A Cry Against Deceitful Lips
Psalms 119
A Song of Degrees in which the psalmist cries to the Lord for deliverance from unjust and deceitful lips, lamenting that his sojourn is prolonged among a hostile people, likened to the tents of Kedar, who hate peace even when he speaks it to them.
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
ThomsonIN my distress I cried to the Lord; and He hearkened to me.
BrentonA Song of Degrees. In mine affliction I cried to the Lord, and he hearkened to me.
GreekὨδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. Πρὸς Κύριον ἐν τῷ θλίβεσθαί με ἐκέκραξα, καὶ εἰσήκουσέ μου.
KJVIn my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
JPSA Song of Ascents. In my distress I called unto the LORD, And He answered me.
2
ThomsonO Lord, deliver my soul from false lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
BrentonDeliver my soul, O Lord, from unjust lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
GreekΚύριε, ῥῦσαι τὴν ψυχήν μου ἀπὸ χειλέων ἀδίκων καὶ ἀπὸ γλώσσης δολίας.
KJVDeliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
JPSO LORD, deliver my soul from lying lips, From a deceitful tongue.
3
ThomsonWhat should be given Thee? Or what return made Thee for a deceitful tongue?
BrentonWhat should be given to thee, and what should be added to thee, for thy crafty tongue?
GreekΤί δοθείη σοι, καὶ τί προστεθείη σοι πρὸς γλῶσσαν δολίαν;
KJVWhat shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
JPSWhat shall be given unto thee, and what shall be done more unto thee, Thou deceitful tongue?
4
ThomsonArrows of the mighty sharpened with devouring coals.
BrentonSharpened weapons of the mighty, with coals of the desert.
GreekΤὰ βέλη τοῦ δυνατοῦ ἠκονημένα σὺν τοῖς ἄνθραξι τοῖς ἐρημικοῖς.
KJVSharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
JPSSharp arrows of the mighty, With coals of broom.
5
ThomsonAh woe is me that my sojourn is so long protracted—That I have dwelt with the tents of Kedar—
BrentonWoe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged; I have tabernacled among the tents of Kedar.
GreekΟἴμοι ὅτι ἡ παροικία μου ἐμακρύνθη, κατεσκήνωσα μετὰ τῶν σκηνωμάτων Κηδάρ.
KJVWoe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
JPSWoe is me, that I sojourn with Meshech, That I dwell beside the tents of Kedar!
6
ThomsonThat my soul hath so long dwelt with them, who hate peace.
BrentonMy soul has long been a sojourner;
GreekΠολλὰ παρῴκησεν ἡ ψυχή μου· μετὰ τῶν μισούντων τὴν εἰρήνην.
KJVMy soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
JPSMy soul hath full long had her dwelling With him that hateth peace.
7
ThomsonI was for peace; but when I spoke they attacked me without provocation.
BrentonI was peaceable among them that hated peace; when I spoke to them, they warred against me without a cause.
GreekἬμην εἰρηνικός· ὅταν ἐλάλουν αὐτοῖς, ἐπολέμουν με δωρεάν.
KJVI am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
JPSI am all peace; But when I speak, they are for war.