Trust in God Alone
Psalms 61
The psalmist affirms that his soul waits in silence for God alone, his true salvation and helper, even while enemies conspire to bring down his honor like a leaning wall about to fall. He warns that mere men, of low or high estate, are lighter than a breath and not to be trusted, and that riches should never become the heart's desire, since power and mercy belong to God alone, who repays every man according to his deeds.
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 David for Idithun.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ Ἰδιθοὺν ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ.
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader; for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
2
ThomsonSHALL not my soul be subjected to God? For from Him is my salvation.
BrentonShall not my soul be subjected to God? for of him is my salvation.
GreekΟὐχὶ τῷ Θεῷ ὑποταγήσεται ἡ ψυχή μου; παρʼ αὐτοῦ γὰρ τὸ σωτήριόν μου.
KJVTruly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
JPSOnly for God doth my soul wait in stillness; From Him cometh my salvation.
3
ThomsonFor my God and my Saviour Himself, is my supporter—I shall never any more be shaken.
BrentonFor he is my God and my Saviour; my helper, I shall not be moved very much.
GreekΚαὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς Θεός μου καὶ σωτήρ μου, ἀντιλήπτωρ μου, οὐ μὴ σαλευθῶ ἐπὶ πλεῖον.
KJV—
JPS—
4
ThomsonHow long will you set yourselves against a man? You are all committing murder, as with a bended wall and a rampart pushed down.
BrentonHow long will ye assault a man? ye are all slaughtering as with a bowed wall and a broken hedge.
GreekἝως πότε ἐπιτίθεσθε ἐπʼ ἄνθρωπον; φονεύετε πάντες ὡς τοίχῳ κεκλιμένῳ καὶ φραγμῷ ὠσμένῳ.
KJVHow long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
JPSHow long will ye set upon a man, That ye may slay him, all of you, As a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
5
ThomsonBut they had determined to pull down my honour. I was fleeing in thirst; with their mouth they blessed, but with their heart they imprecated curses.
BrentonThey only took counsel to set at nought mine honour: I ran in thirst: with their mouth they blessed, but with their heart they cursed. Pause.
GreekΠλὴν τὴν τιμήν μου ἐβουλεύσαντο ἀπώσασθαι· ἔδραμον ἐν δίψει· τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν εὐλόγουν, καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν κατηρῶντο. διάψαλμα.
KJV—
JPS—
6
ThomsonBut be thou, O my soul, subjected to God: for from Him is mine expectation.
BrentonNevertheless do thou, my soul, be subjected to God; for of him is my patient hope.
GreekΠλὴν τῷ Θεῷ ὑποτάγηθι, ἡ ψυχή μου, ὅτι παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἡ ὑπομονή μου.
KJVMy soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
JPSOnly for God wait thou in stillness, my soul; For from Him cometh my hope.
7
ThomsonBecause my God and my Saviour Himself, is my support; I shall no more wander as an exile.
BrentonFor he is my God and my Saviour; my helper, I shall not be moved.
GreekὍτι αὐτὸς Θεός μου καὶ σωτήρ μου, ἀντιλήπτωρ μου, οὐ μὴ μεταναστεύσω.
KJV—
JPS—
8
ThomsonIn God is my safety and my glory; He is the God of my help, and on God is my reliance.
BrentonIn God is my salvation and my glory: he is the God of my help, and my hope is in God.
GreekἘπὶ τῷ Θεῷ τὸ σωτήριόν μου, καὶ ἡ δόξα μου· ὁ Θεὸς τῆς βοηθείας μου, καὶ ἡ ἐλπίς μου ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ.
KJVIn God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
JPSUpon God resteth my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
9
ThomsonTrust in Him all ye congregated people: pour out your hearts before Him; for God is our helper.
BrentonHope in him, all ye congregation of the people; pour out your hearts before him, for God is our helper. Pause.
GreekἘλπίσατε ἐπʼ αὐτὸν πᾶσα συναγωγὴ λαοῦ· ἐκχέετε ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν, ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς βοηθὸς ἡμῶν· διάψαλμα.
KJVTrust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
JPSTrust in Him at all times, ye people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
10
ThomsonBut as for the vain sons of men—the lying sons of men; Even in an unfair balance they are altogether vanity.
BrentonBut the sons of men are vain; the sons of men are false, so as to be deceitful in the balances; they are all alike formed out of vanity.
GreekΠλὴν μάταιοι οἱ νἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ψευδεῖς οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐν ζυγοῖς τοῦ ἀδικῆσαι, αὐτοὶ ἐκ ματαιότητος ἐπιτοαυτό.
KJV—
JPSMen of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie; If they be laid in the balances, they are together lighter than vanity.
11
ThomsonTrust not in oppression—nor eagerly covet plunder; if riches flow in, set not your heart on them.
BrentonTrust not in unrighteousness, and lust not after robberies: if wealth should flow in, set not your heart upon it.
GreekΜὴ ἐλπίζετε ἐπʼ ἀδικίαν, καὶ ἐπὶ ἁρπάγματα μὴ ἐπιποθεῖτε· πλοῦτος ἐὰν ῥέῃ, μὴ προστίθεσθε καρδίαν.
KJVTrust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
JPS—
12
ThomsonOnce God hath spoken; these two things I have heard: That strength belongeth to God,
BrentonGod has spoken once, and I have heard these two things, that power is of God;
GreekἍπαξ ἐλάλησεν ὁ Θεὸς, δύο ταῦτα ἤκουσα, ὅτι τὸ κράτος τοῦ Θεοῦ·
KJVGod hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
JPSGod hath spoken once, Twice have I heard this: That strength belongeth unto God;
13
Thomsonand that mercy, O Lord, is Thine: that Thou wilt render to everyone according to his works.
Brentonand mercy is thine, O Lord; for thou wilt recompense every one according to his works.
Greekκαὶ σοῦ, Κύριε τὸ ἔλεος, ὅτι σὺ ἀποδώσεις ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.
KJVAlso unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
JPSAlso unto Thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy; For Thou renderest to every man according to his work.