The Brevity of Human Life
Psalms 89
Attributed to Moses, this psalm contrasts the eternity of the Lord with the shortness and frailty of human life, whose years are numbered at seventy or eighty and pass quickly like grass. It closes with a prayer that the Lord would have mercy, satisfy his servants, and establish the work of their hands.
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 LORD, Thou hast been a refuge for us, from one generation to another.
BrentonA Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our refuge in all generations.
GreekΠροσευχὴ τοῦ Μωυσῆ ἀνθρώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ. Κύριε, καταφυγὴ ἐγενήθης ἡμῖν ἐν γενεᾷ καὶ γενεᾷ.
KJVLord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
JPSA Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations.
2
ThomsonBefore the mountains were brought forth; or the earth or the world was formed: even from everlasting to everlasting Thou existed.
BrentonBefore the mountains existed, and before the earth and the world were formed, even from age to age, Thou art.
GreekΠρὸ τοῦ ὄρη γενηθῆναι καὶ πλασθῆναι τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν οἰκουμένην, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος σὺ εἶ.
KJVBefore the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
JPSBefore the mountains were brought forth, Or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.
3
ThomsonWilt Thou turn man away to despondency; when Thou hast said, Return ye sons of men?
BrentonTurn not man back to his low place, whereas thou saidst, Return, ye sons of men?
GreekΜὴ ἀποστρέψῃς ἄνθρωπον εἰς ταπείνωσιν, καὶ εἶπας, ἐπιστρέψατε υἱοὶ ἀνθρώπων;
KJVThou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
JPSThou turnest man to contrition; And sayest: 'Return, ye children of men.'
4
ThomsonSince in Thy sight a thousand years are but as yesterday which is past; or as a watch in the night:
BrentonFor a thousand years in thy sight are as the yesterday which is past, and as a watch in the night.
GreekὍτι χίλια ἔτη ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου, ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα ἡ ἐχθὲς ἥτις διῆλθε, καὶ φυλακὴ ἐν νυκτί.
KJVFor a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
JPSFor a thousand years in Thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night.
5
Thomsonshall these trifling years of theirs be as if in the morning, a green herb passed away?
BrentonYears shall be vanity to them: let the morning pass away as grass.
GreekΤὰ ἐξουδενώματα αὐτῶν ἔτη ἔσονται, τοπρωῒ ὡσεὶ χλόη παρέλθοι·
KJVThou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
JPSThou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep; In the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
6
ThomsonShould it in the morning bloom and pass away? In the evening it would have fallen, withered and become dry.
BrentonIn the morning let it flower, and pass away: in the evening let it droop, let it be withered and dried up.
GreekΤοπρωῒ ἀνθήσαι καὶ παρέλθοι, τὸ ἑσπέρας ἀποπέσοι, σκληρυνθείη καὶ ξηρανθείη.
KJV—
JPS—
7
ThomsonBecause we have fallen short by Thine anger, and by Thine indignation have been troubled—
BrentonFor we have perished in thine anger, and in thy wrath we have been troubled.
GreekὍτι ἐξελίπομεν ἐν τῇ ὀργῇ σου, καὶ ἐν τῷ θυμῷ σου ἐταράχθημεν.
KJVFor we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
JPSFor we are consumed in Thine anger, And by Thy wrath are we hurried away.
8
ThomsonThou hast placed our iniquities before Thee: let this age of ours be for the light of Thy countenance.
BrentonThou hast set our transgressions before thee: our age is in the light of thy countenance.
GreekἜθου τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῶν ἐνώπιόν σου, ὁ αἰὼν ἡμῶν εἰς φωτισμὸν τοῦ προσώπου σου.
KJVThou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
JPSThou hast set our iniquities before Thee, Our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.
9
ThomsonBecause all our days have fallen short; and we have failed by Thine indignation; our years have exercised themselves like a spider.
BrentonFor all our days are gone, and we have passed away in thy wrath: our years have spun out their tale as a spider.
GreekὍτι πᾶσαι αἱ ἡμέραι ἡμῶν ἐξέλιπον, καὶ ἐν τῇ ὀργῇ σου ἐξελίπομεν· τὰ ἔτη ἡμῶν ὡς ἀράχνη ἐμελέτων.
KJVFor all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
JPSFor all our days are passed away in Thy wrath; We bring our years to an end as a tale that is told.
10
ThomsonThe days of these years of ours are seventy years: and if by reason of strength they be eighty years; still the surplus of them is labour and sorrow. Because gentleness hath come upon us: let us, therefore,
BrentonAs for the days of our years, in them are seventy years; and if men should be in strength, eighty years: and the greater part of them would be labour and trouble; for weakness overtakes us, and we shall be chastened.
GreekΑἱ ἡμέραι τῶν ἐτῶν ἡμῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἑβδομήκοντα ἔτη, ἐὰν δὲ ἐν δυναστείαις, ὀγδοήκοντα ἔτη, καὶ τὸ πλεῖον αὐτῶν κόπος καὶ πόνος· ὅτι ἐπῆλθε πραΰτης ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς, καὶ παιδευθησόμεθα.
KJVThe days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
JPS—
11
Thomsonwhoever knoweth the power of Thine anger, be taught, on the account of the terror of Thy wrath,
BrentonWho knows the power of thy wrath?
GreekΤίς γινώσκει τὸ κράτος τῆς ὀργῆς σου, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ φόβου τοῦ θυμοῦ σου ἐξαριθμήσασθαι;
KJVWho knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
JPSWho knoweth the power of Thine anger, And Thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto Thee?
12
Thomsonso to number them. Thus make known Thy right hand; and them whose hearts are instructed in wisdom.
Brentonand who knows how to number his days because of the fear of thy wrath? So manifest thy right hand, and those that are instructed in wisdom in the heart.
Greekτὴν δεξιάν σου οὕτως γνώρισον, καὶ τοὺς πεπαιδευμένους τῇ καρδίᾳ ἐν σοφίᾳ.
KJVSo teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
JPSSo teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom.
13
ThomsonReturn, O Lord. How long shall it first be? And be pacified with Thy servants.
BrentonReturn, O Lord, how long? and be intreated concerning thy servants.
GreekἘπίστρεψον, Κύριε· ἕως πότε; καὶ παρακλήθητι ἐπὶ τοῖς δούλοις σου.
KJVReturn, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
JPSReturn, O LORD; how long? And let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants.
14
ThomsonIn the morning we were filled with Thy mercy. We indeed rejoiced
BrentonWe have been satisfied in the morning with thy mercy; and we did exult and rejoice:
GreekἘνεπλήσθημεν τοπρωῒ τοῦ ἐλέους σου, καὶ ἠγαλλιασάμεθα καὶ εὐφράνθημεν· ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἡμέραις ἡμῶν
KJV—
JPSO satisfy us in the morning with Thy mercy; That we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15
Thomsonand were made glad. During all these days of ours may we be gladdened; in lieu of the days wherein Thou hast humbled us; and of the years in which we have seen evils.
Brentonlet us rejoice in all our days, in return for the days wherein thou didst afflict us, the years wherein we saw evil.
Greekεὐφρανθείημεν, ἀνθʼ ᾧν ἡμερῶν ἐταπείνωσας ἡμᾶς, ἐτῶν ὧν εἴδομεν κακά.
KJVMake us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
JPSMake us glad according to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us, According to the years wherein we have seen evil.
16
ThomsonAnd look upon these Thy servants and on Thy works: and be Thou the guide of their children.
BrentonAnd look upon thy servants, and upon thy works; and guide their children.
GreekΚαὶ ἴδε ἐπὶ τοὺς δούλους σου καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα σου, καὶ ὁδήγησον τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν.
KJVLet thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.
JPSLet Thy work appear unto Thy servants, And Thy glory upon their children.
17
ThomsonAnd let the splendour of the Lord our God be over us: and do Thou direct for us the works of our hands.
BrentonAnd let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us: and do thou direct for us the works of our hands.
GreekΚαὶ ἔστω ἡ λαμπρότης Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς, καὶ τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν ἡμῶν κατεύθυνον ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς.
KJVAnd let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
JPSAnd let the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; Establish Thou also upon us the work of our hands; Yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.