Zion, Mother of Nations
Psalms 86
This psalm celebrates Sion as the city founded by God on the holy mountains, whose gates the Lord loves above every dwelling of Jacob, and where even people from Raab, Babylon, the Philistines, Tyre, and Ethiopia are reckoned to have their birth. It closes by picturing Sion as a joyful mother city recorded in God's own register of the nations.
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
ThomsonON the holy mountains are His foundations!
BrentonA Psalm of a Song for the sons of Core. His foundations are in the holy mountains.
GreekΤοῖς υἱοῖς Κορὲ ψαλμὸς ᾠδῆς. Οἱ θεμέλιοι αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι τοῖς ἁγίοις.
KJVHis foundation is in the holy mountains.
JPSA Psalm of the sons of Korah; a Song. His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2
ThomsonThe Lord loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
BrentonThe Lord loves the gates of Sion, more than all the tabernacles of Jacob.
GreekἈγαπᾷ Κύριος τὰς πύλας Σιὼν, ὑπὲρ πάντα τὰ σκηνώματα Ἰακώβ.
KJVThe LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
JPSThe LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3
ThomsonGlorious things have been said of thee, O city of God.
BrentonGlorious things have been spoken of thee, O city of God. Pause.
GreekΔεδοξασμένα ἐλαλήθη περὶ σοῦ ἡ πόλις τοῦ Θεοῦ· διάψαλμα.
KJVGlorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
JPSGlorious things are spoken of Thee, O city of God. Selah
4
ThomsonShall I mention Rahab or Babylon to those gaining a knowledge of me? Behold the Philistines and Tyrians, and the tribe of the Ethiopians say, Such and such were born there.
BrentonI will make mention of Raab and Babylon to them that know me: behold also the Philistines, and Tyre, and the people of the Ethiopians: these were born there.
GreekΜνησθήσομαι Ῥαὰβ, καὶ Βαβυλῶνος, τοῖς γινώσκουσί με· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀλλόφυλοι καὶ Τύρος καὶ λαὸς Αἰθιόπων, οὗτοι ἐγεννήθησαν ἐκεῖ.
KJVI will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
JPS'I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon as among them that know Me; behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this one was born there.'
5
ThomsonMan will say, “Sion is my mother”; and, “In it such a man was born.” “The Most High Himself founded it”
BrentonA man shall say, Sion is my mother; and such a man was born in her; and the Highest himself has founded her.
GreekΜήτηρ Σιὼν ἐρεῖ ἄνθρωπος, καὶ ἄνθρωπος ἐγενήθη ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐθεμελίωσεν αὐτὴν ὁ ὕψιστος.
KJVAnd of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
JPSBut of Zion it shall be said: 'This man and that was born in her; And the Most High Himself doth establish her.'
6
Thomsonthis will be the account which the Lord will give in the enrollment of peoples and of those chiefs who were born in it.
BrentonThe Lord shall recount it in the writing of the people, and of these princes that were born in her. Pause.
GreekΚύριος διηγήσεται ἐν γραφῇ λαῶν, καὶ ἀρχόντων τούτων τῶν γεγενημένων ἐν αὐτῇ. διάψαλμα.
KJVThe LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
JPS—
7
Thomson—
BrentonThe dwelling of all within thee is as the dwelling of those that rejoice.
GreekὩς εὐφραινομένων πάντων ἡ κατοικία ἐν σοί.
KJV—
JPS—