Longing for the Courts of the Lord
Psalms 83
The psalmist expresses deep longing for the courts of the Lord's house, comparing his soul's desire to a sparrow and a dove that find their nest near the altar, and blesses those who dwell there in continual praise. He declares that one day in God's courts is better than a thousand elsewhere, and pronounces the man blessed whose trust is in the Lord.
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, a Psalm for the sons of Core, concerning the wine-presses.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ τῶν ληνῶν τοῖς υἱοῖς Κορὲ ψαλμός.
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader; upon the Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
2
ThomsonO LORD of hosts, how lovely are Thine abodes! my soul longeth, it panteth for the courts of the Lord.
BrentonHow amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
GreekὩς ἀγαπητὰ τὰ σκηνώματά σου Κύριε τῶν δυνάμεων.
KJVHow amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
JPSHow lovely are Thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
3
ThomsonMy heart and my flesh exulted for the living God.
BrentonMy soul longs, and faints for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh have exulted in the living God.
GreekἘπιποθεῖ καὶ ἐκλείπει ἡ ψυχή μου εἰς τὰς αὐλὰς τοῦ Κυρίου· ἡ καρδία μου καὶ ἡ σάρξ μου ἠγαλλιάσαντο ἐπὶ Θεὸν ζῶντα·
KJVMy soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
JPSMy soul yearneth, yea, even pineth for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy unto the living God.
4
ThomsonFor a sparrow hath found for itself a house: and a ring-dove a nest for itself, where to place its young—[Even I, among] these altars of Thine, O Lord of hosts. O my king and my God,
BrentonYea, the sparrow has found himself a home, and the turtle-dove a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.
GreekΚαὶ γὰρ στρουθίον εὗρεν ἑαυτῷ οἰκίαν, καὶ τρυγὼν νοσσιὰν ἑαυτῇ, οὗ θήσει τὰ νοσσία ἑαυτῆς· τὰ θυσιαστήριά σου Κύριε τῶν δυνάμεων, ὁ βασιλεύς μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου.
KJVYea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.
JPSYea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young; Thine altars, O LORD of hosts, My King, and my God—
5
Thomsonhappy they who dwell in Thy house; they shall forever praise Thee.
BrentonBlessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will praise thee evermore. Pause.
GreekΜακάριοι οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων αἰνέσουσί σε· διάψαλμα.
KJVBlessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
JPSHappy are they that dwell in Thy house, they are ever praising Thee. Selah
6
ThomsonHappy the man, whose support is from Thee, O Lord!
BrentonBlessed is the man whose help is of thee, O Lord; in his heart he has purposed to go up
GreekΜακάριος ἀνὴρ οὗ ἐστιν ἡ ἀντίληψις αὐτοῦ παρὰ σοῦ, Κύριε· ἀναβάσεις ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ διέθετο,
KJVBlessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
JPSHappy is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the highways.
7
Thomson—
Brentonthe valley of weeping, to the place which he has appointed, for there the law-giver will grant blessings.
Greekεἰς τὴν κοιλάδα τοῦ κλαυθμῶνος, εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν ἔθετο· καὶ γὰρ εὐλογίας δώσει ὁ νομοθετῶν,
KJV—
JPSPassing through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; yea, the early rain clotheth it with blessings.
8
ThomsonThey shall go on from strength to strength: the God of Gods will be seen in Sion.
BrentonThey shall go from strength to strength: the God of gods shall be seen in Sion.
Greekπορεύσονται ἐκ δυνάμεως εἰς δύναμιν, ὀφθήσεται ὁ Θεὸς τῶν θεῶν ἐν Σιών.
KJVThey go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
JPSThey go from strength to strength, every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.
9
ThomsonO Lord, the God of hosts, hear my prayer; hearken to it, O God of Jacob.
BrentonO Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: hearken, O God of Jacob. Pause.
GreekΚύριε ὁ Θεὸς τῶν δυνάμεων, εἰσάκουσον τῆς προσευχῆς μου, ἐνώτισαι ὁ Θεὸς Ἰακώβ· διάψαλμα.
KJVO LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
JPSO LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah
10
ThomsonO God, our shield behold: look down on the face of Thine anointed one.
BrentonBehold, O God our defender, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
GreekὙπερασπιστὰ ἡμῶν ἴδε ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ ἐπίβλεψον ἐπὶ τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ χριστοῦ σοῦ.
KJVBehold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
JPSBehold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of Thine anointed.
11
ThomsonBecause one day in Thy courts is better than a thousand; I had rather be in an abject state in the house of God, than dwell in the tents of sinners.
BrentonFor one day in thy courts is better than thousands. I would rather be an abject in the house of God, than dwell in the tents of sinners.
GreekὍτι κρείσσων ἡμέρα μία ἐν ταῖς αὐλαῖς σου, ὑπὲρ χιλιάδας· ἐξελεξάμην παραῤῥιπτεῖσθαι ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ μᾶλλον ἢ οἰκεῖν με ἐπὶ σκηνώμασιν ἁμαρτωλῶν.
KJVFor a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
JPSFor a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand; I had rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
12
ThomsonBecause the Lord loveth mercy and truth; God will give grace and glory: the Lord will not withhold good things from them who walk in innocence.
BrentonFor the Lord loves mercy and truth: God will give grace and glory: the Lord will not withhold good things from them that walk in innocence.
GreekὍτι ἔλεον καὶ ἀλήθειαν ἀγαπᾷ Κύριος, ὁ Θεὸς χάριν καὶ δόξαν δώσει· Κύριος οὐχ ὑστερήσει τὰ ἀγαθὰ τοῖς πορευομένοις ἐν ἀκακίᾳ.
KJVFor the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
JPSFor the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD giveth grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.
13
ThomsonO Lord of hosts! happy is the man whose trust is in Thee.
BrentonO Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusts in thee.
GreekΚύριε τῶν δυνάμεων, μακάριος ἄνθρωπος ὁ ἐλπίζων ἐπὶ σέ.
KJVO LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
JPSO LORD of hosts, happy is the man that trusteth in Thee.