob from a barbarous people;
BrentonAlleluia. At the going forth of Israel from Egypt, of the house of Jacob from a barbarous people,
GreekἈλληλούϊα. Ἐν ἐξόδῳ Ἰσραὴλ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, οἴκου Ἰακὼβ ἐκ λαοῦ βαρβάρου,
KJVWhen Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
JPSWhen Israel came forth out of Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
2
ThomsonJudea became his sanctuary; Israel his dominion.
BrentonJudea became his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
Greekἐγενήθη Ἰουδαία ἁγίασμα αὐτοῦ, Ἰσραὴλ ἐξουσία αὐτοῦ.
KJVJudah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
JPSJudah became His sanctuary, Israel His dominion.
3
ThomsonThe sea saw and fled: Jordan was turned back.
BrentonThe sea saw and fled: Jordan was turned back.
GreekἩ θάλασσα εἶδε καὶ ἔφυγεν, ὁ Ἰορδάνης ἐστράφη εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω.
KJVThe sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
JPSThe sea saw it, and fled; The Jordan turned backward.
4
ThomsonThe mountains skipped like rams: the hills, like lambs of the flock.
BrentonThe mountains skipped like rams, and the hills like lambs.
GreekΤὰ ὄρη ἐσκίρτησαν ὡσεὶ κριοὶ, καὶ οἱ βουνοὶ ὡς ἀρνία προβάτων.
KJVThe mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
JPSThe mountains skipped like rams, The hills like young sheep.
5
ThomsonWhat ailed thee, sea, that thou fleddest? And thee, Jordan, that thou turnedst back?
BrentonWhat ailed thee, O sea, that thou fleddest? and thou Jordan, that thou wast turned back?
GreekΤί σοι ἐστὶ θάλασσα ὅτι ἔφυγες; καὶ σὺ Ἰορδάνη ὅτι ἐστράφης εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω;
KJVWhat ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
JPSWhat aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleest? Thou Jordan, that thou turnest backward?
6
ThomsonYou, mountains, that you skipped like rams? And you, hills, like lambs of the flock?
BrentonYe mountains, that ye skipped like rams, and ye hills, like lambs?
GreekΤὰ ὄρη ὅτι ἐσκίρτησατε ὡσεὶ κριοί; καὶ οἱ βουνοὶ ὡς ἀρνία προβάτων;
KJVYe mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
JPSYe mountains, that ye skip like rams; Ye hills, like young sheep?
7
ThomsonThe earth was moved at the presence of the Lord; at the presence of the God of Jacob:
BrentonThe earth trembled at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
GreekἈπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου ἐσαλεύθη ἡ γῆ, ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ Ἰακὼβ,
KJVTremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
JPSTremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob;
8
Thomsonwho turned the rocks into pools of water: and into fountains of water, the flinty rock.
Brentonwho turned the rock into pools of water, and the flint into fountains of water.
Greekτοῦ στρέψαντος τὴν πέτραν εἰς λίμνας ὑδάτων, καὶ τὴν ἀκρότομον εἰς πηγὰς ὑδάτων.
KJVWhich turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.
JPSWho turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of waters.
9
ThomsonNOT unto us, O Lord; not unto us. But to Thy name only give the glory: for Thy mercy and for Thy truth.
BrentonNot to us, O Lord, not to us, but to thy name give glory, because of thy mercy and thy truth;
GreekΜὴ ἡμῖν Κύριε, μὴ ἡμῖν, ἀλλʼ ἢ τῷ ὀνόματί σου δὸς δόξαν, ἐπὶ τῷ ἐλέει σου καὶ τῇ ἀληθείᾳ σου·
KJVNot unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.
JPSNot unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But unto Thy name give glory, For Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake.
10
ThomsonPerhaps the nations may say, Where is their God?
Brentonlest at any time the nations should say, Where is their God?
Greekμή ποτε εἴπωσι τὰ ἔθνη, ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ Θεὸς αὐτῶν;
KJVWherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
JPSWherefore should the nations say: 'Where is now their God?'
11
ThomsonOur God is in heaven and on earth: all that He willed, He hath done.
BrentonBut our God has done in heaven and on earth, whatsoever he has pleased.
GreekὉ δὲ Θεὸς ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐν τῇ γῇ, πάντα ὅσα ἠθέλησεν ἐποίησε.
KJVBut our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
JPSBut our God is in the heavens; Whatsoever pleased Him He hath done.
12
ThomsonThe idols of the nations are silver and gold; the workmanship of men’s hands.
BrentonThe idols of the nations are silver and gold, the works of men's hands.
GreekΤὰ εἴδωλα τῶν ἐθνῶν, ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον, ἔργα χειρῶν ἀνθρώπων.
KJVTheir idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
JPSTheir idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.
13
ThomsonThey have a mouth but cannot speak: though they have eyes, they cannot see.
BrentonThey have a mouth, but they cannot speak; they have eyes, but they cannot see:
GreekΣτόμα ἔχουσι καὶ οὐ λαλήσουσιν, ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχουσι καὶ οὐκ ὄψονται·
KJVThey have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
JPSThey have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not;
14
ThomsonEars they have, but they cannot hear: having nostrils they cannot smell.
Brentonthey have ears, but they cannot hear; they have noses, but they cannot smell;
GreekὮτα ἔχουσι καὶ οὐκ ἀκούσονται, ῥῖνας ἔχουσι καὶ οὐκ ὀσφρανθήσονται·
KJVThey have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
JPSThey have ears, but they hear not; Noses have they, but they smell not;
15
ThomsonThey have hands but they cannot feel: They have feet, but they cannot walk: nor can they utter a sound with their throat.
Brentonthey have hands, but they cannot handle; they have feet, but they cannot walk: they cannot speak through their throat.
GreekΧεῖρας ἔχουσι καὶ οὐ ψηλαφήσουσι, πόδας ἔχουσι καὶ οὐ περιπατήσουσιν, οὐ φωνήσουσιν ἐν τῷ λάρυγγι αὐτῶν.
KJVThey have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
JPSThey have hands, but they handle not; Feet have they, but they walk not; Neither speak they with their throat. .
16
ThomsonLet them who make them be like them; and all who have trusted in them.
BrentonLet those that make them become like to them, and all who trust in them.
Greekὅμοιοι αὐτοῖς γένοιντο οἱ ποιοῦντες αὐτὰ, καὶ πάντες οἱ πεποιθότες ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς.
KJVThey that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
JPSThey that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them.
17
ThomsonThe house of Israel have trusted in the Lord: He is their helper and protector.
BrentonThe house of Israel trusts in the Lord: he is their helper and defender.
GreekΟἶκος Ἰσραὴλ ἔλπισεν ἐπὶ Κύριον, βοηθὸς καὶ ὑπερασπιστὴς αὐτῶν ἐστιν.
KJVO Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
JPSO Israel, trust thou in the LORD! He is their help and their shield!
18
ThomsonThe house of Aaron have trusted in the Lord; He is their helper and protector.
BrentonThe house of Aaron trusts in the Lord: he is their helper and defender.
GreekΟἶκος Ἀαρὼν ἤλπισεν ἐπὶ Κύριον, βοηθὸς καὶ ὑπερασπιστὴς αὐτῶν ἐστιν.
KJVO house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
JPSO house of Aaron, trust ye in the LORD! He is their help and their shield!
19
ThomsonThey who fear the Lord have trusted in Him: He is their helper and protector.
BrentonThey that fear the Lord trust in the Lord: he is their helper and defender.
GreekΟἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν Κύριον ἤλπισαν ἐπὶ Κύριον, βοηθὸς καὶ ὑπερασπιστὴς αὐτῶν ἐστι.
KJVYe that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
JPSYe that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
20
ThomsonThe Lord hath remembered us and blessed us: He hath blessed the house of Israel: He hath blessed the house of Aaron:
BrentonThe Lord has remembered us, and blessed us: he has blessed the house of Israel, he has blessed the house of Aaron.
GreekΚύριος μνησθεὶς ἡμῶν εὐλόγησεν ἡμᾶς, εὐλόγησε τὸν οἶκον Ἰσραὴλ, εὐλόγησε τὸν οἶκον Ἀαρών·
KJVThe LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
JPSThe LORD hath been mindful of us, He will bless— He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
21
ThomsonHe hath blessed them, who fear the Lord, both small and great.
BrentonHe has blessed them that fear the Lord, both small and great.
GreekΕὐλόγησε τοὺς φοβουμένους τὸν Κύριον, τοὺς μικροὺς μετὰ τῶν μεγάλων.
KJVHe will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.
JPSHe will bless them that fear the LORD, Both small and great.
22
ThomsonMay the Lord add to you more and more—to you and to your children.
BrentonThe Lord add blessings to you and to your children.
GreekΠροσθείη Κύριος ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς, ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς ὑμῶν.
KJVThe LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
JPSThe LORD increase you more and more, You and your children.
23
ThomsonMay you be blessed by the Lord: who made the heaven and the earth.
BrentonBlessed are ye of the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth.
GreekΕὐλογημένοι ὑμεῖς τῷ Κυρίῳ, τῷ ποιήσαντι τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν.
KJVYe are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.
JPSBlessed be ye of the LORD Who made heaven and earth.
24
ThomsonTo the Lord belongeth the heaven of heavens: and He hath given the earth to the sons of men.
BrentonThe heaven of heavens belongs to the Lord: but he has given the earth to the sons of men.
GreekὉ οὐρανὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ, τὴν δὲ γῆν ἔδωκε τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
KJVThe heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
JPSThe heavens are the heavens of the LORD; But the earth hath He given to the children of men.
25
ThomsonThe dead cannot praise thee, O Lord; nor any who go down to the mansion of the dead:
BrentonThe dead shall not praise thee, O Lord, nor any that go down to Hades.
GreekΟὐχ οἱ νεκροὶ αἰνέσουσί σε Κύριε, οὐδὲ πάντες οἱ καταβαίνοντες εἰς ᾅδου·
KJVThe dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
JPSThe dead praise not the LORD, Neither any that go down into silence;
26
Thomsonbut we who are alive will bless the Lord; from this time forth and forever.
BrentonBut we, the living, will bless the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.
GreekἈλλʼ ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες εὐλογήσομεν τὸν Κύριον, ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος.
KJVBut we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.
JPSBut we will bless the LORD From this time forth and for ever. Hallelujah.