Tested Like Silver
Psalms 65
Titled a song of resurrection, this psalm calls all the earth to shout and sing praises to God for his awesome and terrible works, recalling how he turned the sea into dry land for his people to cross on foot. The psalmist reflects that God tested his people as silver is tried by fire, leading them through affliction, fire, and water, before bringing them out into a place of refreshment, and closes by giving thanks that God has heard his prayer and not turned away his mercy.
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
ThomsonSHOUT for God in triumphant strains, all ye lands.
BrentonFor the end, a Song of a Psalm of resurrection. Shout unto God, all the earth.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ᾠδὴ ψαλμοῦ ἀναστάσεως. Ἀλαλάξατε τῷ Θεῷ, πᾶσα ἡ γῆ,
KJVMake a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
JPSFor the Leader. A Song, a Psalm. Shout unto God, all the earth;
2
ThomsonSing harmoniously to His name, ascribe glory to His praise.
BrentonO sing praises to his name; give glory to his praise.
Greekψάλατε δὴ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ, δότε δόξαν αἰνέσει αὐτοῦ.
KJVSing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
JPSSing praises unto the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious.
3
ThomsonSay to God, How awful are Thy works! For the greatness of Thy power, let Thine enemies submit to Thee.
BrentonSay unto God, How awful are thy works! through the greatness of thy power thine enemies shall lie to thee.
GreekΕἴπατε τῷ Θεῷ ὡς φοβερὰ τὰ ἔργα σου; ἐν τῷ πλήθει τῆς δυνάμεώς σου ψεύσονταί σε οἱ ἐχθροί σου.
KJVSay unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
JPSSay unto God: 'How tremendous is Thy work! Through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies dwindle away before Thee.
4
ThomsonLet all the earth worship Thee. With music vocal and instrumental let them sing to Thee—let them sing harmoniously to Thy name.
BrentonLet all the earth worship thee, and sing to thee; let them sing to thy name. Pause.
GreekΠᾶσα ἡ γῆ προσκυνησάτωσάν σοι, καὶ ψαλάτωσάν σοι, ψαλάτωσαν τῷ ὀνόματί σου· διάψαλμα.
KJVAll the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
JPSAll the earth shall worship Thee, And shall sing praises unto Thee; They shall sing praises to Thy name.' Selah
5
ThomsonCome and see the works of God! He is awful in counsels touching the sons of men.
BrentonCome and behold the works of God; he is terrible in his counsels beyond the children of men.
GreekΔεῦτε καὶ ἴδετε τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Θεοῦ, φοβερὸς ἐν βουλαῖς ὑπὲρ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
KJVCome and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
JPSCome, and see the works of God; He is terrible in His doing toward the children of men.
6
ThomsonHe it is Who turned the sea into dry land; that they might march on foot through a flood. There let us rejoice in Him
BrentonWho turns the sea into dry land; they shall go through the river on foot; there shall we rejoice in him,
GreekὉ μεταστρέφων τὴν θάλασσαν εἰς ξηρὰν, ἐν ποταμῷ διελεύσονται ποδί· ἐκεῖ εὐφρανθησόμεθα ἐπʼ αὐτῷ,
KJVHe turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
JPSHe turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot; There let us rejoice in Him!
7
ThomsonWho ruleth by His everlasting power. His eyes look down on the nations. Let not the rebellious exalt themselves.
Brentonwho by his power is Lord over the age, his eyes look upon the nations; let not them that provoke him be exalted in themselves. Pause.
Greekτῷ δεσπόζοντι ἐν τῇ δυναστείᾳ αὐτοῦ τοῦ αἰῶνος· οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὰ ἔθνη ἐπιβλέπουσιν, οἱ παραπικραίνοντες μὴ ὑψούσθωσαν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· διάψαλμα.
KJVHe ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
JPSWho ruleth by His might for ever; His eyes keep watch upon the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
8
ThomsonO! Bless our God, ye nations; and cause the sound of His praise to be heard.
BrentonBless our God, ye Gentiles, and make the voice of his praise to be heard;
GreekΕὐλογεῖτε ἔθνη τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, καὶ ἀκουτίσατε τὴν φωνὴν τῆς αἰνέσεως αὐτοῦ,
KJVO bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
JPSBless our God, ye peoples, And make the voice of His praise to be heard;
9
ThomsonHe it is Who hath kept my soul alive; and hath not given my feet to the briny deep.
Brentonwho quickens my soul in life, and does not suffer my feet to be moved.
Greekτοῦ θεμένου τὴν ψυχήν μου εἰς ζωὴν, καὶ μὴ δόντος εἰς σάλον τοὺς πόδας μου.
KJVWhich holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
JPSWho hath set our soul in life, And suffered not our foot to be moved,
10
ThomsonFor Thou, O God, didst prove us, Thou hast tried us as silver is tried.
BrentonFor thou, O God, hast proved us; thou hast tried us with fire as silver is tried.
GreekὍτι ἐδοκίμασας ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς, ἐπύρωσας ἡμᾶς ὡς πυροῦται τὸ ἀργύριον.
KJVFor thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
JPSFor Thou, O God, hast tried us; Thou hast refined us, as silver is refined.
11
Thomson—
BrentonThou broughtest us into the snare; thou laidest afflictions on our back.
GreekΕἰσήγαγες ἡμᾶς εἰς τὴν παγίδα, ἔθου θλίψεις ἐπὶ τὸν νῶτον ἡμῶν,
KJVThou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
JPS—
12
ThomsonThou didst lay affliction on our back: Thou didst mount men over our heads; we have passed through fire and water. But Thou hast brought us to a place of rest.
BrentonThou didst mount men upon our heads; we went through fire and water; but thou broughtest us out into a place of refreshment.
Greekἐπεβίβασας ἀνθρώπους ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς ἡμῶν· διήλθομεν διὰ πυρὸς καὶ ὕδατος, καὶ ἐξήγαγες ἡμᾶς εἰς ἀναψυχήν.
KJVThou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
JPSThou hast caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But Thou didst bring us out unto abundance.
13
ThomsonI will go to Thy house with whole burnt offerings: To Thee I will perform my vows;
BrentonI will go into thine house with whole-burnt-offerings; I will pay thee my vows,
GreekΕἰσελεύσομαι εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου ἐν ὁλοκαυτώμασιν, ἀποδώσω σοι τὰς εὐχάς μου,
KJVI will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
JPSI will come into Thy house with burnt-offerings, I will perform unto Thee my vows,
14
Thomsonwhich my lips have enjoined; and which my mouth spoke in my affliction.
Brentonwhich my lips framed, and my mouth uttered in my affliction.
Greekἃς διέστειλε τὰ χείλη μου, καὶ ἐλάλησε τὸ στόμα μου ἐν τῇ θλίψει μου.
KJVWhich my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
JPSWhich my lips have uttered, And my mouth hath spoken, when I was in distress.
15
ThomsonTo Thee I will offer whole burnt offerings; full of marrow, with frankincense and rams. To Thee I will sacrifice bullocks and goats.
BrentonI will offer to thee whole-burnt-sacrifices full of marrow, with incense and rams; I will sacrifice to thee oxen with goats. Pause.
GreekὉλοκαυτώματα μεμυελωμένα ἀνοίσω σοι μετὰ θυμιάματος καὶ κριῶν, ποιήσω σοι βόας μετὰ χιμάρων· διάψαλμα.
KJVI will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.
JPSI will offer unto Thee burnt-offerings of fatlings, With the sweet smoke of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah
16
ThomsonCome, hearken, all ye who fear God, and I will tell you what He hath done for my soul.
BrentonCome, hear, and I will tell, all ye that fear God, how great things he has done for my soul.
GreekΔεῦτε ἀκούσατε, καὶ διηγήσομαι, πάντες οἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν Θεὸν, ὅσα ἐποίησε τῇ ψυχῇ μου.
KJVCome and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
JPSCome, and hearken, all ye that fear God, And I will declare what He hath done for my soul.
17
ThomsonTo Him I uttered a cry with my mouth; and with my tongue repeated this aloud.
BrentonI cried to him with my mouth, and exalted him with my tongue.
GreekΠρὸς αὐτὸν τῷ στόματί μου ἐκέκραξα, καὶ ὕψωσα ὑπὸ τὴν γλῶσσάν μου.
KJVI cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
JPSI cried unto Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue.
18
ThomsonIf I have regarded iniquity in my heart; let not the Lord hearken.
BrentonIf I have regarded iniquity in my heart, let not the Lord hearken to me.
GreekἈδικίαν εἰ ἐθεώρουν ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, μὴ εἰσακουσάτω Κύριος.
KJVIf I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
JPSIf I had regarded iniquity in my heart, The Lord would not hear;
19
ThomsonFor this cause God hearkened to me: He attended to the sound of my prayer.
BrentonTherefore God has hearkened to me; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο εἰσήκουσέ μου ὁ Θεὸς, προσέσχε τῇ φωνῇ τῆς προσευχῆς μου.
KJVBut verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
JPSBut verily God hath heard; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
20
ThomsonBlessed be God Who hath not rejected my prayer; nor turned away His mercy from me.
BrentonBlessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
GreekΕὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεὸς, ὃς οὐκ ἀπέστησε τὴν προσευχήν μου, καὶ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ.
KJVBlessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
JPSBlessed be God, Who hath not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me.