Taste and See
Psalms 33
Composed after David feigned madness before Abimelech, this psalm blesses the Lord continually and invites others to taste and see that the Lord is good, recalling how he delivered the poor man who cried to him. It instructs the young to fear the Lord, guard their tongues, and turn from evil, promising that the Lord is near the brokenhearted and keeps the bones of the righteous unbroken.
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
Thomson—
BrentonA Psalm of David, when he changed his countenance before Abimelech; and he let him go, and he departed.
GreekΤῷ Δαυὶδ, ὁπότε ἠλλοίωσε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐναντίον Ἀβιμέλεχ, καὶ ἀπέλυσεν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἀπῆλθεν.
KJV—
JPS[A Psalm] of David; when he changed his demeanour before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
2
ThomsonI WILL bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be continually in my mouth.
BrentonI will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall be continually in my mouth.
GreekΕὐλογήσω τὸν Κύριον ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ, διαπαντὸς ἡ αἴνεσις αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ στόματί μου.
KJVI will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
JPSI will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
3
ThomsonLet my soul glory in the Lord: let the meek hear and be gladdened.
BrentonMy soul shall boast herself in the Lord: let the meek hear, and rejoice.
GreekἘν τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐπαινεθήσεται ἡ ψυχή μου· ἀκουσάτωσαν πρᾳεῖς καὶ εὐφρανθήτωσαν.
KJVMy soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
JPSMy soul shall glory in the LORD; The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
4
ThomsonO magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol His name together.
BrentonMagnify ye the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
GreekΜεγαλύνατε τὸν Κύριον σὺν ἐμοὶ, καὶ ὑψώσωμεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐπιτοαυτό.
KJVO magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
JPSO magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
5
ThomsonI sought the Lord and He heard me; and brought me safe out of all my sojourns.
BrentonI sought the Lord diligently, and he hearkened to me, and delivered me from all my sojournings.
GreekἘξεζήτησα τὸν Κύριον καὶ ἐπήκουσέ μου, καὶ ἐκ πασῶν τῶν παροικιῶν μου ἐῤῥύσατό με·
KJVI sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
JPSI sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.
6
ThomsonCome to Him and be enlightened and your faces shall never be shamed.
BrentonDraw near to him, and be enlightened: and your faces shall not by any means be ashamed.
GreekΠροσέλθατε πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ φωτίσθητε, καὶ τὰ πρόσωπα ὑμῶν οὐ μὴ καταισχυνθῇ·
KJVThey looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
JPS—
7
ThomsonThis afflicted man cried; and the Lord heard him; and saved him out of all his afflictions.
BrentonThis poor man cried, and the Lord hearkened to him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions.
GreekΟὗτος ὁ πτωχὸς ἐκέκραξε, καὶ ὁ Κύριος εἰσήκουσεν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐκ πασῶν τῶν θλίψεων αὐτοῦ ἔσωσεν αὐτόν.
KJVThis poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
JPSThis poor man cried, and the LORD heard, And saved him out of all his troubles.
8
ThomsonThe angel of the Lord will encamp round them that fear Him, and deliver them.
BrentonThe angel of the Lord will encamp round about them that fear him, and will deliver them.
GreekΠαρεμβαλεῖ ἄγγελος Κυρίου κύκλῳ τῶν φοβουμένων αὐτὸν, καὶ ῥύσεται αὐτούς.
KJVThe angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
JPSThe angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, And delivereth them.
9
ThomsonO taste and see that the Lord is good! happy is the man, who trusteth in him.
BrentonTaste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man who hopes in him.
GreekΓεύσασθε καὶ ἴδετε ὅτι χρηστὸς ὁ Κύριος, μακάριος ἀνὴρ ὃς ἐλπίζει ἐπʼ αὐτόν.
KJVO taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
JPSO consider and see that the LORD is good; Happy is the man that taketh refuge in Him.
10
ThomsonO fear the Lord all ye his saints! for they who fear him have no want.
BrentonFear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
Greekφοβήθητε τὸν Κύριον πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι αὐτοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ὑστέρημα τοῖς φοβουμένοις αὐτόν.
KJVO fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
JPSO fear the LORD, ye His holy ones; For there is no want to them that fear Him.
11
ThomsonRich men have become poor and hungry: But they who seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
BrentonThe rich have become poor and hungry: but they that seek the Lord diligently shall not want any good thing. Pause.
GreekΠλούσιοι ἐπτώχευσαν καὶ ἐπείνασαν, οἱ δὲ ἐκζητοῦντες τὸν Κύριον οὐκ ἐλαττωθήσονται παντὸς ἀγαθοῦ· διάψαλμα.
KJVThe young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
JPSThe young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; But they that seek the LORD want not any good thing.
12
ThomsonCome, ye children, hearken to me: and I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
BrentonCome, ye children, hear me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
GreekΔεῦτε τέκνα, ἀκούσατέ μου, φόβον Κυρίου διδάξω ὑμᾶς.
KJVCome, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
JPSCome, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
13
ThomsonWhat man soever desireth life and loveth to see good days:
BrentonWhat man is there that desires life, loving to see good days?
GreekΤίς ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος ὁ θέλων ζωὴν, ἀγαπῶν ἡμέρας ἰδεῖν ἀγαθάς;
KJVWhat man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
JPSWho is the man that desireth life, and loveth days, That he may see good therein?
14
Thomsonkeep thy tongue from evil; and thy lips from speaking guile:
BrentonKeep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
GreekΠαῦσον τὴν γνῶσσάν σου ἀπὸ κακοῦ, καὶ χείλη σου τοῦ μὴ λαλῆσαι δόλον.
KJVKeep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
JPSKeep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile.
15
Thomsondepart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
BrentonTurn away from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
GreekἜκκλινον ἀπὸ κακοῦ, καὶ ποίησον ἀγαθὸν· ζήτησον εἰρήνην, καὶ δίωξον αὐτήν.
KJVDepart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
JPSDepart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.
16
ThomsonThe eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous: and His ears are open to their prayer.
BrentonThe eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer:
GreekΟφθαλμοὶ Κυρίου ἐπὶ δικαίους, καὶ ὦτα αὐτοῦ εἰς δέησιν αὐτῶν·
KJVThe eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
JPSThe eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, And His ears are open unto their cry.
17
ThomsonBut the face of the Lord is against them that do evil; to destroy the remembrance of them from the earth.
Brentonbut the face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to destroy their memorial from the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord hearkened to them,
GreekΠρόσωπον δὲ Κυρίου ἐπὶ ποιοῦντας κακὰ, τοῦ ἐξολοθρεῦσαι ἐκ γῆς τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῶν.
KJVThe face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
JPSThe face of the LORD is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
18
ThomsonThe righteous cried and the Lord heard them; and delivered them out of all their afflictions.
Brentonand delivered them out of all their afflictions.
GreekἘκέκραξαν οἱ δίκαιοι, καὶ ὁ Κύριος εἰσήκουσεν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐκ πασῶν τῶν θλίψεων αὐτῶν ἐῤῥύσατο αὐτούς.
KJVThe righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
JPSThey cried, and the LORD heard, And delivered them out of all their troubles.
19
ThomsonThe Lord is near to those of a contrite heart; and will save them who are lowly in spirit.
BrentonThe Lord is near to them that are of a contrite heart; and will save the lowly in spirit.
GreekἘγγὺς Κύριος τοῖς συντετριμμένοις τὴν καρδίαν, καὶ τοὺς ταπεινοὺς τῷ πνεύματι σώσει.
KJVThe LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
JPSThe LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.
20
ThomsonMany are the afflictions of the righteous; but out of them all the Lord will deliver them.
BrentonMany are the afflictions of the righteous: but out of them all the Lord will deliver them.
GreekΠολλαὶ αἱ θλίψεις τῶν δικαίων, καὶ ἐκ πασῶν αὐτῶν ῥύσεται αὐτοὺς
KJVMany are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
JPSMany are the ills of the righteous, But the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
21
ThomsonHe keepeth all their bones, not one of them shall be broken.
BrentonHe keeps all their bones: not one of them shall be broken.
Greekὁ Κύριος. Φυλάσσει πάντα τὰ ὀστᾶ αὐτῶν, ἓν ἐξ αὐτῶν οὐ συντριβήσεται.
KJVHe keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
JPSHe keepeth all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
22
ThomsonWretched is the death of sinners; yet they who hate what is just will transgress.
BrentonThe death of sinners is evil: and they that hate righteousness will go wrong.
GreekΘάνατος ἁμαρτωλῶν πονηρὸς, καὶ οἱ μισοῦντες τὸ δίκαιον πλημμελήσουσι.
KJVEvil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
JPSEvil shall kill the wicked; And they that hate the righteous shall be held guilty.
23
ThomsonThe Lord will redeem the souls of His servants: and none will transgress who trust in Him.
BrentonThe Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of those that hope in him shall go wrong.
GreekΛυτρώσεται Κύριος ψυχὰς δούλων αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐ μὴ πλημμελήσουσι πάντες οἱ ἐλπίζοντες ἐπʼ αὐτόν.
KJVThe LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
JPSThe LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants; And none of them that take refuge in Him shall be desolate.