An Evening Prayer
Psalms 140
David asks the Lord to hear his prayer as it rises like incense and his lifted hands as an evening sacrifice, prays for a guarded mouth and a heart kept from evil companions and sinners' flattery, and asks to be kept from the snares set by those who work iniquity.
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
ThomsonTO Thee, O Lord, I have cried, hearken to me—attend to the sound of my supplication. When I cry to Thee;
BrentonA Psalm of David. O Lord, I have cried to thee; hear me: attend to the voice of my supplication, when I cry to thee.
GreekΨαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ. Κύριε ἐκέκραξα πρὸς σὲ, εἰσάκουσόν μου· πρόσχες τῇ φωνῇ τῆς δεήσεώς μου, ἐν τῷ κεκραγέναι με πρὸς σέ.
KJVLord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
JPSA Psalm of David. LORD, I have called Thee; make haste unto me; Give ear unto my voice, when I call unto Thee.
2
Thomsonlet my prayer come before Thee as incense—and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
BrentonLet my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
GreekΚατευθυνθήτω ἡ προσευχή μου ὡς θυμίαμα ἐνώπιόν σου· ἔπαρσις τῶν χειρῶν μου θυσία ἑσπερινή.
KJVLet my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
JPSLet my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3
ThomsonSet a watch, O Lord, on my mouth; and guard the door of my lips.
BrentonSet a watch, O Lord, on my mouth, and a strong door about my lips.
GreekΘοῦ, Κύριε, φυλακὴν τῷ στόματί μου, καὶ θύραν περιοχῆς περὶ τὰ χείλη μου.
KJVSet a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
JPSSet a guard, O LORD, to my mouth; Keep watch at the door of my lips.
4
ThomsonLet not my heart turn aside to wicked deeds—to form excuses for sins with men who work iniquity: nor let me associate with their chosen bands.
BrentonIncline not my heart to evil things, to employ pretexts for sins, with men who work iniquity: and let me not unite with their choice ones.
GreekΜὴ ἐκκλίνῃς τὴν καρδίαν μου εἰς λόγους πονηρίας, τοῦ προφασίζεσθαι προφάσεις ἐν ἁμαρτίαις, σὺν ἀνθρώποις ἐργαζομένοις τὴν ἀνομίαν, καὶ οὐ μὴ συνδοιάσω μετὰ τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν αὐτῶν.
KJVIncline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
JPSIncline not my heart to any evil thing, To be occupied in deeds of wickedness With men that work iniquity; And let me not eat of their dainties.
5
ThomsonLet a righteous man correct me with mercy; and he will work conviction in me: but let not the oil of a sinner (for this shall still be my prayer) anoint my head at their pleasure.
BrentonThe righteous shall chasten me with mercy, and reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head: for yet shall my prayer also be in their pleasures.
GreekΠαιδεύσει με δίκαιος ἐν ἐλέει καὶ ἐλέγξει με, ἔλαιον δὲ ἁμαρτωλοῦ μὴ λιπανάτω τὴν κεφαλήν μου, ὅτι ἔτι καὶ ἡ προσευχή μου ἐν ταῖς εὐδοκίαις αὐτῶν.
KJVLet the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
JPSLet the righteous smite me in kindness, and correct me; Oil so choice let not my head refuse; For still is my prayer because of their wickedness.
6
ThomsonTheir strong men were swallowed up near a rock: let them hear my words for they were sweet.
BrentonTheir mighty ones have been swallowed up near the rock: they shall hear my words, for they are sweet.
GreekΚατεπόθησαν ἐχόμενα πέτρας οἱ κραταιοὶ αὐτῶν· ἀκούσονται τὰ ῥήματά μου, ὅτι ἠδύνθησαν.
KJVWhen their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
JPSTheir judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock; And they shall hear my words, that they are sweet.
7
ThomsonAs if a lump of earth was broken on the ground; our bones were scattered at the grave’s mouth.
BrentonAs a lump of earth is crushed upon the ground, our bones have been scattered by the mouth of the grave.
GreekὩσεὶ πάχος γῆς διεῤῥάγη ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, διεσκορπίσθη τὰ ὀστᾶ ἡμῶν παρὰ τὸν ᾅδην.
KJVOur bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
JPSAs when one cleaveth and breaketh up the earth, Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth.
8
ThomsonSince mine eyes are to Thee, O Lord God—in Thee I have placed my confidence; deliver not my soul to destruction.
BrentonFor mine eyes are to thee, O Lord God: I have hoped in thee; take not away my life.
GreekὍτι πρὸς σὲ, Κύριε Κύριε, οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου, ἐπὶ σοὶ ἤλπισα, μὴ ἀντανέλῃς τὴν ψυχήν μου.
KJVBut mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
JPSFor mine eyes are unto Thee, O GOD the Lord; In Thee have I taken refuge, O pour not out my soul.
9
ThomsonKeep me from the snare they have laid for me: and from the stumbling blocks of the workers of iniquity.
BrentonKeep me from the snare which they have set for me, and from the stumbling-blocks of them that work iniquity.
GreekΦύλαξόν με ἀπὸ παγίδος ἧς συνεστήσαντό μοι, καὶ ἀπὸ σκανδάλων τῶν ἐργαζομένων τὴν ἀνομίαν.
KJVKeep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
JPSKeep me from the snare which they have laid for me, And from the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10
ThomsonThe wicked shall fall by their own net, I am in private till I can escape.
BrentonSinners shall fall by their own net: I am alone until I shall escape.
GreekΠεσοῦνται ἐν ἀμφιβλήστρῳ αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτωλοὶ, καταμόνας εἰμὶ ἐγὼ ἕως οὗ ἂν παρέλθω.
KJVLet the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
JPSLet the wicked fall into their own nets, Whilst I withal escape.