The Righteous King's Reign
Psalms 71
This is a prayer for Solomon, the king's son, describing a reign of justice for the poor and needy that spreads like rain and endures like the sun and moon, drawing homage and gifts from distant kings and nations, from Tharsis, the isles, Arabia, and Saba. The psalm closes with a doxology blessing the Lord God of Israel and marks the end of the collected prayers of David the son of Jesse.
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
ThomsonO GOD, give the king Thy judgment; and Thy righteousness to the king’s son.
BrentonFor Solomon. O God, give thy judgment to the king, and thy righteousness to the king's son;
GreekΕἰς Σαλωμών. Ὁ Θεὸς τὸ κρίμα σου τῷ βασιλεῖ δὸς, καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην σου τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ βασιλέως·
KJVGive the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
JPS[A Psalm] of Solomon. Give the king Thy judgments, O God, and Thy righteousness unto the king's son;
2
ThomsonThat he may judge Thy people with righteousness; and Thy distressed ones with judgment.
Brentonthat he may judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
Greekκρίνειν τὸν λαόν σου ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, καὶ τοὺς πτωχούς σου ἐν κρίσει.
KJVHe shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
JPSThat he may judge Thy people with righteousness, and Thy poor with justice.
3
ThomsonLet the mountains and the hills resume peace for Thy people:
BrentonLet the mountains and the hills raise peace to thy people:
GreekἈναλαβέτω τὰ ὄρη εἰρήνην τῷ λαῷ σου, καὶ οἱ βουνοί·
KJVThe mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
JPSLet the mountains bear peace to the people, and the hills, through righteousness.
4
ThomsonLet him [the king] judge righteously such of the people as are distressed; and save the children of the needy: and humble oppressors:
Brentonhe shall judge the poor of the people in righteousness, and save the children of the needy; and shall bring low the false accuser.
Greekἐν δικαιοσύνῃ κρινεῖ τοὺς πτωχοὺς τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ σώσει τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν πενήτων· καὶ ταπεινώσει συκοφάντην,
KJVHe shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
JPSMay he judge the poor of the people, and save the children of the needy, And crush the oppressor.
5
Thomsonand continue, as long as the sun and moon, through all generations.
BrentonAnd he shall continue as long as the sun, and before the moon for ever.
Greekκαὶ συμπαραμενεῖ τῷ ἡλίῳ, καὶ πρὸ τῆς σελήνης γενεὰς γενεῶν.
KJVThey shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
JPSThey shall fear Thee while the sun endureth, and so long as the moon, throughout all generations.
6
ThomsonLet him descend like rain on a fleece; and like showers gently falling on the ground.
BrentonHe shall come down as rain upon a fleece; and as drops falling upon the earth.
GreekΚαταβήσεται ὡς ὑετὸς ἐπὶ πόκον, καὶ ὡσεὶ σταγόνες στάζουσαι ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν.
KJVHe shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
JPSMay he come down like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.
7
ThomsonIn his days let righteousness spring up, with abundance of peace, till the moon is no more.
BrentonIn his days shall righteousness spring up; and abundance of peace till the moon be removed.
GreekἈνατελεῖ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ δικαιοσύνη, καὶ πλῆθος εἰρήνης ἕως οὗ ἀνταναιρεθῇ ἡ σελήνη.
KJVIn his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
JPSIn his days let the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace, till the moon be no more.
8
ThomsonAnd let him rule from sea to sea; and from the river to the limits of the world.
BrentonAnd he shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.
GreekΚαὶ κατακυριεύσει ἀπὸ θαλάσσης ἕως θαλάσσης, καὶ ἀπὸ ποταμοῦ ἕως περάτων τῆς οἰκουμένης.
KJVHe shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
JPSMay he have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the River unto the ends of the earth.
9
ThomsonLet the Ethiopeans bow down before him; and let his enemies lick the dust.
BrentonThe Ethiopians shall fall down before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
GreekἘνώπιον αὐτοῦ προπεσοῦνται Αἰθίοπες, καὶ οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτοῦ χοῦν λείξουσι.
KJVThey that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
JPSLet them that dwell in the wilderness bow before him; and his enemies lick the dust.
10
ThomsonLet the kings of Tharsis and the isles bring gifts; the kings of the Arabs and Saba offer presents.
BrentonThe kings of Tharsis, and the isles, shall bring presents: the kings of the Arabians and Saba shall offer gifts.
GreekΒασιλεῖς Θαρσὶς καὶ αἱ νῆσοι δῶρα προσοίσουσι, βασιλεῖς Ἀράβων καὶ Σαβὰ δῶρα προσάξουσι.
KJVThe kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
JPSThe kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall render tribute; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
11
ThomsonLet all the kings pay him homage—all the nations serve as vassals.
BrentonAnd all kings shall worship him; all the Gentiles shall serve him.
GreekΚαὶ προσκυνήσουσιν αὐτῷ πάντες οἱ βασιλεῖς, πάντα τὰ ἔθνη δουλεύσουσιν αὐτῷ.
KJVYea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
JPSYea, all kings shall prostrate themselves before him; All nations shall serve him.
12
ThomsonBecause he delivered the poor from the oppressor, and the needy who had no helper:
BrentonFor he has delivered the poor from the oppressor; and the needy who had no helper.
GreekὍτι ἐῤῥύσατο πτωχὸν ἐκ δυνάστου, καὶ πένητα ᾧ οὐχ ὑπῆρχε βοηθός.
KJVFor he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
JPSFor he will deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13
Thomsonhe will spare the afflicted and needy; and save the lives of those in distress—
BrentonHe shall spare the poor and needy, and shall deliver the souls of the needy.
GreekΦείσεται πτωχοῦ καὶ πένητος, καὶ ψυχὰς πένητων σώσει.
KJVHe shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
JPSHe will have pity on the poor and needy, And the souls of the needy he will save.
14
Thomsonfrom usury and injustice he will redeem their lives; and their name will be precious in his sight:
BrentonHe shall redeem their souls from usury and injustice: and their name shall be precious before him.
GreekἘκ τόκου καὶ ἐξ ἀδικίας λυτρώσεται τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔντιμον τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.
KJVHe shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
JPSHe will redeem their soul from oppression and violence, And precious will their blood be in his sight.
15
Thomsonand he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Arabia; and prayer shall be made for him continually: and he will be blessed all the day long.
BrentonAnd he shall live, and there shall be given him of the gold of Arabia: and men shall pray for him continually; and all the day shall they praise him.
GreekΚαὶ ζήσεται, καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ ἐκ τοῦ χρυσίου τῆς Ἀραβίας, καὶ προσεύξονται περὶ αὐτοῦ διαπαντός· ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν εὐλογήσουσιν αὐτόν.
KJVAnd he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
JPSThat they may live, and that he may give them of the gold of Sheba, That they may pray for him continually, Yea, bless him all the day.
16
ThomsonLet there be in the land a settlement on the tops of the mountains; the fruit thereof will overtop Lebanon: and they of a city shall flourish like the grass of the earth.
BrentonThere shall be an establishment on the earth on the tops of the mountains: the fruit thereof shall be exalted above Libanus, and they of the city shall flourish as grass of the earth.
GreekἜσται στήριγμα ἐν τῇ γῇ ἐπʼ ἄκρων τῶν ὀρέων· ὑπεραρθήσεται ὑπὲρ τὸν Λίβανον ὁ καρπὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξανθήσουσιν ἐκ πόλεως ὡσεὶ χόρτος τῆς γῆς.
KJVThere shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
JPSMay he be as a rich cornfield in the land upon the top of the mountains; May his fruit rustle like Lebanon; And may they blossom out of the city like grass of the earth.
17
ThomsonLet his name be blessed for ever! His name shall endure longer than the sun: and by him all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed. All the nations shall hail him happy.
BrentonLet his name be blessed for ever: his name shall endure longer than the sun: and all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
GreekἜστω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ εὐλογημένον εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, πρὸ τοῦ ἡλίου διαμενεῖ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, καὶ εὐλογηθήσονται ἐν αὐτῷ πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς· πάντα τὰ ἔθνη μακαριοῦσιν αὐτόν.
KJVHis name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
JPSMay his name endure for ever; May his name be continued as long as the sun; May men also bless themselves by him; May all nations call him happy.
18
ThomsonBlessed be the Lord the God of Israel; Who alone doth wonderful things.
BrentonBlessed is the Lord God of Israel, who alone does wonders.
GreekΕὐλογητὸς Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, ὁ ποιῶν θαυμάσια μόνος,
KJVBlessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
JPSBlessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who only doeth wondrous things;
19
ThomsonAnd blessed be His glorious name for ever and ever: and let all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen. Amen.
BrentonAnd blessed is his glorious name for ever, even for ever and ever: and all the earth shall be filled with his glory. So be it, so be it.
Greekκαὶ εὐλογητὸν τὸ ὄνομα τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα καὶ εἰς αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος· καὶ πληρωθήσεται τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ. γένοιτο, γένοιτο.
KJVAnd blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
JPSAnd blessed be His glorious name for ever; And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.
20
ThomsonAn intermission of the Hymns of David, son of Jessai
BrentonThe hymns of David the son of Jessæ are ended.
GreekἘξέλιπον οἱ ὕμνοι Δαυὶδ τοῦ υἱοῦ Ἰεσσαί.
KJVThe prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
JPSThe prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.