The Lord Above All Gods

Psalms 134

The psalm calls the servants and house of the Lord to praise him for choosing Israel, for his mighty works in heaven and earth, for smiting Egypt's firstborn and the kings Seon and Og, and for giving their land to Israel, then contrasts the living Lord with lifeless idols of silver and gold.

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

ThomsonPRAISE the name of the Lord—praise the Lord,

BrentonAlleluia. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise the Lord, ye his servants,

GreekἈλληλούϊα. Αἰνεῖτε τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου, αἰνεῖτε δοῦλοι Κύριον,

KJVPraise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.

JPSHallelujah. Praise ye the name of the LORD; Give praise, O ye servants of the LORD,

Thomsonye His servants, who wait in the house of the Lord—in the courts of the house of our God.

Brentonwho stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.

GreekΟἱ ἑστῶτες ἐν οἴκω Κυρίου, ἐν αὐλαῖς οἴκου Θεοῦ ἡμῶν.

KJVYe that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,

JPSYe that stand in the house of the LORD, In the courts of the house of our God.

ThomsonPraise the Lord; for the Lord is good; with instruments of music praise His name; for it is good.

BrentonPraise ye the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises to his name; for it is good.

GreekΑἰνεῖτε τὸν Κύριον, ὅτι ἀγαθὸς Κύριος· ψάλατε τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ, ὅτι καλόν.

KJVPraise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

JPSPraise ye the LORD, for the LORD is good; Sing praises unto His name, for it is pleasant.

ThomsonFor the Lord hath made choice of Jacob for Himself—of Israel for His peculiar treasure.

BrentonFor the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

GreekὍτι τὸν Ἰακὼβ ἐξελέξατο ἑαυτῷ ὁ Κύριος, Ἰσραὴλ εἰς περιουσιασμὸν ἑαυτῷ.

KJVFor the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

JPSFor the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, And Israel for His own treasure.

ThomsonFor I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all the gods.

BrentonFor I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods;

GreekὍτι ἐγὼ ἔγνωκα, ὅτι μέγας ὁ Κύριος, καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν παρὰ πάντας τοὺς θεούς.

KJVFor I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.

JPSFor I know that the LORD is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.

ThomsonAll that the Lord pleased He hath done in heaven and on earth: in the seas and in all the deeps.

Brentonall that the Lord willed, he did in heaven, and on the earth, in the sea, and in all deeps.

GreekΠάντα ὅσα ἠθέλησεν ὁ Κύριος, ἐποίησεν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐν τῇ γῇ, ἐν ταῖς θαλάσσαις καὶ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἀβύσσοις.

KJVWhatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

JPSWhatsoever the LORD pleased, that hath He done, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;

ThomsonWhen He brought clouds from the end of the earth; He made lightnings for the purpose of rain. He it is Who bringeth winds out of His treasuries:

BrentonWho brings up clouds from the extremity of the earth: he has made lightnings for the rain: he brings winds out of his treasures.

GreekἈνάγων νεφέλας ἐξ ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς, ἀστραπὰς εἰς ὑετὸν ἐποίησεν· ὁ ἐξάγων ἀνέμους ἐκ θησαυρῶν αὐτοῦ.

KJVHe causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

JPSWho causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings for the rain; He bringeth forth the wind out of His treasuries.

ThomsonWho smote the first-born of Egypt—the first-born both of man and beast.

BrentonWho smote the first-born of Egypt, both of man and beast.

GreekὋς ἐπάταξε τὰ πρωτότοκα Αἰγύπτου ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπου ἕως κτήνους.

KJVWho smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

JPSWho smote the first-born of Egypt, Both of man and beast.

ThomsonAmidst thee, Egypt, He sent His signs and wonders, on Pharao and on all His servants.

BrentonHe sent signs and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, on Pharao, and on all his servants.

GreekἘξαπέστειλεν σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν μέσῳ σου Αἴγυπτε, ἐν Φαραῷ καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ.

KJVWho sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.

JPSHe sent signs and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, Upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.

ThomsonIt was He Who smote many nations; and slew kings of mighty power—

BrentonWho smote many nations, and slew mighty kings;

GreekὋς ἐπάταξεν ἔθνη πολλά, καὶ ἀπέκτεινε βασιλεῖς κραταιούς·

KJVWho smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;

JPSWho smote many nations, And slew mighty kings:

ThomsonSeon king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Basan, and all the kingdoms of Chanaan;

BrentonSeon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Basan, and all the kingdoms of Chanaan:

Greekτὸν Σηὼν βασιλέα τῶν Ἀμοῤῥαίων, καὶ τὸν Ὢγ βασιλέα τῆς Βασὰν, καὶ πάσας τὰς βασιλείας Χαναάν·

KJVSihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:

JPSSihon king of the Amorites, And Og king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan;

Thomsonand gave their land for an inheritance—for an inheritance for His people Israel.

Brentonand gave their land for an inheritance, an inheritance to Israel his people.

GreekΚαὶ ἔδωκε τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν κληρονομίαν, κληρονομίαν Ἰσραὴλ λαῷ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.

JPSAnd gave their land for a heritage, A heritage unto Israel His people.

ThomsonO Lord, Thy name is forever, and the memorial of Thee to all generations;

BrentonO Lord, thy name endures for ever, and thy memorial to all generations.

GreekΚύριε τὸ ὄνομά σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ τὸ μνημόσυνόν σου εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεάν.

KJVThy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.

JPSO LORD, Thy name endureth for ever; Thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.

Thomsonfor the Lord will judge His people, and take comfort in His servants.

BrentonFor the Lord shall judge his people, and comfort himself concerning his servants.

GreekὍτι κρινεῖ Κύριος τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ παρακληθήσεται.

KJVFor the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.

JPSFor the LORD will judge His people, And repent Himself for His servants.

ThomsonThe idols of the nations are gold and silver—the workmanship of men’s hands.

BrentonThe idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the works of men's hands.

GreekΤὰ εἴδωλα τῶν ἐθνῶν ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον, ἔργα χειρῶν ἀνθρώπων.

KJVThe idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

JPSThe idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.

ThomsonThey have a mouth, but cannot speak: eyes they have, but 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;

Thomsonthey have ears, but they cannot hear; nor is there any breath in their mouth.

Brentonthey have ears, but they cannot hear; for there is no breath in their mouth.

GreekὮτα ἔχουσι καὶ οὐκ ἐνωτισθήσονται, οὐδὲ γάρ ἐστι πνεῦμα ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν.

KJVThey have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

JPSThey have ears, but they hear not; Neither is there any breath in their mouths.

ThomsonMay they who make them be like them; and all they who have trusted in them.

BrentonLet those who make them be made like to them; and all those 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.

ThomsonO house of Israel, bless ye the Lord: bless the Lord ye of the house of Aaron.

BrentonO house of Israel, bless ye the Lord: O house of Aaron, bless ye the Lord:

GreekΟἶκος Ἰσραὴλ εὐλογήσατε τὸν Κύριον, οἶκος Ἀαρὼν εὐλογήσατε τὸν Κύριον·

KJVBless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:

JPSO house of Israel, bless ye the LORD; O house of Aaron, bless ye the LORD;

ThomsonO house of Levi, bless ye the Lord; bless Him, ye who fear the Lord.

BrentonO house of Levi, bless ye the Lord: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord.

GreekΟἶκος Λευὶ, εὐλογήσατε τὸν Κύριον, οἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν Κύριον εὐλογήσατε τὸν Κύριον.

KJVBless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.

JPSO house of Levi, bless ye the LORD; Ye that fear the LORD, bless ye the LORD.

ThomsonBlessed be the Lord in Sion—He Who inhabiteth Jerusalem.

BrentonBlessed in Sion be the Lord, who dwells in Jerusalem.

GreekΕὐλογητὸς Κύριος ἐκ Σιὼν, ὁ κατοικῶν Ἱερουσαλήμ.

KJVBlessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

JPSBlessed be the LORD out of Zion, Who dwelleth at Jerusalem. Hallelujah.