A Prayer for Guidance and Pardon
Psalms 24
David lifts up his soul to the Lord, asking to be shown his ways and taught his paths, and pleads that the Lord remember his mercies rather than the sins of his youth. He praises the Lord's goodness toward the meek and closes by asking pardon for his sin and deliverance for himself and for Israel.
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 lifted up my soul:
BrentonA Psalm of David. To thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul.
GreekΨαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ. Πρὸς σὲ, Κύριε, ᾖρα τὴν ψυχήν μου.
KJVUnto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
JPS[A Psalm] of David. Unto Thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
2
ThomsonO my God, in Thee I have put my trust: let me not be shamed, nor let mine enemies deride me;
BrentonO my God, I have trusted in thee: let me not be confounded, neither let mine enemies laugh me to scorn.
GreekὉ Θεός μου ἐπὶ σοὶ πέποιθα, μὴ καταισχυνθείην· μηδὲ καταγελασάτωσάν μου οἱ ἐχθροί μου,
KJVO my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
JPSO my God, in Thee have I trusted, let me not be ashamed; Let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3
Thomsonfor none who wait on Thee should be put to shame. Let them be shamed who vainly transgress.
BrentonFor none of them that wait on thee shall in any wise be ashamed: let them be ashamed that transgress without cause.
Greekκαὶ γὰρ πάντες οἱ ὑπομένοντές σε οὐ μὴ καταισχυνθῶσιν· αἰσχυνθήτωσαν οἱ ἀνομοῦντες διακενῆς.
KJVYea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
JPSYea, none that wait for Thee shall be ashamed; They shall be ashamed that deal treacherously without cause.
4
ThomsonO Lord, shew me Thy ways and teach me Thy paths.
BrentonShew me thy ways, O Lord; and teach me thy paths.
GreekΤὰς ὁδούς σου, Κύριε, γνώρισόν μοι, καὶ τὰς τρίβους σου δίδαξόν με.
KJVShew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
JPSShow me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths.
5
ThomsonLead me to Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou, O God, art my saviour, and for Thee I have waited all the day long.
BrentonLead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art God my Saviour: and I have waited on thee all the day.
GreekὉδήγησόν με ἐπὶ τὴν ἀλήθειάν σου, καὶ δίδαξόν με, ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεὸς ὁ σωτήρ μου, καὶ σὲ ὑπέμεινα ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν.
KJVLead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
JPSGuide me in Thy truth, and teach me; For Thou art the God of my salvation; For Thee do I wait all the day.
6
ThomsonO Lord, remember Thy compassion and Thy tender mercies; for they are from everlasting.
BrentonRemember thy compassions, O Lord, and thy mercies, for they are from everlasting.
GreekΜνήσθητι τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν σου Κύριε, καὶ τὰ ἐλέη σου, ὅτι ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος εἰσίν.
KJVRemember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
JPSRemember, O LORD, Thy compassions and Thy mercies; For they have been from of old.
7
ThomsonRemember not the sins and follies of my youth; according to Thy mercy remember me, O Lord, for Thy goodness’ sake.
BrentonRemember not the sins of my youth, nor my sins of ignorance: remember me according to thy mercy, for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.
GreekἉμαρτίας νεότητός μου, καὶ ἀγνοίας μου μὴ μνησθῇς· κατὰ τὸ ἔλεός σου μνήσθητί μου, ἕνεκεν τῆς χρηστότητος σου, Κύριε.
KJVRemember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.
JPSRemember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Thy mercy remember Thou me, For Thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
8
ThomsonThe Lord is gracious and righteous: therefore He will instruct sinners in the way:
BrentonGood and upright is the Lord: therefore will he instruct sinners in the way.
GreekΧρηστὸς καὶ εὐθὴς ὁ Κύριος, διὰ τοῦτο νομοθετήσει ἁμαρτάνοντας ἐν ὁδῷ.
KJVGood and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
JPSGood and upright is the LORD; Therefore doth He instruct sinners in the way.
9
ThomsonHe will guide the meek in judgment: He will teach the meek His ways.
BrentonThe meek will he guide in judgment: the meek will he teach his ways.
GreekὉδηγήσει πρᾳεῖς ἐν κρίσει, διδάξει πρᾳεῖς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ.
KJVThe meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
JPS—
10
ThomsonAll the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth; to them who seek His covenant and His testimonies.
BrentonAll the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth to them that seek his covenant and his testimonies.
GreekΠᾶσαι αἱ ὁδοὶ Κυρίου ἔλεος καὶ ἀλήθεια τοῖς ἐκζητοῦσι τὴν διαθήκην αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ μαρτύρια αὐτοῦ.
KJVAll the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
JPSAll the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth Unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11
ThomsonFor the sake of Thy name therefore, O Lord, pardon this sin of mine, for it is manifold.
BrentonFor thy name's sake, O Lord, do thou also be merciful to my sin; for it is great.
GreekἝνεκα τοῦ ὀνόματός σου, Κύριε, καὶ ἱλάσῃ τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ μου, πολλὴ γάρ ἐστι.
KJVFor thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
JPSFor Thy name's sake, O LORD, Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great.
12
ThomsonWhat man soever habitually feareth the Lord, him He will instruct in the way he hath chosen;
BrentonWho is the man that fears the Lord? he shall instruct him in the way which he has chosen.
GreekΤίς ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος ὁ φοβούμενος τὸν Κύριον; νομοθετήσει αὐτῷ ἐν ὁδῷ, ᾗ ᾑρετίσατο.
KJVWhat man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
JPSWhat man is he that feareth the LORD? Him will He instruct in the way that He should choose.
13
Thomson—
BrentonHis soul shall dwell in prosperity; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
GreekἩ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀγαθοῖς αὐλισθήσεται, καὶ τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ κληρονομήσει γῆν.
KJVHis soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
JPSHis soul shall abide in prosperity; And his seed shall inherit the land.
14
ThomsonThe Lord is the strength of them who fear Him; and it is His covenant to display it for them.
BrentonThe Lord is the strength of them that fear him; and his covenant is to manifest truth to them.
GreekΚραταίωμα Κύριος τῶν φοβουμένων αὐτὸν, καὶ ἡ διαθήκη αὐτοῦ τοῦ δηλῶσαι αὐτοῖς.
KJVThe secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
JPSThe counsel of the LORD is with them that fear Him; And His covenant, to make them know it.
15
ThomsonMine eyes are continually towards the Lord; because He can extricate my feet from the snare.
BrentonMine eyes are continually to the Lord; for he shall draw my feet out of the snare.
GreekΟἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου διαπαντὸς πρὸς τὸν Κύριον, ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐκσπάσει ἐκ παγίδος τοὺς πόδας μου.
KJVMine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
JPSMine eyes are ever toward the LORD; For He will bring forth my feet out of the net.
16
ThomsonLook down upon me and compassionate me; for I am an only begotten, though distressed:
BrentonLook upon me, and have mercy upon me; for I am an only child and poor.
GreekἘπίβλεψον ἐπʼ ἐμὲ καὶ ἐλέησόν με, ὅτι μονογενὴς καὶ πτωχός εἰμι ἐγώ.
KJVTurn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
JPS—
17
Thomsonthe troubles of my heart are multiplied: O deliver me from these my distresses.
BrentonThe afflictions of my heart have been multiplied; deliver me from my distresses.
GreekΑἱ θλίψεις τῆς καρδίας μου ἐπληθύνθησαν, ἐκ τῶν ἀναγκῶν μου ἐξάγαγέ με·
KJV—
JPS—
18
ThomsonLook on my humiliation and my trouble and forgive all my sins.
BrentonLook upon mine affliction and my trouble; and forgive all my sins.
GreekἼδε τὴν ταπείνωσίν μου καὶ τὸν κόπον μου, καὶ ἄφες πάσας τὰς ἁμαρτίας μου.
KJVLook upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
JPSSee mine affliction and my travail; And forgive all my sins.
19
ThomsonView mine enemies, for they are multiplied; and have hated me with unjust hatred.
BrentonLook upon mine enemies; for they have been multiplied; and they have hated me with unjust hatred.
GreekἼδε τοὺς ἐχθρούς μου, ὅτι ἐπληθύνθησαν, καὶ μῖσος ἄδικον ἐμίσησάν με.
KJVConsider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
JPSConsider how many are mine enemies, And the cruel hatred wherewith they hate me. .
20
ThomsonO preserve my soul and deliver me: let me not be shamed, because I have trusted in Thee.
BrentonKeep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I have hoped in thee.
GreekΦύλαξον τὴν ψυχήν μου καὶ ῥῦσαί με· μὴ καταισχυνθείην, ὅτι ἤλπισα ἐπὶ σέ.
KJVO keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
JPSO keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I have taken refuge in Thee.
21
ThomsonTo me the innocent and the upright cleaved; because I waited for Thee, O Lord.
BrentonThe harmless and upright joined themselves to me: for I waited for thee, O Lord.
GreekἌκακοι καὶ εὐθεῖς ἐκολλῶντό μοι, ὅτι ὑπέμεινά σε, Κύριε.
KJV—
JPS—
22
ThomsonGod redeem Israel from all their afflictions!
BrentonDeliver Israel, O God, out of all his afflictions.
GreekΛύτρωσαι ὁ Θεὸς τὸν Ἰσραὴλ ἐκ πασῶν τῶν θλίψεων αὐτοῦ.
KJVRedeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
JPSRedeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.