Watched by Assassins
Psalms 58
Written when Saul's men watched David's house in order to kill him, the psalm pleads for deliverance from bloodthirsty enemies who hunt him though he has done no wrong, describing them as prowling the city at evening like hungry dogs. The psalmist trusts that God will make a mockery of these enemies and prays that they be scattered by his power rather than destroyed outright, closing in confident praise of God as his strength and refuge.
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. Destroy not: by David for a memorial, when Saul sent, and watched his house to kill him.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, μὴ διαφθείρῃς, τῷ Δαυὶδ εἰς στηλογραφίαν, ὁπότε ἀπέστειλε Σαοὺλ, καὶ ἐφύλαξε τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ τοῦ θανατῶσαι αὐτόν.
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader; Al-tashheth. [A Psalm] of David; Michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
2
ThomsonDELIVER me, O God, from mine enemies: and redeem me from them who rise up against me.
BrentonDeliver me from mine enemies, O God; and ransom me from those that rise up against me.
GreekἘξελοῦ με ἐκ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἐπανισταμένων ἐπʼ ἐμὲ λύτρωσαί με.
KJVDeliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
JPSDeliver me from mine enemies, O my God; set me on high from them that rise up against me.
3
ThomsonDeliver me from them who work iniquity; and save me from bloodthirsty men.
BrentonDeliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
GreekῬῦσαί με ἐκ τῶν ἐργαζομένων τὴν ἀνομίαν, καὶ ἐξ ἀνδρῶν αἱμάτων σῶσόν με.
KJVDeliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
JPSDeliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from the men of blood.
4
ThomsonFor behold they have hunted my life: the mighty are set against me: though there is no transgression—no sin, O Lord, in me.
BrentonFor, behold, they have hunted after my soul; violent men have set upon me: neither is it my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord.
GreekὍτι ἰδοὺ ἐθήρευσαν τὴν ψυχήν μου, ἐπέθεντο ἐπʼ ἐμὲ κραταιοί· οὔτε ἡ ἀνομία μου, οὔτε ἡ ἁμαρτία μου Κύριε·
KJVFor, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
JPSFor, lo, they lie in wait for my soul; the impudent gather themselves together against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
5
ThomsonWithout transgression I ran and kept a straight course; awake to meet me and behold.
BrentonWithout iniquity I ran and directed my course aright: awake to help me, and behold.
GreekΑνευ ἀνομίας ἔδραμον καὶ κατεύθυνα· ἐξεγέρθητι εἰς συνάντησίν μου, καὶ ἴδε.
KJVThey run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
JPSWithout my fault, they run and prepare themselves; awake Thou to help me, and behold.
6
ThomsonDo thou, O Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel! attend to visit all the nations: shew no mercy to any workers of iniquity.
BrentonAnd thou, Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, draw nigh to visit all the heathen; pity not any that work iniquity. Pause.
GreekΚαὶ σὺ Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς τῶν δυνάμεων ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, πρόσχες τοῦ ἐπισκέψασθαι πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, μὴ οἰκτειρήσῃς πάντας τοὺς ἐργαζομένους τὴν ἀνομίαν· διάψαλμα.
KJVThou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
JPSThou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, arouse Thyself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to any iniquitous traitors. Selah
7
ThomsonThey are to return at evening; and suffer hunger like a dog, and go round the city.
BrentonThey shall return at evening, and hunger like a dog, and go round about the city.
GreekἘπιστρέψουσιν εἰς ἑσπέραν, καὶ λιμώξουσιν ὡς κύων, καὶ κυκλώσουσιν πόλιν.
KJVThey return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
JPSThey return at evening, they howl like a dog, and go round about the city.
8
ThomsonBehold they are to speak oracularly with their mouth; and have a sword in their lips. For, [they say], Who heard?
BrentonBehold, they shall utter a voice with their mouth, and a sword is in their lips; for who, say they, has heard?
GreekἸδοὺ ἀποφθέγξονται ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν, καὶ ῥομφαία ἐν τοῖς χείλεσιν αὐτῶν, ὅτι τίς ἤκουσε;
KJVBehold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
JPSBehold, they belch out with their mouth; swords are in their lips: 'For who doth hear?'
9
ThomsonBut Thou, O Lord, wilt laugh them to scorn. Thou canst set at nought all the nations.
BrentonBut thou, Lord, wilt laugh them to scorn; thou wilt utterly set at nought all the heathen.
GreekΚαὶ δὺ Κύριε ἐκγελάσῃ αὐτοὺς, ἐξουδενώσεις τάντα τὰ ἔθνη.
KJVBut thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
JPSBut Thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; Thou shalt have all the nations in derision.
10
ThomsonMy strength is with Thee: I will keep watch: for Thou, O God, art my supporter.
BrentonI will keep my strength, looking to thee; for thou, O God, art my helper.
GreekΤὸ κράτος μου πρὸς σὲ φυλάξω, ὅτι σὺ ὁ Θεὸς ἀντιλήμπτωρ μου εἶ.
KJVBecause of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
JPSBecause of his strength, I will wait for Thee; for God is my high tower.
11
ThomsonMy God will cause His mercy to go before me: my God will display it to me among mine enemies.
BrentonAs for my God, his mercy shall go before me: my God will shew me vengeance on mine enemies.
GreekὉ Θεός μου, τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ προφθάσει με, ὁ Θεός μου δείξει μοι ἐν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς μου.
KJVThe God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
JPSThe God of my mercy will come to meet me; God will let me gaze upon mine adversaries.
12
ThomsonSlay them not. Perhaps they may have forgotten Thy law. Scatter them with Thy power; and bring them back, O Lord, my defender.
BrentonSlay them not, lest they forget thy law; scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord, my defender.
GreekΜὴ ἀποκτείνῃς αὐτοὺς, μήποτε ἐπιλάθωνται τοῦ νόμου σου· διασκόρπισον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ δυνάμει σου, καὶ κατάγαγε αὐτοὺς ὁ ὑπερασπιστής μου Κύριε.
KJVSlay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
JPSSlay them not, lest my people forget, make them wander to and fro by Thy power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
13
ThomsonLet them be but arrested in their pride; the destructions attendant on their oath and falsehood, will shew the sin of their mouth, the word of their lips.
BrentonFor the sin of their mouth, and the word of their lips, let them be even taken in their pride.
GreekἉμαρτίαν στόματος αὐτῶν, λόγον χειλέων αὐτῶν, καὶ συλληφθήτωσαν ἐν τῇ ὑπερηφανίᾳ αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐξ ἀρᾶς καὶ ψεύδους διαγγελήσονται
KJVFor the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
JPSFor the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride, and for cursing and lying which they speak.
14
ThomsonUnder destructive wrath they cannot subsist. Let them know that the God of Jacob ruleth over the ends of the earth.
BrentonAnd for their cursing and falsehood shall utter destruction be denounced: they shall fall by the wrath of utter destruction, and shall not be; so shall they know that the God of Jacob is Lord of the ends of the earth. Pause.
Greekσυντέλειαι, ἐν ὀργῇ συντελείας, καὶ οὐ μὴ ὑπάρξουσι· καὶ γνώσονται ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ Ἰακὼβ δεσπόζει τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς· διάψαλμα.
KJVConsume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
JPSConsume them in wrath, consume them, that they be no more; and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob, unto the ends of the earth. Selah
15
ThomsonThey are to return at evening and suffer hunger like a dog and go round the city.
BrentonThey shall return at evening, and be hungry as a dog, and go round about the city.
GreekἘπιστρέψουσιν εἰς ἑσπέραν, καὶ λιμώξουσιν ὡς κύων, καὶ κυκλώσουσι πόλιν·
KJVAnd at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
JPSAnd they return at evening, they howl like a dog, and go round about the city;
16
Thomson—
BrentonThey shall be scattered hither and thither for meat; and if they be not satisfied, they shall even murmur.
GreekΑὐτοὶ διασκορπισθήσονται τοῦ φαγεῖν, ἐὰν δὲ μὴ χορτασθῶσι, καὶ γογγύσουσιν.
KJVLet them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
JPS—
17
ThomsonBut I will sing of Thy power; and in the morning exult in Thy mercy: because Thou wast my supporter, and my refuge in the day of my affliction.
BrentonBut I will sing to thy strength, and in the morning will I exult in thy mercy; for thou hast been my supporter, and my refuge in the day of mine affliction.
GreekἘγὼ δὲ ᾄσομαι τῇ δυνάμει σου, καὶ ἀγαλλιάσομαι τοπρωῒ τὸ ἔλεός σου, ὅτι ἐγενήθης ἀντιλήπτωρ μου καὶ καταφυγή μου ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς μου.
KJVBut I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
JPSBut as for me, I will sing of Thy strength; yea, I will sing aloud of Thy mercy in the morning; for Thou hast been my high tower, and a refuge in the day of my distress.
18
ThomsonThou art my helper; to Thee, O my God, I will sing; Thou art my supporter, my God, my comfort.
BrentonThou art my helper; to thee, my God, will I sing; thou art my supporter, O my God, and my mercy.
GreekΒοηθός μου, σοὶ ψαλῶ ὁ Θεός μου, ἀντιλήμπτωρ μου εἶ ὁ Θεός μου, τὸ ἔλεός μου.
KJVUnto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
JPSO my strength, unto Thee will I sing praises; for God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.