Remembering the Works of Old
Psalms 76
The psalmist recalls a night of deep affliction when he sought the Lord with cries and tears, his soul refusing comfort, and wrestled with the fear that God's mercy might have ceased forever. Turning to remember God's ancient wonders, especially at the sea when the waters trembled before him, he recalls how the Lord led his people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
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, for Idithun, a Psalm of Asaph.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ Ἰδιθοὺν ψαλμὸς τῷ Ἀσάφ.
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader; for Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.
2
ThomsonWITH my voice I cried to the Lord, and my voice was to God, and He hearkened to me.
BrentonI cried to the Lord with my voice, yea, my voice was addressed to God; and he gave heed to me.
GreekΦωνῇ μου πρὸς Κύριον ἐκέκραξα, καὶ ἡ φωνή μου πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ προσέσχε μοι.
KJVI cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
JPS—
3
ThomsonIn the day of my affliction I sought God with my hands in the night before Him; and I was not disappointed. My soul had refused to be comforted;
BrentonIn the day of mine affliction I earnestly sought the Lord; even with my hands by night before him, and I was not deceived; my soul refused to be comforted.
GreekἘν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς μου τὸν Θεὸν ἐξεζήτησα, ταῖς χερσί μου νυκτὸς ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἠπατήθην· ἀπηνῄνατο παρακληθῆναι ἡ ψυχή μου·
KJVIn the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
JPSIn the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; With my hand uplifted, [mine eye] streameth in the night without ceasing; My soul refuseth to be comforted.
4
Thomson—
BrentonI remembered God, and rejoiced; I poured out my complaint, and my soul fainted. Pause.
GreekἘμνήσθην τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ εὐφράνθην, ἠδολέσχησα, καὶ ὠλιγοψύχησε τὸ πνεῦμά μου· διάψαλμα.
KJV—
JPS—
5
ThomsonAll mine enemies had previously mounted guard; I was troubled and did not speak.
BrentonAll mine enemies set a watch against me: I was troubled, and spoke not.
GreekΠροκατελάβοντο φυλακὰς πάντες οἱ ἐχθροί μου, ἐταράχθην καὶ οὐκ ἐλάλησα.
KJV—
JPS—
6
ThomsonI considered the days of old: I recollected the years of ancient times;
BrentonI considered the days of old, and remembered ancient years.
GreekΔιελογισάμην ἡμέρας ἀρχαίας, καὶ ἔτη αἰώνια
KJVI have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
JPSI have pondered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
7
ThomsonI meditated at night—I conversed with my heart—I searched my spirit diligently.
BrentonAnd I meditated; I communed with my heart by night, and diligently searched my spirit, saying,
Greekἐμνήσθην, καὶ ἐμελέτησα· νυκτὸς μετὰ τῆς καρδίας μου ἠδολέσχουν, καὶ ἔσκαλλον τὸ πνεῦμά μου.
KJVI call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
JPSIn the night I will call to remembrance my song; I will commune with mine own heart; And my spirit maketh diligent search
8
ThomsonWill the Lord cast off forever, and will He no more be favourable?
BrentonWill the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be well pleased no more?
GreekΜὴ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας ἀπώσεται Κύριος, καὶ οὐ προσθήσει τοῦ εὐδοκῆσαι ἔτι;
KJVWill the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
JPS'Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will He be favourable no more?
9
ThomsonWill He entirely cut off mercy, from generation to generation?
BrentonWill he cut off his mercy for ever, even for ever and ever?
GreekἪ εἰς τέλος ἀποκόψει τὸ ἔλεος ἀπὸ γενεᾶς καὶ γενεᾶς;
KJVIs his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
JPSIs His mercy clean gone for ever? Is His promise come to an end for evermore?
10
ThomsonWill God forget to be gracious? Will He in His anger restrain His compassion?
BrentonWill God forget to pity? or will he shut up his compassions in his wrath? Pause.
GreekἪ ἐπιλήσεται τοῦ οἰκτειρῆσαι ὁ Θεὸς, ἢ συνέξει ἐν τῇ ὀργῇ αὐτοῦ τοὺς οἰκτιρμοὺς αὐτοῦ; διάψαλμα.
KJV—
JPSHath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath He in anger shut up his compassions?' Selah
11
ThomsonThen I said, I have now made a beginning; this is the change of the right hand of the Most High.
BrentonAnd I said, Now I have begun; this is the change of the right hand of the Most High.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπα, νῦν ἠρξάμην, αὕτη ἡ ἀλλοίωσις τῆς δεξιᾶς τοῦ ὑψίστου.
KJVAnd I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
JPSAnd I say 'This is my weakness, That the right hand of the Most High could change.
12
ThomsonI called to remembrance the works of the Lord. Seeing I can remember Thy wonders of old:
BrentonI remembered the works of the Lord; for I will remember thy wonders from the beginning.
GreekἘμνήσθην τῶν ἔργων Κυρίου, ὅτι μνησθήσομαι ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς τῶν θαυμασίων σου,
KJVI will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
JPSI will make mention of the deeds of the LORD; Yea, I will remember Thy wonders of old.
13
Thomsonlet me therefore meditate on all Thy works, and muse on Thine institutions.
BrentonAnd I will meditate on all thy works, and will consider thy doings.
Greekκαὶ μελετήσω ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐπιτηδεύμασί σου ἀδολεσχήσω.
KJVI will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
JPSI will meditate also upon all Thy work, And muse on Thy doings.'
14
ThomsonO God, Thy way is in that which is holy; what god is great as our God?
BrentonO God, thy way is in the sanctuary; who is a great God as our God?
GreekὉ Θεὸς ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ ἡ ὁδός σου, τίς θεὸς μέγας ὡς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν;
KJVThy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
JPSO God, Thy way is in holiness; Who is a great god like unto God?
15
ThomsonThou art the God Who worketh miracles: Thou hast made Thy power known among the tribes.
BrentonThou art the God that doest wonders; thou hast made known thy power among the nations.
GreekΣὺ εἶ ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ποιῶν θαυμάσια, ἐγνώρισας ἐν τοῖς λαοῖς τὴν δύναμίν σου·
KJVThou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
JPSThou art the God that doest wonders; Thou hast made known Thy strength among the peoples.
16
ThomsonWith Thine arm Thou didst redeem this people of Thine—the children of Jacob and Joseph.
BrentonThou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Pause.
Greekἐλυτρώσω ἐν τῷ βραχίονί σου τὸν λαόν σου, τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰακὼβ καὶ Ἰωσήφ· διάψαλμα.
KJVThou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
JPSThou hast with Thine arm redeemed Thy people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
17
ThomsonThe waters saw Thee, O God!—the waters saw Thee and were terrified, and the deep gulphs were troubled.
BrentonThe waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee, and feared; and the depths were troubled.
GreekΕἴδοσάν σε ὕδατα ὁ Θεὸς, εἴδοσάν σε ὕδατα καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν, καὶ ἐταράχθησαν ἄβυσσοι.
KJVThe waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
JPSThe waters saw Thee, O God; The waters saw Thee, they were in pain; The depths also trembled.
18
ThomsonGreat was the roaring of the waters; the clouds uttered a sound: for Thy bolts were passing through them.
BrentonThere was an abundant sound of waters: the clouds uttered a voice; for thine arrows went abroad.
GreekΠλῆθος ἤχους ὑδάτων, φωνὴν ἔδωκαν αἱ νεφέλαι· καὶ γὰρ τὰ βέλη σου διαπορεύονται.
KJVThe clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
JPSThe clouds flooded forth waters; The skies sent out a sound; Thine arrows also went abroad.
19
ThomsonThe sound of Thy thunder was in the round expanse: Thy lightnings illumed the world; the earth shook and trembled.
BrentonThe voice of thy thunder was abroad, and around thy lightnings appeared to the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
GreekΦωνὴ τῆς βροντῆς σου ἐν τῷ τροχῷ· ἔφαναν αἱ ἀστραπαί σου τῇ οἰκουμένῃ, ἐσαλεύθη καὶ ἔντρομος ἐγενήθη ἡ γῆ.
KJVThe voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
JPSThe voice of Thy thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lighted up the world; The earth trembled and shook.
20
ThomsonThy way was through the sea, and Thy paths through many waters; but Thy footsteps could not be known.
BrentonThy way is in the sea, and thy paths in many waters, and thy footsteps cannot be known.
GreekἘν τῇ θαλάσσῃ ἡ ὁδός σου, καὶ αἱ τρίβοι σου ἐν ὕδασι πολλοῖς, καὶ τὰ ἴχνη σου οὐ γνωσθήσονται.
KJVThy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
JPSThy way was in the sea, And Thy path in the great waters, And Thy footsteps were not known.
21
ThomsonThou leddest Thy people like a flock: by the ministry of Moses and Aaron.
BrentonThou didst guide thy people as sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
GreekὩδήγησας ὡς πρόβατα τὸν λαόν σου ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ καὶ Ἀαρών.
KJVThou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
JPSThou didst lead Thy people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron.