Doeg's Betrayal Rebuked
Psalms 51
Following Doeg the Edomite's report to Saul that David had gone to the house of Ahimelech, the psalmist rebukes a boastful man who loves evil and deceit more than righteousness, warning that God will uproot him from the land of the living. The righteous will see his downfall and fear, while the psalmist compares himself instead to a fruitful olive tree trusting in the Lord's mercy forever.
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—
BrentonFor the end, a Psalm of instruction by David,
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος συνέσεως τῷ Δαυὶδ,
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader. Maschil of David;
2
Thomson—
Brentonwhen Doec the Idumean came and told Saul, and said to him, David is gone to the house of Abimelech.
Greekἐν τῷ ἐλθεῖν Δωὴκ τὸν Ἰδουμαῖον, καὶ ἀναγγεῖλαι τῷ Σαοὺλ, καὶ εἰπεῖν αὐτῷ, ἦλθε Δαυὶδ εἰς τὸν οἶκον Ἀβιμέλεχ.
KJV—
JPSwhen Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him: 'David is come to the house of Ahimelech.'
3
ThomsonWHY boastest thou in mischief, O mighty man of iniquity? All the day long he devised injustice.
BrentonWhy dost thou, O mighty man, boast of iniquity in thy mischief? All the day
GreekΤί ἐγκαυχᾷ ἐν κακίᾳ ὁ δυνατὸς ἀνομίαν; ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν
KJVWhy boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
JPSWhy boastest thou thyself of evil, O mighty man? The mercy of God endureth continually.
4
ThomsonThy tongue is like a sharp razor: thou hast practised deceit.
Brentonthy tongue has devised unrighteousness; like a sharpened razor thou hast wrought deceit.
Greekἀδικίαν ἐλογίσατο ἡ γλῶσσά σου· ὡσεὶ ξυρὸν ἠκονημένον ἐποίησας δόλον.
KJVThy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
JPSThy tongue deviseth destruction; Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
5
ThomsonThou hast loved evil more than good—lying more than speaking the truth.
BrentonThou hast loved wickedness more than goodness; unrighteousness better than to speak righteousness. Pause.
GreekἨγάπησας κακίαν ὑπὲρ ἀγαθωσύνην, ἀδικίαν ὑπὲρ τὸ λαλῆσαι δικαιοσύνην· διάψαλμα.
KJVThou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
JPSThou lovest evil more than good; Falsehood rather than speaking righteousness. Selah
6
ThomsonThou hast loved all the decrees of destruction—a tongue practised in deceit.
BrentonThou hast loved all words of destruction, and a deceitful tongue.
GreekἨγάπησας πάντα τὰ ῥήματα καταποντισμοῦ, γλῶσσαν δολίαν.
KJVThou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.
JPSThou lovest all devouring words, The deceitful tongue.
7
ThomsonFor this cause God will utterly destroy thee—tear thee up and hurl thee from thy dwelling; even thy rooted stock out of the land of the living.
BrentonTherefore may God destroy thee for ever, may he pluck thee up and utterly remove thee from thy dwelling, and thy root from the land of the living. Pause.
GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο ὁ Θεὸς καθέλοι σε εἰς τέλος, ἐκτίλαι σε καὶ μεταναστεύσαι σε ἀπὸ σκηνώματος, καὶ τὸ ῥίζωμά σου ἐκ γῆς ζώντων· διάψαλμα.
KJVGod shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
JPSGod will likewise break thee for ever, He will take thee up, and pluck thee out of thy tent, And root thee out of the land of the living. Selah
8
ThomsonThe righteous will see indeed and be afraid. And they will laugh at him and say,
BrentonAnd the righteous shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him, and say,
GreekΚαὶ ὄψονται δίκαιοι καὶ φοβηθήσονται, καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτὸν γελάσονται, καὶ ἐροῦσιν,
KJVThe righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:
JPSThe righteous also shall see, and fear, And shall laugh at him:
9
ThomsonBehold the man who made not God his strength: and trusted in the abundance of his wealth; and strengthened himself in his vanity!
BrentonBehold the man who made not God his help; but trusted in the abundance of his wealth, and strengthened himself in his vanity.
Greekἰδοὺ ἄνθρωπος ὃς οὐκ ἔθετο τὸν Θεὸν βοηθὸν αὐτοῦ, ἀλλʼ ἐπήλπισεν ἐπὶ τὸ πλῆθος τοῦ πλούτου αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνεδυναμώθη ἐπὶ τῇ ματαιότητι αὐτοῦ.
KJVLo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
JPS'Lo, this is the man that made not God his stronghold; But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.'
10
ThomsonAs for me, I shall be like a fruitful olive tree in the house of God. I have trusted in the mercy of God for this age and for the age of the ages.
BrentonBut I am as a fruitful olive in the house of God: I have trusted in the mercy of God for ever, even for evermore.
GreekἘγὼ δὲ ὡσεὶ ἐλαία κατάκαρπος ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἤλπισα ἐπὶ τὸ ἔλεος τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος.
KJVBut I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
JPSBut as for me, I am like a leafy olive-tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
11
ThomsonI will praise Thee for this age because Thou hast made it; and wait for Thy name, because it is good in the sight of Thy saints.
BrentonI will give thanks to thee for ever, for thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.
GreekἘξομολογήσομαί σοι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ὅτι ἐποίησας, καὶ ὑπομενῶ τὸ ὄνομά σου, ὅτι χρηστὸν ἐναντίον τῶν ὁσίων σου.
KJVI will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.
JPSI will give Thee thanks for ever, because Thou hast done it; And I will wait for Thy name, for it is good, in the presence of Thy saints.