The Lord Strengthens Jerusalem
Psalms 147
The psalm praises the Lord for strengthening Jerusalem's gates, blessing her children, and filling her with plenty, describing his command over snow, frost, and ice, and declaring that he has revealed his word and judgments to Israel as he has done to no other nation.
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
ThomsonPRAISE the Lord, O Jerusalem: O Sion, praise Thy God;
BrentonAlleluia, a Psalm of Aggæus and Zacharias. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Sion.
GreekἈλληλούϊα· Ἀγγαίου καὶ Ζαχαρίου. Ἐπαίνει, Ἱερουσαλήμ, τὸν Κύριον, αἴνει τὸν Θεόν σου Σιών.
KJVPraise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
JPSGlorify the LORD, O Jerusalem; Praise thy God, O Zion.
2
Thomsonfor He hath strengthened the bars of Thy gates; He hath blessed Thy children within thee.
BrentonFor he has strengthened the bars of thy gates; he has blessed thy children within thee.
GreekὍτι ἐνίσχυσεν τοὺς μοχλοὺς τῶν πυλῶν σου, εὐλόγησεν τοὺς υἱούς σου ἐν σοί.
KJVFor he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
JPSFor He hath made strong the bars of thy gates; He hath blessed thy children within thee.
3
ThomsonHe maketh thy borders peace, and feedeth thee with the finest wheat;—
BrentonHe makes thy borders peaceful, and fills thee with the flour of wheat.
GreekὉ τιθεὶς τὰ ὅριά σου εἰρήνην, καὶ στέαρ πυροῦ ἐμπιπλῶν σε·
KJVHe maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
JPSHe maketh thy borders peace; He giveth thee in plenty the fat of wheat.
4
ThomsonHe is sending His oracle to this land: His word shall run with speed.
BrentonHe sends his oracle to the earth: his word will run swiftly.
GreekὉ ἀποστέλλων τὸ λόγιον αὐτοῦ τῇ γῇ, ἕως τάχους δραμεῖται ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ·
KJVHe sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
JPSHe sendeth out His commandment upon earth; His word runneth very swiftly.
5
ThomsonWhen He giveth snow like wool—when He scattereth the hoar frost like ashes;
BrentonHe gives snow like wool: he scatters the mist like ashes.
GreekΤοῦ διδόντος χιόνα ὡσεὶ ἔριον, ὁμίχλην ὡσεὶ σποδὸν πάσσοντος·
KJVHe giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
JPSHe giveth snow like wool; He scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
6
Thomsonwhen He sendeth down like morsels His crystal hail; who can stand before His cold?
BrentonCasting forth his ice like morsels: who shall stand before his cold?
GreekΒάλλοντος κρύσταλλον αὐτοῦ ὠσεὶ ψωμούς· κατὰ πρόσωπον ψύχους αὐτοῦ τίς ὑποστήσεται;
KJVHe casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
JPSHe casteth forth His ice like crumbs; Who can stand before His cold?
7
ThomsonLet Him but send forth His word and He will melt them—let Him but blow His breath and the waters will flow.
BrentonHe shall send out his word, and melt them: he shall blow with his wind, and the waters shall flow.
GreekἈποστελεῖ τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ, καὶ τήξει αὐτά, πνεύσει τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ῥυήσεται ὕδατα.
KJVHe sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
JPSHe sendeth forth His word, and melteth them; He causeth His wind to blow, and the waters flow.
8
ThomsonHe is sending His word to Jacob—His statutes and His judgments to Israel.
BrentonHe sends his word to Jacob, his ordinances and judgments to Israel.
GreekἈπαγγέλλων τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ τῷ Ἰακώβ, δικαιώματα καὶ κρίματα αὐτοῦ τῷ Ἰσραήλ.
KJVHe sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
JPSHe declareth His word unto Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances unto Israel.
9
ThomsonHe hath not dealt thus with any nation, nor hath He laid open to them His judgments.
BrentonHe has not done so to any other nation; and he has not shewn them his judgments.
GreekΟὐκ ἐποίησεν οὕτως παντὶ ἔθνει, καὶ τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐδήλωσεν αὐτοῖς.
KJVHe hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.
JPS—