True Sacrifice Over Ritual

Psalms 49

Speaking through Asaph, the Lord summons heaven and earth to judge his people, declaring that he desires no bulls or goats from their flocks since every beast of the field already belongs to him, and calling instead for the sacrifice of praise and the paying of vows. He then rebukes the wicked man who recites God's commandments while keeping company with thieves and adulterers and slandering his own brother, warning that such conduct will not go unanswered.

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

ThomsonTHE God of gods, the Lord hath spoken, and summoned the earth from the rising to the setting of the sun.

BrentonA Psalm for Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord, has spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof.

GreekΨαλμὸς τῷ Ἀσάφ. Θεὸς θεῶν Κύριος ἐλάλησε, καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὴν γῆν ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν ἡλίου μέχρι δυσμῶν.

KJVThe mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.

JPSA Psalm of Asaph. God, God, the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth From the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.

ThomsonOut of Sion the perfection of His comeliness—God in full manifestation,

BrentonOut of Sion comes the excellence of his beauty.

GreekἘκ Σιὼν ἡ εὐπρέπεια τῆς ὡραιότητος αὐτοῦ.

KJVOut of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

JPSOut of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined forth.

Thomsoneven our God will come and will not keep silence. Before Him a fire shall blaze; and around Him shall be a mighty tempest.

BrentonGod, our God, shall come manifestly, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall be kindled before him, and round about him there shall be a very great tempest.

GreekὉ Θεὸς ἐμφανῶς ἥξει, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, καὶ οὐ παρασιωπήσεται· πῦρ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ καυθήσεται, καὶ κύκλῳ αὐτοῦ καταιγὶς σφοδρά.

KJVOur God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

JPSOur God cometh, and doth not keep silence; a fire devoureth before Him, And round about Him it stormeth mightily.

ThomsonHe will call to the heaven above and to the earth, to judge His people.

BrentonHe shall summon the heaven above, and the earth, that he may judge his people.

GreekΠροσκαλέσεται τὸν οὐρανὸν ἄνω, καὶ τὴν γῆν διακρῖναι τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ.

KJVHe shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

JPSHe calleth to the heavens above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people:

ThomsonGather His saints together to Him—them who are in covenant with Him touching upon sacrifices;

BrentonAssemble ye his saints to him, those that have engaged in a covenant with him upon sacrifices.

GreekΣυναγάγετε αὐτῷ τοὺς ὁσίους αὐτοῦ, τοὺς διατιθεμένους τὴν διαθήκην αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ θυσίαις.

KJVGather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

JPS'Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.'

Thomsonand let the heavens declare His righteousness. Because God is judge,

BrentonAnd the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge. Pause.

GreekΚαὶ ἀναγγελοῦσιν οἱ οὐρανοὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ, ὅτι Θεὸς κριτής ἐστι· διάψαλμα.

KJVAnd the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

JPSAnd the heavens declare His righteousness; for God, He is judge. Selah

Thomsonhear, O my people and I will speak to ye—O Israel and I will testify to thee! I am God, thy God I am.

BrentonHear, my people, and I will speak to thee, O Israel: and I will testify to thee: I am God, thy God.

GreekἌκουσον λαός μου καὶ λαλήσω σοι, Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ διαμαρτύρομαί σοι· ὁ Θεὸς ὁ Θεός σου εἰμὶ ἐγώ.

KJVHear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.

JPS'Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: God, thy God, am I.

ThomsonI will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices. And as for thy whole burnt offerings which are continually before Me,

BrentonI will not reprove thee on account of thy sacrifices; for thy whole-burnt-offerings are before me continually.

GreekΟὐκ ἐπὶ ταῖς θυσίαις σου ἐλέγξω σε, τὰ δὲ ὁλοκαυτώματά σου ἐνώπιόν μου ἐστὶ διαπαντός.

KJVI will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.

JPSI will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices; and thy burnt-offerings are continually before Me.

ThomsonI will not take young bulls from thy house, nor he-goats from thy folds.

BrentonI will take no bullocks out of thine house, nor he-goats out of thy flocks.

GreekΟὐ δέξομαι ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου σου μόσχους, οὐδὲ ἐκ τῶν ποιμνίων σου χιυάρους·

KJVI will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.

JPSI will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he-goats out of thy folds.

ThomsonFor all the beasts of the forests are Mine, the cattle on the mountains, and the oxen.

BrentonFor all the wild beasts of the thicket are mine, the cattle on the mountains, and oxen.

GreekὍτι ἐμά ἐστι πάντα τὰ θηρία τοῦ δρυμοῦ, κτήνη ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι, καὶ βόες.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonI claim all the birds of the air; and to Me belong the ripe fruits of the field.

BrentonI know all the birds of the sky; and the beauty of the field is mine.

GreekἜγνωκα πάντα τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ὡραιότης ἀγροῦ μετʼ ἐμοῦ ἐστιν.

KJVI know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

JPSI know all the fowls of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.

ThomsonIf I were hungry, I would not tell thee; for the world is Mine and the fullness thereof.

BrentonIf I should be hungry, I will not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness of it.

GreekἘὰν πεινάσω, οὐ μή σοι εἴπω, ἐμὴ γάρ ἐστιν ἡ οἰκουμένη καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς.

KJVIf I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

JPSIf I were hungry, I would not tell thee; for the world is Mine, and the fulness thereof.

ThomsonDo I eat the flesh of bulls? Or do I drink the blood of goats?

BrentonWill I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

GreekΜὴ φάγομαι κρέα ταύρων, ἢ αἷμα τράγων πίομαι;

KJVWill I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

JPSDo I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

ThomsonSacrifice to God a sacrifice of praise, and pay thy vows to the Most High.

BrentonOffer to God the sacrifice of praise; and pay thy vows to the Most High.

GreekΘῦσον τῷ Θεῷ θυσίαν αἰνέσεως, καὶ ἀπόδος τῷ ὑψίστῳ τὰς εὐχάς σου.

KJVOffer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

JPSOffer unto God the sacrifice of thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High;

ThomsonThen call on Me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver thee and thou shalt praise Me.

BrentonAnd call upon me in the day of affliction; and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Pause.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπικάλεσαί με ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεως, καὶ ἐξελοῦμαί σε, καὶ δοξάσεις με. διάψαλμα.

KJVAnd call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

JPSAnd call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt honour Me.'

ThomsonBut to the sinner God said, Why dost thou mention My judgments, or take My covenant in thy mouth?

BrentonBut to the sinner God has said, Why dost thou declare my ordinances, and take up my covenant in thy mouth?

GreekΤῷ δὲ ἁμαρτωλῷ εἶπεν ὁ Θεὸς, ἱνατί σὺ διηγῇ τὰ δικαιώματά μου, καὶ ἀναλαμβάνεις τὴν διαθήκην μου διὰ στόματός σου;

KJVBut unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

JPSBut unto the wicked God saith: 'What hast thou to do to declare My statutes, And that thou hast taken My covenant in thy mouth?

ThomsonAs for thee, thou hast hated instruction, and cast My words behind thy back.

BrentonWhereas thou hast hated instruction, and hast cast my words behind thee.

GreekΣὺ δὲ ἐμίσησας παιδείαν, καὶ ἐξέβαλες τοὺς λόγους μου εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω.

KJVSeeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.

JPSSeeing thou hatest instruction, and castest My words behind thee.

ThomsonWhen thou sawest a thief, thou didst run with him—and hast been a partaker with adulterers.

BrentonIf thou sawest a thief, thou rannest along with him, and hast cast in thy lot with adulterers.

GreekΕἰ ἐθεώρεις κλέπτην, συνέτρεχες αὐτῷ, καὶ μετὰ μοιχῶν τὴν μερίδα σου ἐτίθεις.

KJVWhen thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

JPSWhen thou sawest a thief, thou hadst company with him, and with adulterers was thy portion.

ThomsonThy mouth hath abounded in wickedness, and thy tongue hath framed deceits.

BrentonThy mouth has multiplied wickedness, and thy tongue has framed deceit.

GreekΤὸ στόμα σου ἐπλεόνασε κακίαν, καὶ ἡ γλῶσσά σου περιέπλεκε δολιότητα.

KJVThou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

JPSThou hast let loose thy mouth for evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. .

ThomsonSitting down thou hast spoken against thy brother, and against thy mother’s son, propagated falsehood.

BrentonThou didst sit and speak against thy brother, and didst scandalise thy mother's son.

GreekΚαθήμενος κατὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου κατελάλεις, καὶ κατὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ τῆς μητρός σου ἐτίθεις σκάνδαλον.

KJVThou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.

JPSThou sittest and speakest against thy brother; Thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

ThomsonThese things thou hast done and I was silent. Thou unjustly didst suppose that I would be like thyself. I will reprove thee and set things in order before thee.

BrentonThese things thou didst, and I kept silence: thou thoughtest wickedly that I should be like thee; but I will reprove thee, and set thine offences before thee.

GreekΤαῦτα ἐποίησας, καὶ ἐσίγησα, ὑπέλαβες ἀνομίαν ὅτι ἔσομαί σοι ὅμοιος· ἐλέγξω σε, καὶ παραστήσω κατὰ πρόσωπόν σου.

KJVThese things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

JPSThese things hast thou done, and should I have kept silence? Thou hadst thought that I was altogether such a one as thyself; but I will reprove thee, and set the cause before thine eyes.

ThomsonNow then, consider this, ye who forget God; lest He tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver.

BrentonNow consider these things, ye that forget God, lest he rend you, and there be no deliverer.

GreekΣύνετε δὴ ταῦτα οἱ ἐπιλανθανόμενοι τοῦ Θεοῦ, μήποτε ἁρπάσῃ, καὶ μὴ ᾖ ὁ ῥυόμενος.

KJVNow consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

JPSNow consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

ThomsonThe sacrifice of praise will glorify Me. And this is the way in which I will shew him the salvation of God.

BrentonThe sacrifice of praise will glorify me: and that is the way wherein I will shew to him the salvation of God.

GreekΘυσία αἰνέσεως δοξάσει με, καὶ ἐκεῖ ὁδὸς ᾗ δείξω αὐτῷ τὸ σωτήριον Θεοῦ.

KJVWhoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

JPSWhoso offereth the sacrifice of thanksgiving honoureth Me; and to him that ordereth his way aright Will I show the salvation of God.'