David's Oath to the Lord
Psalms 131
A Song of Degrees recalling David's oath to find no rest until he found a place for the Lord, and the ark being received in Ephratha and brought to its dwelling. It recounts the Lord's own oath to set David's descendants on his throne and to dwell in Sion forever, providing for its poor, clothing its priests with salvation, and preparing a lamp for his anointed.
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 LORD, remember David, and all his meek humility;
BrentonA Song of Degrees. Lord, remember David, and all his meekness:
GreekὨδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. Μνήσθητι Κύριε τοῦ Δαυὶδ, καὶ πάσης τῆς πρᾳότητος αὐτοῦ·
KJVLord, remember David, and all his afflictions:
JPSA Song of Ascents. LORD, remember unto David All his affliction;
2
Thomsonhow he swore to the Lord, and made his vow to the God of Jacob:
Brentonhow he sware to the Lord, and vowed to the God of Jacob, saying,
GreekὩς ὤμοσε τῷ Κυρίῳ, ηὔξατο τῷ Θεῷ Ἰακώβ·
KJVHow he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
JPSHow he swore unto the LORD, And vowed unto the Mighty One of Jacob:
3
ThomsonI will not enter the lodging of my house, nor go up to my bed of rest;
BrentonI will not go into the tabernacle of my house; I will not go up to the couch of my bed;
GreekΕἰ εἰσελεύσομαι εἰς σκήνωμα οἴκου μου, εἰ ἀναβήσομαι ἐπὶ κλίνης στρωμνῆς μου·
KJVSurely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;
JPS‘Surely I will not come into the tent of my house, Nor go up into the bed that is spread for me;
4
Thomsonnor give sleep to mine eyes or slumber to mine eyelids; nor rest to my temples;
BrentonI will not give sleep to mine eyes, nor slumber to mine eyelids, nor rest to my temples,
GreekΕἰ δώσω ὕπνον τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς μοῦ, καὶ τοῖς βλεφάροις μου νυσταγμὸν, καὶ ἀνάπαυσιν τοῖς κροτάφοις μου·
KJVI will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,
JPSI will not give sleep to mine eyes, Nor slumber to mine eyelids;
5
Thomsonuntil I find a place for the Lord—a habitation for the God of Jacob.
Brentonuntil I find a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
GreekἝως οὗ εὕρω τόπον τῷ Κυρίῳ, σκήνωμα τῷ Θεῷ Ἰακώβ.
KJVUntil I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
JPSUntil I find out a place for the LORD, A dwelling-place for the Mighty One of Jacob.'
6
ThomsonBehold we had heard of this [ark] at Ephrata; we found it in the fields of the forest.
BrentonBehold, we heard of it in Ephratha; we found it in the fields of the wood.
GreekἸδοὺ ἠκούσαμεν αὐτὴν ἐν Ἐφραθὰ, εὕρομεν αὐτὴν ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις τοῦ δρυμοῦ.
KJVLo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.
JPSLo, we heard of it as being in Ephrath; We found it in the field of athe wood.
7
ThomsonLet us go to his habitations; let us worship at the place where his feet stood.
BrentonLet us enter into his tabernacles: let us worship at the place where his feet stood.
GreekΕἰσελευσώμεθα εἰς τὰ σκηνώματα αὐτοῦ· προσκυνήσωμεν εἰς τὸν τόπον οὗ ἔστησαν οἱ πόδες αὐτοῦ.
KJVWe will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
JPSLet us go into His dwelling-place; Let us worship at His footstool. .
8
ThomsonArise, O Lord, and go up to Thy rest, Thou and the ark of Thy holiness.
BrentonArise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thine holiness.
GreekἈνάστηθι Κύριε εἰς τὴν ἀνάπαυσίν σου, σὺ καὶ ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ ἁγιάσματός σου.
KJVArise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.
JPSArise, O LORD, unto Thy resting-place; Thou, and the ark of Thy strength.
9
ThomsonLet Thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and Thy saints shout for joy.
BrentonThy priests shall clothe themselves with righteousness; and thy saints shall exult.
GreekΟἱ ἱερεῖς σου ἐνδύσονται δικαιοσύνην, καὶ οἱ ὅσιοί σου ἀγαλλιάσονται.
KJVLet thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
JPSLet Thy priests be clothed with righteousness; And let Thy saints shout for joy.
10
ThomsonFor the sake of Thy servant David, turn not away the face of Thine anointed.
BrentonFor the sake of thy servant David turn not away the face of thine anointed.
GreekἝνεκεν Δαυὶδ τοῦ δούλου σου, μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ χριστοῦ σου.
KJVFor thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.
JPSFor Thy servant David's sake Turn not away the face of Thine anointed.
11
ThomsonThe Lord hath sworn a truth to David, and will not annul it; of the fruit of thy body I will set on thy throne;
BrentonThe Lord sware in truth to David, and he will not annul it, saying, Of the fruit of thy body will I set a king upon thy throne.
GreekὬμοσε Κύριος τῷ Δαυὶδ ἀλήθειαν, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀθετήσει αὐτὴν, ἐκ καρποῦ τῆς κοιλίας σου, θήσομαι ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνον σου.
KJVThe LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
JPSThe LORD swore unto David in truth; He will not turn back from it: 'Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
12
Thomsonif thy children keep My covenant, and these My testimonies, which I will teach them, their children also shall sit on thy throne forever.
BrentonIf thy children will keep my covenant, and these my testimonies which I shall teach them, their children also shall sit upon thy throne for ever.
GreekἘὰν φυλάξωνται οἱ υἱοί σου τὴν διαθήκην μου, καὶ τὰ μαρτύριά μου ταῦτα ἃ διδάξω αὐτοὺς, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτῶν ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος καθιοῦνται ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου σου.
KJVIf thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.
JPSIf thy children keep My covenant And My testimony that I shall teach them, Their children also for ever shall sit upon thy throne.'
13
ThomsonFor the Lord hath chosen Sion, and made choice of it for His habitation.
BrentonFor the Lord has elected Sion, he has chosen her for a habitation for himself, saying,
GreekὍτι ἐξελέξατο Κύριος τὴν Σιὼν, ᾑρετίσατο αὐτὴν εἰς κατοικίαν ἑαυτῷ.
KJVFor the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
JPSFor the LORD hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation:
14
ThomsonThis shall be My rest forever. Here I will dwell, for I have chosen it.
BrentonThis is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have chosen it.
GreekΑὕτη ἡ κατάπαυσίς μου εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνος, ὧδε κατοικήσω ὅτι ᾑρετισάμην αὐτήν.
KJVThis is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
JPS'This is My resting-place for ever; Here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
15
ThomsonWith blessings I will bless her provision; and satisfy her poor with bread.
BrentonI will surely bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
GreekΤὴν θήραν αὐτῆς εὐλογῶν εὐλογήσω, τοὺς πτωχοὺς αὐτῆς χορτάσω ἄρτων.
KJVI will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
JPSI will abundantly bless her provision; I will give her needy bread in plenty.
16
ThomsonHer priests I will clothe with salvation; and her saints shall shout for joy.
BrentonI will clothe her priests with salvation; and her saints shall greatly exult.
GreekΤοὺς ἱερεῖς αὐτῆς ἐνδύσω σωτηρίαν, καὶ οἱ ὅσιοι αὐτῆς ἀγαλλιάσει ἀγαλλιάσονται.
KJVI will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
JPSHer priests also will I clothe with salvation; And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17
ThomsonI will cause a horn for David to spring up there; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed.
BrentonThere will I cause to spring up a horn to David: I have prepared a lamp for mine anointed.
GreekἘκεῖ ἐξανατελῶ κέρας τῷ Δαυὶδ, ἡτοίμασα λύχνον τῷ χριστῷ σου.
KJVThere will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.
JPSThere will I make a horn to shoot up unto David, There have I ordered a lamp for Mine anointed.
18
ThomsonHis enemies I will clothe with shame; but on him My crown shall flourish.
BrentonHis enemies will I clothe with shame; but upon himself shall my holiness flourish.
GreekΤοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὐτοῦ ἐνδύσω αἰσχύνην, ἐπὶ δὲ αὐτὸν ἐξανθήσει τὸ ἁγίασμά μου.
KJVHis enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
JPSHis enemies will I clothe with shame; But upon himself shall his crown shine.'