The Ruined Sanctuary
Psalms 73
Asaph laments as though God has cast off his people forever, describing in detail how enemies have burned the sanctuary, broken down its carved work, and abolished the feasts, while no prophet remains to say how long this will last. Recalling God's ancient works in creation and in dividing the sea, he pleads with God to remember his covenant and rise to defend his afflicted people and his own reproached name.
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, why hast Thou utterly cast off? Why is Thy wrath extreme against the sheep of Thy pasture?
BrentonA Psalm of instruction for Asaph. Wherefore hast thou rejected us, O God, for ever? wherefore is thy wrath kindled against the sheep of thy pasture?
GreekΣυνέσεως τῷ Ἀσάφ. Ἱνατί ἀπόσω ὁ Θεὸς εἰς τέλος; ὠργίσθη ὁ θυμός σου ἐπὶ πρόβατα νομῆς σου;
KJVO God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
JPSMaschil of Asaph. Why, O God, hast Thou cast us off for ever? Why doth Thine anger smoke against the flock of Thy pasture?
2
ThomsonRemember Thy congregation which Thou hast purchased of old; this portion to Thine inheritance which Thou hast redeemed; this mount Sion on which Thou hast dwelt.
BrentonRemember thy congregation which thou hast purchased from the beginning; thou didst ransom the rod of thine inheritance; this mount Sion wherein thou hast dwelt.
GreekΜνήσθητι τῆς συναγωγῆς σου ἧς ἐκτήσω ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς· ἐλυτρώσω ῥάβδον κληρονομίας σου· ὄρος Σιὼν τοῦτο ὃ κατεσκήνωσας ἐν αὐτῷ.
KJVRemember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
JPSRemember Thy congregation, which Thou hast gotten of old, Which Thou hast redeemed to be the tribe of Thine inheritance; And mount Zion, wherein Thou hast dwelt.
3
ThomsonLift up Thy hands against their perpetual haughtiness; for all that the enemy hath wickedly done in Thy Holies.
BrentonLift up thine hands against their pride continually; because of all that the enemy has done wickedly in thy holy places.
GreekἜπαρον τὰς χεῖράς σου ἐπὶ τὰς ὑπερηφανίας αὐτῶν εἰς τέλος· ὅσα ἐπονηρεύσατο ὁ ἐχθρὸς ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις σου.
KJVLift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
JPSLift up Thy steps because of the perpetual ruins, Even all the evil that the enemy hath done in the sanctuary.
4
ThomsonThey who hate Thee have indeed triumphed: in the midst of Thy festival they set up their own signs:
BrentonAnd they that hate thee have boasted in the midst of thy feast; they have set up their standards for signs,
GreekΚαὶ ἐνεκαυχήσαντο οἱ μισοῦντές σε ἐν μέσῳ τῆς ἑορτῆς σου·
KJVThine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
JPSThine adversaries have roared in the midst of Thy meeting-place; They have set up their own signs for signs.
5
ThomsonThe signs pointing to the entrance above they did not know. As if in a forest of trees,
Brentonignorantly as it were in the entrance above;
Greekἔθεντο τὰ σημεῖα αὐτῶν σημεῖα, καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν, ὡς εἰς τὴν εἴσοδον ὑπεράνω· ὡς ἐν δρυμῷ ξύλων ἀξίναις ἐξέκοψαν
KJV—
JPS—
6
Thomsonthey cut down with axes the doors of that entrance. Then with hatchets and mattocks they broke it down.
Brentonthey cut down its doors at once with axes as in a wood of trees; they have broken it down with hatchet and stone cutter.
Greekτὰς θύρας αὐτῆς ἐπιτοαυτὸ, ἐν πελέκει καὶ λαξευτηρίῳ κατέῤῥαξαν αὐτήν.
KJVBut now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
JPS—
7
ThomsonThey burned Thy sanctuary to the ground with fire: they profaned the habitation of Thy name.
BrentonThey have burnt thy sanctuary with fire to the ground; they have profaned the habitation of thy name.
GreekἘνεπύρισαν ἐν πυρὶ τὸ ἁγιαστήριόν σου εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἐβεβήλωσαν τὸ σκήνωμα τοῦ ὀνόματός σου.
KJVThey have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
JPSThey have set Thy sanctuary on fire; They have profaned the dwelling-place of Thy name even to the ground.
8
ThomsonThey said, The whole brood of them are in their heart set upon this: come, let us cause to cease from the land the festivals of the Lord.
BrentonThey have said in their heart, even all their kindred together, Come, let us abolish the feasts of the Lord from the earth.
GreekΕἶπαν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν, ἡ συγγένεια αὐτῶν ἐπιτοαυτὸ, δεῦτε, καταπαύσωμεν τὰς ἑορτὰς Κυρίου ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς.
KJVThey said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
JPSThey said in their heart: 'Let us make havoc of them altogether'; They have burned up all the meeting-places of God in the land.
9
ThomsonThe signs peculiarly ours we do not see: there is no more a prophet; nor will he any more acknowledge us.
BrentonWe have not seen our signs; there is no longer a prophet; and God will not know us any more.
GreekΤὰ σημεῖα ἡμῶν οὐκ εἴδομεν, οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι προφήτης, καὶ ἡμᾶς οὐ γνώσεται ἔτι.
KJVWe see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
JPSWe see not our signs; There is no more any prophet; Neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
10
ThomsonHow long O God, shall the enemy reproach? Shall the adversary blaspheme Thy name forever?
BrentonHow long, O God, shall the enemy reproach? shall the enemy provoke thy name for ever?
GreekἝως πότε ὁ Θεὸς, ὀνειδιεῖ ὁ ἐχθρὸς, παροξυνεῖ ὁ ὑπεναντίος τὸ ὄνομά σου εἰς τέλος;
KJVO God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
JPSHow long, O God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme Thy name for ever?
11
ThomsonWhy dost Thou withdraw Thy hand? Let Thy right hand be ever out of Thy bosom.
BrentonWherefore turnest thou away thine hand, and thy right hand from the midst of thy bosom for ever?
GreekἹνατί ἀποστρέφεις τὴν χεῖρά σου, καὶ τὴν δεξιάν σου ἐκ μέσου τοῦ κόλπου σου εἰς τέλος;
KJVWhy withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
JPSWhy withdrawest Thou Thy hand, even Thy right hand? Draw it out of Thy bosom and consume them.
12
ThomsonGod was indeed our king of old. He wrought deliverance in the midst of this land.
BrentonBut God is our King of old; he has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.
GreekὉ δὲ Θεὸς βασιλεὺς ἡμῶν πρὸ αἰῶνος, εἰργάσατο σωτηρίαν ἐν μέσῳ τῆς γῆς.
KJVFor God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
JPSYet God is my King of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13
ThomsonThou by Thy power didst exercise dominion over the sea: Thou didst crush the heads of the dragons in the water.
BrentonThou didst establish the sea, in thy might, thou didst break to pieces the heads of the dragons in the water.
GreekΣὺ ἐκραταίωσας ἐν τῇ δυνάμει σου τὴν θάλασσαν, σὺ συνέτριψας τὰς κεφαλὰς τῶν δρακόντων ἐπὶ τοῦ ὕδατος. Σὺ συνέτριψας τὰς κεφαλὰς τοῦ δράκοντος,
KJVThou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
JPSThou didst break the sea in pieces by Thy strength; Thou didst shatter the heads of the sea-monsters in the waters.
14
ThomsonThou didst crush the heads of the dragon: Thou gavest him to be meat for the Ethiopean tribes.
BrentonThou didst break to pieces the heads of the dragon; thou didst give him for meat to the Ethiopian nations.
Greekἔδωκας αὐτὸν βρῶμα λαοῖς τοῖς Αἰθίοψι.
KJVThou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
JPS—
15
ThomsonThou didst cause springs and torrents to burst forth. Thou didst dry up the rivers of Etham.
BrentonThou didst cleave fountains and torrents; thou driedst up mighty rivers.
GreekΣὺ διέῤῥηξας πηγὰς καὶ χειμάῤῥους, σὺ ἐξήρανας ποταμοὺς ἠθάμ.
KJVThou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
JPSThou didst cleave fountain and brook; Thou driedst up ever-flowing rivers.
16
ThomsonThine is the day and the night is Thine: it is Thou Who preparedst the sun and moon.
BrentonThe day is thine, and the night is thine; thou hast prepared the sun and the moon.
GreekΣή ἐστιν ἡ ἡμέρα, καὶ σή ἐστιν ἡ νὺξ, σὺ κατηρτίσω ἥλιον καὶ σελήνην.
KJVThe day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
JPSThine is the day, Thine also the night; Thou hast established luminary and sun.
17
ThomsonThou hast made all the borders of the earth: summer and spring were made by Thee.
BrentonThou hast made all the borders of the earth; thou hast made summer and spring.
GreekΣὺ ἐποίησας πάντα τὰ ὅρια τῆς γῆς, θέρος καὶ ἔαρ σὺ ἐποίησας.
KJVThou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
JPSThou hast set all the borders of the earth; Thou hast made summer and winter.
18
ThomsonRemember this creation of Thine.
BrentonRemember this thy creation: an enemy has reproached the Lord, and a foolish people has provoked thy name.
GreekΜνήσθητι ταύτης τῆς κτίσεώς σου· ἐχθρὸς ὠνείδισε τὸν Κύριον, καὶ λαὸς ἄφρων παρώξυνε τὸ ὄνομά σου.
KJVRemember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
JPSRemember this, how the enemy hath reproached the LORD, And how a base people have blasphemed Thy name.
19
ThomsonAn enemy hath reproached the Lord; a foolish people hath blasphemed Thy name. Deliver not up to the wild beasts a soul which praiseth Thee. Forget not forever the souls of Thy afflicted people.
BrentonDeliver not to the wild beasts a soul that gives praise to thee: forget not for ever the souls of thy poor.
GreekΜὴ παραδῷς τοῖς θηρίοις ψυχὴν ἐξομολογουμένην σοι, τῶν ψυχῶν τῶν πενήτων σου μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ εἰς τέλος.
KJVO deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
JPSO deliver not the soul of Thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast; Forget not the life of Thy poor for ever.
20
ThomsonHave respect to Thy covenant, because the dark places of this land have been filled with habitations of iniquity,
BrentonLook upon thy covenant: for the dark places of the earth are filled with the habitations of iniquity.
GreekἘπίβλεψον εἰς τὴν διαθήκην σου, ὅτι ἐπληρωθήσαν οἱ ἐσκοτωμένοι τῆς γῆς οἴκων ἀνομιῶν.
KJVHave respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
JPSLook upon the covenant; For the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
21
Thomsonlet not him who hath been humbled and shamed be utterly scorned: let the afflicted and needy praise Thy name.
BrentonLet not the afflicted and shamed one be rejected: the poor and needy shall praise thy name.
GreekΜὴ ἀποστραφήτω τεταπεινωμένος καὶ κατῃσχυμμένος, πτωχὸς καὶ πένης αἰνέσουσι τὸ ὄνομά σου.
KJVO let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
JPSO let not the oppressed turn back in confusion; Let the poor and needy praise Thy name.
22
ThomsonArise, O God, plead Thine own cause: remember the reproaches cast on Thee, all day long, by a fool.
BrentonArise, O God, plead thy cause: remember thy reproaches that come from the foolish one all the day.
GreekἈνάστα ὁ Θεὸς, δίκασον τὴν δίκην σου, μνήσθητι τῶν ὀνειδισμῶν σου τῶν ὑπὸ ἄφρονος ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν.
KJVArise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
JPSArise, O God, plead Thine own cause; Remember Thy reproach all the day at the hand of the base man.
23
ThomsonForget not the voice of Thy suppliants: let the pride of them, who hate Thee, ascend continually before Thee.
BrentonForget not the voice of thy suppliants: let the pride of them that hate thee continually ascend before thee.
GreekΜὴ ἐπιλάθῃ τῆς φωνῆς τῶν ἱκετῶν σου, ἡ ὑπερηφανία τῶν μισούντων σε ἀναβαίη διαπαντὸς πρὸς σέ.
KJVForget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.
JPSForget not the voice of Thine adversaries, The tumult of those that rise up against Thee which ascendeth continually.