Deliverance from Secret Plots
Psalms 63
The psalmist prays for protection from a conspiracy of wicked men who sharpen their tongues like swords and plot in secret to strike down the innocent, confident that no one will discover their scheme. The psalm concludes that God will suddenly turn the wicked's own weapons against them, so that all who witness it are struck with fear and the righteous rejoice and give praise.
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
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomson—
BrentonFor the end, a Psalm of David.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ.
JPSFor the Leader. A Psalm of David.
2
ThomsonHEAR, O God, my prayer when I invoke Thee. From the fear of an enemy deliver my soul.
BrentonHear my prayer, O God, when I make my petition to thee; deliver my soul from fear of the enemy.
GreekΕἰσάκουσον ὁ Θεὸς τῆς προσευχῆς μου ἐν τῷ δέεσθαί με πρὸς σὲ, ἀπὸ φόβου ἐχθροῦ ἐξελοῦ τὴν ψυχήν μου.
JPSHear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from the terror of the enemy.
3
ThomsonThou hast sheltered me from the conspiracy of wicked men—from the multitude of them who are working iniquity.
BrentonThou hast sheltered me from the conspiracy of them that do wickedly; from the multitude of them that work iniquity;
GreekἘσκέπασάς με ἀπὸ συστροφῆς πονηρευομένων, ἀπὸ πλήθους ἐργαζομένων ἀδικίαν·
JPS—
4
ThomsonThey sharpened their tongues like a sword: they bent a bow, a bitter thing, to shoot secretly a blameless man:
Brentonwho have sharpened their tongues as a sword; they have bent their bow maliciously;
GreekΟἵτινες ἠκόνησαν ὡς ῥομφαίαν τὰς γλώσσας αὐτῶν, ἐνέτειναν τόξον πρᾶγμα πικρὸν,
JPSWho have whet their tongue like a sword, and have aimed their arrow, a poisoned word;
5
ThomsonThey are to shoot him suddenly and not be afraid.
Brentonto shoot in secret at the blameless; they will shoot him suddenly, and will not fear.
Greekτοῦ κατατοξεῦσαι ἐν ἀποκρύφοις ἄμωμον, ἐξάπινα κατατοξεύσουσιν αὐτὸν, καὶ οὐ φοβηθήσονται.
JPSThat they may shoot in secret places at the blameless; suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
6
ThomsonThey strengthened for themselves an evil matter: they talked of hiding snares, saying, Who can see us?
BrentonThey have set up for themselves an evil matter, they have given counsel to hide snares; they have said, Who shall see them?
GreekἘκραταίωσαν ἑαυτοῖς λόγον πονηρὸν, διηγήσαντο τοῦ κρύψαι παγίδας· εἶπαν, τίς ὄψεται αὐτούς;
JPSThey encourage one another in an evil matter; they converse of laying snares secretly; they ask, who would see them.
7
ThomsonThey searched for iniquity: they failed in the search. A man is to come [before Thee] with a deep heart; and God is to be exalted.
BrentonThey have searched out iniquity; they have wearied themselves with searching diligently, a man shall approach and the heart is deep,
GreekἘξηρεύνησαν ἀνομίαν, ἐξέλιπον ἐξερευνῶντες ἐξερευνήσει· προσελεύσεται ἄνθρωπος, καὶ καρδία βαθεῖα,
JPSThey search out iniquities, they have accomplished a diligent search; even in the inward thought of every one, and the deep heart.
8
Thomson—
Brentonand God shall be exalted, their wounds were caused by the weapon of the foolish children,
Greekκαὶ ὑψωθήσεται ὁ Θεός· βέλος νηπίων ἐγενήθησαν αἱ πληγαὶ αὐτῶν,
JPS—
9
Thomsonwhen their tongues vilified Him. All that saw them were troubled:
Brentonand their tongues have set him at nought, all that saw them were troubled;
Greekκαὶ ἐξουθένησαν αὐτὸν αἱ γλῶσσαι αὐτῶν· ἐταράχθησαν πάντες οἱ θεωροῦντες αὐτοὺς,
JPS—
10
ThomsonThen every man was afraid. Then they rehearsed the works of God; then they understood His doings.
Brentonand every man was alarmed, and they related the works of God, and understood his deeds.
Greekκαὶ ἐφοβήθη πᾶς ἄνθρωπος· καὶ ἀνήγγειλαν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τὰ ποιήματα αὐτοῦ συνῆκαν.
JPS—
11
ThomsonLet the righteous rejoice in the Lord and trust in Him: and let all the upright in heart be praised.
BrentonThe righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and hope on him, and all the upright in heart shall be praised.
GreekΕὐφρανθήσεται δίκαιος ἐν τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ ἐλπιεῖ ἐπʼ αὐτόν· καὶ ἐπαινεθήσονται πάντες οἱ εὐθεῖς τῇ καρδίᾳ.
JPSThe righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall take refuge in Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.