Seized by the Philistines
Psalms 55
Composed after the Philistines seized David at Gath, this psalm describes enemies who trample the psalmist all day long and plot evil against him, yet he declares trust in God rather than fear of what man can do to him. He recalls that the Lord has kept account of his wanderings and tears, and gives thanks for the deliverance of his soul from death and his feet from stumbling.
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, concerning the people that were removed from the sanctuary, by David for a memorial, when the Philistines caught him in Geth.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαοῦ τοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁγίων μεμακρυμμένου, τῷ Δαυὶδ εἰς στηλογραφίαν, ὁπότε ἐκράτησαν αὐτὸν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ἐν Γέθ.
KJV—
JPS—
2
ThomsonPITY me, O God, for a man hath trodden me down. Fighting all the day long he hath afflicted me.
BrentonHave mercy upon me, O God; for man has trodden me down; all the day long he warring has afflicted me.
GreekἘλεήσον με ὁ Θεὸς, ὅτι κατεπάτησέ με ἄνθρωπος, ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν πολεμῶν ἔθλιψέ με.
KJV—
JPSBe gracious unto me, O God, for man would swallow me up; All the day he fighting oppresseth me.
3
ThomsonMine enemies have trodden me down the whole day, with the day in their favour.
BrentonMine enemies have trodden me down all the day from the dawning of the day; for there are many warring against me.
GreekΚατεπάτησάν με οἱ ἐχθροί μου ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἀπὸ ὕψους ἡμέρας, ὅτι πολλοὶ οἱ πολεμοῦντές με.
KJVMine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
JPSThey that lie in wait for me would swallow me up all the day; For they are many that fight against me, O Most High,
4
Thomson—
BrentonThey shall be afraid, but I will trust in thee.
GreekΦοβηθήσονται, ἐγὼ δὲ ἐλπιῶ ἐπὶ σοί.
KJVWhat time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
JPSIn the day that I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.
5
ThomsonBut let me trust in Thee: to God let me commend my words. In God I have trusted all the day long: I will not fear what flesh can do to me.
BrentonIn God I will praise my words; all the day have I hoped in God; I will not fear what flesh shall do to me.
GreekἘν τῷ Θεῷ ἐπαινέσω τοὺς λόγους μου, ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἐν τῷ Θεῷ ἤλπισα, οὐ φοβηθήσομαι τί ποιήσει μοι σάρξ.
KJVIn God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
JPSIn God—I will praise His word— In God do I trust, I will not be afraid; What can flesh do unto me?
6
ThomsonAll the day long they spurned my words: all their thoughts were against me for mischief.
BrentonAll the day long they have abominated my words; all their devices are against me for evil.
GreekὍλην τὴν ἡμέραν τοὺς λόγους μου ἐβδελύσσοντο, κατʼ ἐμοῦ πάντες οἱ διαλογισμοὶ αὐτῶν εἰς κακόν.
KJVEvery day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
JPSAll the day they trouble mine affairs; All their thoughts are against me for evil.
7
ThomsonSome are to dwell near and hide themselves: some are to watch my footsteps.
BrentonThey will dwell near and hide themselves; they will watch my steps, accordingly as I have waited patiently in my soul.
GreekΠαροικήσουσι καὶ κατακρύψουσιν αὐτοὶ, τὴν πτέρναν μου φυλάξουσι· καθάπερ ὑπέμεινα τῇ ψυχῇ μου.
KJVThey gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
JPSThey gather themselves together, they hide themselves, They mark my steps; According as they have waited for my soul.
8
ThomsonAs I have suffered this for my life, Thou wilt on no account save them. In Thine indignation Thou wilt cast down peoples.
BrentonThou wilt on no account save them; thou wilt bring down the people in wrath.
GreekὙπὲρ τοῦ μηθενὸς σώσεις αὐτοὺς ἐν ὀργῇ λαοὺς κατάξεις· ὁ Θεὸς
KJV—
JPS—
9
ThomsonO God, to Thee I have unfolded my life: Thou hast placed my tears before Thee.
BrentonO God, I have declared my life to thee; thou hast set my tears before thee, even according to thy promise.
Greekτὴν ζωήν μου ἐξήγγειλά σοι, ἔθου τὰ δάκρυά μου ἐνώπιόν σου, ὡς καὶ ἐν τῇ ἐπαγγελίᾳ σου.
KJV—
JPS—
10
ThomsonAccording to Thy promise mine enemies shall turn back; on the day when I invoke Thee. Behold I know that Thou art my God.
BrentonMine enemies shall be turned back, in the day wherein I shall call upon thee; behold, I know that thou art my God.
GreekἘπιστρέψουσιν οἱ ἐχθροί μου εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, ἐν ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπικαλέσωμαί σε· ἰδοὺ ἔγνων ὅτι Θεός μου εἶ σύ.
KJVWhen I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
JPSThen shall mine enemies turn back in the day that I call; This I know, that God is for me.
11
ThomsonFor God let me approve the decree: for the Lord let me approve the word.
BrentonIn God will I praise his word; in the Lord will I praise his saying.
GreekἘπὶ τῷ Θεῷ αἰνέσω ῥῆμα, ἐπὶ τῷ Κυρίῳ αἰνέσω λόγον.
KJVIn God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
JPSIn God—I will praise His word— In the LORD—I will praise His word—
12
ThomsonIn God I have put my trust; I will not fear what man can do to me.
BrentonI have hoped in God; I will not be afraid of what man shall do to me.
GreekἘπὶ τῷ Θεῷ ἤλπισα, οὐ φοβηθήσομαι τί ποιήσει μοι ἄνθρωπος.
KJVIn God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
JPSIn God do I trust, I will not be afraid; What can man do unto me?
13
ThomsonOn me, O God, are the vows of Thy praise, which I will pay:
BrentonThe vows of thy praise, O God, which I will pay, are upon me.
GreekἘν ἐμοὶ ὁ Θεὸς αἱ εὐχαὶ, ἃς ἀποδώσω αἰνέσεώς σου.
KJVThy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
JPSThy vows are upon me, O God; I will render thank-offerings unto Thee.
14
Thomsonbecause Thou hast delivered my soul from death; and my feet from falling: that I may worship acceptably before God; in the light of the living.
BrentonFor thou hast delivered my soul from death, and my feet from sliding, that I should be well-pleasing before God in the land of the living.
GreekὍτι ἐῤῥύσω τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐκ θανάτου, καὶ τοὺς πόδας μου ἐξ ὀλισθήματος, τοῦ εὐαρεστῆσαι ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν φωτὶ ζώντων.
KJVFor thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
JPSFor thou hast delivered my soul from death; Hast Thou not delivered my feet from stumbling? That I may walk before God in the light of the living?