Jerusalem Laid Waste
Psalms 78
The psalmist laments that the heathen have invaded God's inheritance, defiled the temple, made Jerusalem a ruin, and left the bodies of the slain unburied, bringing reproach on the surviving people. He pleads for God's mercy toward his impoverished people, for vengeance on the nations who mocked them, and vows perpetual thanks and praise as the sheep of God's pasture.
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, nations are come into Thine inheritance: they have polluted Thy holy temple. They have made Jerusalem a depository for summer fruits.
BrentonA Psalm for Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; they have polluted thy holy temple; they have made Jerusalem a storehouse of fruits.
GreekΨαλμὸς τῷ Ἀσάφ. Ὁ Θεὸς, ἤλθοσαν ἔθνη εἰς τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, ἐμίαναν τὸν ναὸν τὸν ἅγιόν σου· ἔθεντο Ἱερουσαλὴμ εἰς ὀπωροφυλάκιον.
KJVO GOD, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
JPSA Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into Thine inheritance; They have defiled Thy holy temple; They have made Jerusalem into heaps.
2
ThomsonThey have given the carcasses of Thy servants to be meat for the birds of the air—the flesh of Thy saints, to the wild beasts of the earth.
BrentonThey have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of thy holy ones for the wild beasts of the earth.
GreekἜθεντο τὰ θνησιμαῖα τῶν δούλων σου βρώματα τοῖς πετεινοῖς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, τὰς σάρκας τῶν ὁσίων σου τοῖς θηρίοις τῆς γῆς.
KJVThe dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
JPSThey have given the dead bodies of Thy servants to be food unto the fowls of the heaven, The flesh of Thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
3
ThomsonThey have poured out their blood like water round Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
BrentonThey have shed their blood as water, round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
GreekἘξέχεαν τὸ αἷμα αὐτῶν ὡς ὕδωρ, κύκλῳ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ θάπτων.
KJVTheir blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
JPSThey have shed their blood like water Round about Jerusalem, with none to bury them.
4
ThomsonWe are become a reproach to our neighbours—A scoff and a derision to them around us.
BrentonWe are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
GreekἘγενήθημεν εἰς ὄνειδος τοῖς γείτοσιν ἡμῶν, μυκτηρισμὸς καὶ χλευασμὸς τοῖς κύκλῳ ἡμῶν.
KJVWe are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
JPSWe are become a taunt to our neighbours, A scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
5
ThomsonHow long, O Lord, wilt Thou be angry? Shall Thy jealousy burn like fire forever?
BrentonHow long, O Lord? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
GreekἝως πότε, Κύριε, ὀργισθήσῃ εἰς τέλος; ἐκκαυθήσεται ὡς πῦρ ὁ ζῆλός σου;
KJVHow long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
JPSHow long, O LORD, wilt Thou be angry for ever? How long will Thy jealousy burn like fire?
6
ThomsonPour out Thy wrath on the nations that have not acknowledged Thee; and on kingdoms which have not invoked Thy name.
BrentonPour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms which have not called upon thy name.
GreekἜκχεον τὴν ὀργήν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ ἐπεγνωκότα σε, καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλείας αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο.
KJVPour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
JPSPour out Thy wrath upon the nations that know Thee not, And upon the kingdoms that call not upon Thy name.
7
ThomsonFor they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste this place of his.
BrentonFor they have devoured Jacob, and laid his place waste.
GreekὍτι κατέφαγον τὸν Ἰακὼβ, καὶ τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ ἠρήμωσαν.
KJVFor they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
JPSFor they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his habitation.
8
ThomsonRemember not our former iniquities: let Thy tender mercies overtake us speedily: as we are greatly distressed;
BrentonRemember not our old transgressions; let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us; for we are greatly impoverished.
GreekΜὴ μνησθῇς ἡμῶν ἀνομιῶν ἀρχαίων, ταχὺ προκαταλαβέτωσαν ἡμᾶς οἱ οἰκτιρμοί σου, ὅτι ἐπτωχεύσαμεν σφόδρα.
KJVO remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
JPSRemember not against us the iniquities of our forefathers; Let Thy compassions speedily come to meet us; For we are brought very low.
9
Thomsonhelp us, O God, our saviour: for Thy glory of Thy name deliver us; and pardon our sins for Thy name’s sake.
BrentonHelp us, O God our Saviour; for the glory of thy name, O Lord, deliver us; and be merciful to our sins, for thy name's sake.
GreekΒοήθησον ἡμῖν ὁ Θεὸς ὁ σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, ἕνεκα τῆς δόξης τοῦ ὀνόματός σου Κύριε ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἱλάσθητι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν ἕνεκα τοῦ ὀνόματός σου·
KJVHelp us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.
JPSHelp us, O God of our salvation, for the sake of the glory of Thy name; And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake.
10
ThomsonPerhaps they may say among the nations, Where is their God? Let therefore the avengement of the blood of Thy servants, which hath been shed; be known among the nations in our sight.
BrentonLest haply they should say among the heathen, Where is their God? and let the avenging of thy servants' blood that has been shed be known among the heathen before our eyes.
GreekΜή ποτε εἴπωσιν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ Θεὸς αὐτῶν; καὶ γνωσθήτω ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἐνώπιον τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἡμῶν ἡ ἐκδίκησις τοῦ αἵματος τῶν δούλων σου τοῦ ἐκκεχυμένου.
KJVWherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
JPSWherefore should the nations say: 'Where is their God?' Let the avenging of Thy servants' blood that is shed Be made known among the nations in our sight. .
11
ThomsonLet the groans of the prisoners come before Thee. According to the mighty power of Thine arm; protect the children of them who are slain.
BrentonLet the groaning of the prisoners come in before thee; according to the greatness of thine arm preserve the sons of the slain ones.
GreekΕἰσελθέτω ἐνώπιόν σου ὁ στεναγμὸς τῶν πεπεδημένων, κατὰ τὴν μεγαλωσύνην τοῦ βραχίονός σου περιποίησαι τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν τεθανατωμένων.
KJVLet the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
JPSLet the groaning of the prisoner come before Thee; According to the greatness of Thy power set free those that are appointed to death;
12
ThomsonRetribute to these neighbours of ours—into their bosom sevenfold; their reproach, with which they have reproached Thee, O Lord.
BrentonRepay to our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached thee, O Lord.
GreekἈπόδος τοῖς γείτοσιν ἡμῶν ἑπταπλάσια εἰς τὸν κόλπον αὐτῶν τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν αὐτῶν, ὃν ὠνείδισάν σε Κύριε.
KJVAnd render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
JPSAnd render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom Their reproach, wherewith they have reproached Thee, O Lord.
13
ThomsonFor we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture: to Thee we will render thanks forever: we will proclaim Thy praise to all generations.
BrentonFor we are thy people and the sheep of thy pasture; we will give thee thanks for ever; we will declare thy praise throughout all generations.
GreekἩμεῖς γὰρ λαός σου καὶ πρόβατα νομῆς σου, ἀνθομολογησόμεθά σοι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεὰν ἐξαγγελοῦμεν τὴν αἴνεσίν σου.
KJVSo we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
JPSSo we that are Thy people and the flock of Thy pasture Will give Thee thanks for ever; We will tell of Thy praise to all generations.