Blessed Is Forgiveness
Psalms 31
Called a psalm of instruction, it opens by blessing the one whose sins are forgiven and describes how keeping silent about sin wasted the psalmist's body, until confession brought the Lord's pardon. It closes urging the righteous not to be senseless like a horse or mule but to rejoice and exult in the Lord.
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
ThomsonHAPPY they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
BrentonA Psalm of instruction by David. Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
GreekΣυνέσεως τῷ Δαυίδ. Μακάριοι ὧν ἀφέθησαν αἱ ἀνομίαι, καὶ ὧν ἐπεκαλύφθησαν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι.
KJVBlessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
JPS[A Psalm] of David. Maschil. Happy is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is pardoned.
2
ThomsonHappy the man, to whose account the Lord will not charge sin, and in whose mouth there is no guile.
BrentonBlessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin, and in whose mouth there is no guile.
GreekΜακάριος ἀνὴρ ᾧ οὐ μὴ λογίσηται Κύριος ἁμαρτίαν, οὐδέ ἐστιν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ δόλος.
KJVBlessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
JPSHappy is the man unto whom the LORD counteth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile.
3
ThomsonBecause I kept silence, my bones were consumed; by reason of my crying all the live long day.
BrentonBecause I kept silence, my bones waxed old, from my crying all the day.
GreekὍτι ἐσίγησα, ἐπαλαιώθη τὰ ὀστᾶ μου, ἀπὸ τοῦ κράζειν με ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν.
KJVWhen I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
JPSWhen I kept silence, my bones wore away Through my groaning all the day long.
4
ThomsonBecause day and night Thy hand was heavy on me, I was reduced to misery by a piercing thorn.
BrentonFor day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: I became thoroughly miserable while a thorn was fastened in me. Pause.
GreekὍτι ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς ἐβαρύνθη ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἡ χείρ σου, ἐστράφην εἰς ταλαιπωρίαν ἐν τῷ ἐμπαγῆναι ἄκανθαν· διάψαλμα.
KJVFor day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
JPSFor day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; My sap was turned as in the droughts of summer. Selah
5
ThomsonI acknowledged my sin and did not conceal mine iniquity. I said, Against myself I will confess mine iniquity to the Lord, thereupon Thou didst forgive the wickedness of my heart.
BrentonI acknowledged my sin, and hid not mine iniquity: I said, I will confess mine iniquity to the Lord against myself; and thou forgavest the ungodliness of my heart. Pause.
GreekΤὴν ἁμαρτίαν μου ἐγνώρισα, καὶ τὴν ἀνομίαν μου οὐκ ἐκάλυψα· εἶπα, ἐξαγορεύσω κατʼ ἐμοῦ τὴν ἀνομίαν μου τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ σὺ ἀφῆκας τὴν ἀσέβειαν τῆς καρδίας μου· διάψαλμα.
KJVI acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
JPSI acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid; I said: 'I will make confession concerning my transgressions unto the LORD' — And Thou, Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6
ThomsonFor this every pious man should pray to Thee in due time. Moreover in a flood of many waters, are they not to draw near to Him?
BrentonTherefore shall every holy one pray to thee in a fit time: only in the deluge of many waters they shall not come nigh to him.
GreekὙπὲρ ταύτης προσεύξεται πρὸς σὲ πᾶς ὅσιος ἐν καιρῷ εὐθέτῳ· πλὴν ἐν κατακλυσμῷ ὑδάτων πολλῶν πρὸς αὐτὸν οὐκ ἐγγιοῦσι.
KJVFor this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
JPSFor this let every one that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found; Surely, when the great waters overflow, they will not reach unto him.
7
ThomsonThou art my refuge from affliction, which surroundeth me—my jubilee to redeem me from them who encompass me.
BrentonThou art my refuge from the affliction that encompasses me; my joy, to deliver me from them that have compassed me. Pause.
GreekΣύ μου εἶ καταφυγὴ ἀπὸ θλίψεως τῆς περιεχούσης με, τὸ ἀγαλλίαμά μου λύτρωσαί με ἀπὸ τῶν κυκλωσάντων με· διάψαλμα.
KJV—
JPS—
8
ThomsonLet Me instruct thee and teach thee the way thou shouldst go. I will fix steadily Mine eyes upon thee.
BrentonI will instruct thee and guide thee in this way wherein thou shalt go: I will fix mine eyes upon thee.
GreekΣυνετιῶ σε καὶ συμβιβῶ σε ἐν ὁδῷ ταύτῃ ᾗ πορεύσῃ, ἐπιστηριῶ ἐπὶ σὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου.
KJVI will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
JPS'I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will give counsel, Mine eye being upon thee.'
9
ThomsonBe not like a horse or a mule, which have no understanding, the mouths of which, when they come not to thee, thou must strain with a bridle or a cavesson.
BrentonBe ye not as horse and mule, which have no understanding: but thou must constrain their jaws with bit and curb, lest they should come nigh to thee.
GreekΜὴ γίνεσθε ὡς ἵππος καὶ ἡμίονος, οἷς οὐκ ἔστι σύνεσις· ἐν χαλινῷ καὶ κημῷ τὰς σιαγόνας αὐτῶν ἄγξαι τῶν μὴ ἐγγιζόντων πρὸς σέ.
KJVBe ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
JPSBe ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, That they come not near unto thee.
10
ThomsonMany are the chastisements of the sinner; but mercy will encompass him who trusteth in the Lord.
BrentonMany are the scourges of the sinner: but him that hopes in the Lord mercy shall compass about.
GreekΠολλαὶ αἱ μάστιγες τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ, τὸν δὲ ἐλπίζοντα ἐπὶ Κύριον ἔλεος κυκλώσει.
KJVMany sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
JPSMany are the sorrows of the wicked; But he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy compasseth him about.
11
ThomsonRejoice in the Lord and exult ye righteous, and shout for joy all ye who are upright in heart.
BrentonBe glad in the Lord, and exult, ye righteous: and glory, all ye that are upright in heart.
GreekΕὐφράνθητε ἐπὶ Κύριον καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι, καὶ καυχᾶσθε πάντες οἱ εὐθεῖς τῇ καρδίᾳ.
KJVBe glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
JPSBe glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous; And shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.