A Cry Against the Wicked

Psalms 27

David cries to the Lord not to be silent toward him, asking not to be drawn away with sinners who speak peace but harbor evil in their hearts, and calls for them to be repaid according to their deeds. He then blesses the Lord for hearing his prayer and asks him to save and shepherd his people.

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

ThomsonTO Thee, O Lord, I have cried: O my God, pass me not by in silence. Shouldst Thou pass me by in silence: I shall be like them who go down to the pit.

BrentonA Psalm of David. To thee, O Lord, have I cried; my God, be not silent toward me: lest thou be silent toward me, and so I should be likened to them that go down to the pit.

GreekΤοῦ Δαυίδ. Πρὸς σὲ Κύριε ἐκέκραξα, ὁ Θεός μου μὴ παρασιωπήσῃς ἐπʼ ἑμοὶ, μήποτε παρασιωπήσῃς ἐπʼ ἐμοὶ, καὶ ὁμοιωθήσομαι τοῖς καταβαίνουσιν εἰς λάκκον.

KJVUnto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

JPS[A Psalm] of David. Unto thee, O LORD, do I call; My Rock, be not Thou deaf unto me; Lest, if Thou be silent unto me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

ThomsonHear the sound of my supplication, when I pray to Thee—when I lift up my hands to Thy holy temple.

BrentonHearken to the voice of my supplication, when I pray to thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy temple.

GreekΕἰσάκουσον τῆς φωνῆς τῆς δεήσεώς μου, ἐν τῷ δέεσθαί με πρὸς σὲ, ἐν τῷ αἴρειν με χεῖράς μου εἰς ναὸν ἅγιόν σου.

KJVHear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

JPSHear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto Thee, When I lift up my hands toward Thy holy Sanctuary.

ThomsonDraw not my soul in with sinners; nor destroy me with the workers of iniquity—with them who speak peace to their neighbours and harbour mischief in their hearts.

BrentonDraw not away my soul with sinners, and destroy me not with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace with their neighbours, but evils are in their hearts.

GreekΜὴ συνελκύσῃς μετὰ ἁμαρτωλῶν τὴν ψυχήν μου, καὶ μετὰ ἐργαζομένων ἀδικίαν μὴ συναπολέσῃς με, τῶν λαλούντων εἰρήνην μετὰ τῶν πλησίον αὐτῶν, κακὰ δὲ ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν.

KJVDraw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

JPSDraw me not away with the wicked, And with the workers of iniquity; Who speak peace with their neighbours, But evil is in their hearts.

ThomsonGive them according to their deeds; and according to the wickedness of their devices. According to the works of their hands give them—retribute to them their deserts.

BrentonGive them according to their works, and according to the wickedness of their devices: give them according to the works of their hands; render their recompence unto them.

GreekΔὸς αὐτοῖς κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν, καὶ κατὰ τὴν πονηρίαν τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων αὐτῶν· κατὰ τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν δὸς αὐτοῖς, ἀπόδος τὸ ἀνταπόδομα αὐτῶν αὐτοῖς.

KJVGive them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.

JPSGive them according to their deeds, and according to the evil of their endeavours; Give them after the work of their hands; Render to them their desert.

ThomsonBecause they did not regard the works of the Lord; nor the operations of His hands: Thou wilt utterly destroy them and not build them up again.

BrentonBecause they have not attended to the works of the Lord, even to the works of his hands, thou shalt pull them down, and shalt not build them up.

GreekὍτι οὐ συνῆκαν εἰς τὰ ἔργα Κυρίου καὶ εἰς τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ, καθελεῖς αὐτοὺς καὶ οὐ μὴ οἰκοδομήσεις αὐτούς.

KJVBecause they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

JPSBecause they give no heed to the works of the LORD, Nor to the operation of His hands; He will break them down and not build them up.

ThomsonBlessed be the Lord, because He hath heard the voice of my prayer.

BrentonBlessed be the Lord, for he has hearkened to the voice of my petition.

GreekΕὐλογητὸς Κύριος, ὅτι εἰσήκουσε τῆς φωνῆς τῆς δεήσεώς μου.

KJVBlessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

JPSBlessed be the LORD, Because He hath heard the voice of my supplications.

ThomsonThe Lord is my helper and my protector: on Him my heart relied, and I am helped. My flesh also is revived, that with cheerfulness I may praise Him.

BrentonThe Lord is my helper and my defender; my heart has hoped in him, and I am helped: my flesh has revived, and willingly will I give praise to him.

GreekΚύριος βοηθός μου καὶ ὑπερασπιστής μου· ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἤλπισεν ἡ καρδία μου, καὶ ἐβοηθήθην, καὶ ἀνέθαλεν ἡ σάρξ μου· καὶ ἐκ θελήματός μου ἐξομολογήσομαι αὐτῷ.

KJVThe LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

JPSThe LORD is my strength and my shield, In Him hath my heart trusted, And I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth, And with my song will I praise Him.

ThomsonThe Lord is the strength of His people; and the safeguard of His anointed.

BrentonThe Lord is the strength of his people, and the saving defender of his anointed.

GreekΚύριος κραταίωμα τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑπερασπιστὴς τῶν σωτηρίων τοῦ χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐστι.

KJVThe LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

JPSThe LORD is a strength unto them; And He is a stronghold of salvation to His anointed.

ThomsonO save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; feed them also and lift them up forever.

BrentonSave thy people, and bless thine inheritance: and take care of them, and lift them up for ever.

GreekΣῶσον τὸν λαόν σου, καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, καὶ ποίμανον αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἔπαρον αὐτοὺς ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος.

KJVSave thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

JPSSave Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance; And tend them, and carry them for ever.