Refuge Under the Most High
Psalms 90
This psalm describes the safety of the one who dwells under the shelter of the Most High, kept from the terrors of night and day, plague, and wild beasts, and guarded by angels lest he strike his foot against a stone. The Lord promises to deliver, protect, and satisfy with length of days the one who has known his name.
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
ThomsonHE who dwelleth under the protection of the Most High shall lodge in the shelter of the God of heaven.
BrentonPraise of a Song, by David. He that dwells in the help of the Highest, shall sojourn under the shelter of the God of heaven.
GreekΑἶνος ᾠδῆς τῷ Δαυίδ. Ὁ κατοικῶν ἐν βοηθείᾳ τοῦ ὑψίστου, ἐν σκέπῃ τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ αὐλισθήσεται.
KJV—
JPS—
2
ThomsonHe will say to the Lord, Thou art my helper: my God is my refuge, I will trust in Him.
BrentonHe shall say to the Lord, Thou art my helper and my refuge: my God; I will hope in him.
GreekἘρεῖ τῷ Κυρίῳ, ἀντιλήπτωρ μου εἶ καὶ καταφυγή μου, ὁ Θεός μου, ἐλπιῶ ἐπʼ αὐτόν.
KJVI will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
JPSI will say of the LORD, who is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust,
3
ThomsonBecause He will deliver thee from the snare of hunters; and tumultuous accusation—
BrentonFor he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunters, from every troublesome matter.
GreekὍτι αὐτὸς ῥύσεταί σε ἐκ παγίδος θηρευτῶν, ἀπὸ λόγου ταραχώδους.
KJVSurely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
JPSThat He will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the noisome pestilence.
4
Thomsonwith His breast will overshadow thee: therefore under His wings thou shalt rest secure. His truth will encompass thee with armour.
BrentonHe shall overshadow thee with his shoulders, and thou shalt trust under his wings: his truth shall cover thee with a shield.
GreekἘν τοῖς μεταφρένοις αὐτοῦ ἐπισκιάσει σοι, καὶ ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας αὐτοῦ ἐλπιεῖς· ὅπλῳ κυκλώσει σε ἡ ἀλήθεια αὐτοῦ.
KJVHe shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
JPSHe will cover thee with His pinions, And under His wings shalt thou take refuge; His truth is a shield and a buckler.
5
ThomsonThou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night; nor of the arrow which flieth by day—
BrentonThou shalt not be afraid of terror by night; nor of the arrow flying by day;
GreekΟὐ φοβηθήσῃ ἀπὸ φόβου νυκτερινοῦ, ἀπὸ βέλους πετομένου ἡμέρας,
KJVThou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
JPSThou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flieth by day;
6
Thomsonof the thing which walketh in darkness; nor of mischance and the demon of noonday.
Brentonnor of the evil thing that walks in darkness; nor of calamity, and the evil spirit at noon-day.
Greekἀπὸ πράγματος διαπορευομένου ἐν σκότει, ἀπὸ συμπτώματος καὶ δαιμονίου μεσημβρινοῦ.
KJV—
JPS—
7
ThomsonA thousand may fall at thy side; and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not approach thee.
BrentonA thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
GreekΠεσεῖται ἐκ τοῦ κλίτους σου χιλιὰς, καὶ μυριὰς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου, πρὸς σὲ δὲ οὐκ ἐγγιεῖ.
KJVA thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
JPSA thousand may fall at Thy side, And ten thousand at Thy right hand; It shall not come nigh thee.
8
ThomsonBut thou with thine eyes shalt observe, and see the reward of the wicked.
BrentonOnly with thine eyes shalt thou observe and see the reward of sinners.
GreekΠλὴν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς σου κατανοήσεις, καὶ ἀνταπόδοσιν ἁμαρτωλῶν ὄψει.
KJVOnly with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
JPSOnly with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the recompense of the wicked.
9
ThomsonBecause Thou, O Lord, my hope; hast made the Most High thy refuge;
BrentonFor thou, O Lord, art my hope: thou, my soul, hast made the Most High thy refuge.
GreekὍτι σὺ Κύριε ἡ ἐλπίς μου, τὸν ὕψιστον ἔθου καταφυγήν σου.
KJVBecause thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
JPSFor thou hast made the LORD who is my refuge, Even the Most High, thy habitation.
10
Thomsonno evils shall come upon thee, nor shall a scourge approach thy dwelling.
BrentonNo evils shall come upon thee, and no scourge shall draw nigh to thy dwelling.
GreekΟὐ προσελεύσεται πρὸς σὲ κακὰ, καὶ μάστιξ οὐκ ἐγγιεῖ τῷ σκηνώματί σου.
KJVThere shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
JPS—
11
ThomsonFor He will give His angels a charge concerning thee; to keep thee in all thy ways;
BrentonFor he shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
GreekὍτι τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ ἐντελεῖται περὶ σοῦ, τοῦ διαφυλάξαι σε ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς σου.
KJVFor he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
JPSFor He will give His angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways.
12
Thomsonwith their hands they shall bear thee up; shouldst thou chance to strike thy foot against a stone.
BrentonThey shall bear thee up on their hands, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
GreekἘπὶ χειρῶν ἀροῦσί σε, μή ποτε προσκόψῃς πρὸς λίθον τὸν πόδα σου.
KJVThey shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
JPSThey shall bear thee upon their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13
ThomsonUpon an asp and a basilisk thou shalt tread: and trample down a lion and a dragon.
BrentonThou shalt tread on the asp and basilisk: and thou shalt trample on the lion and dragon.
GreekἘπʼ ἀσπίδα καὶ βασιλίσκον ἐπιβήσῃ, καὶ καταπατήσεις λέοντα καὶ δράκοντα.
KJVThou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
JPSThou shalt tread upon the lion and asp; The young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under feet.
14
ThomsonBecause he trusted in Me, I will deliver him: I will protect him because he knew My name.
BrentonFor he has hoped in me, and I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he has known my name.
GreekὍτι ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἤλπισε, καὶ ῥύσομαι αὐτόν· σκεπάσω αὐτὸν, ὅτι ἔγνω τὸ ὄνομά μου.
KJVBecause he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
JPS'Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.
15
ThomsonHe will call on Me, and I will answer him: I am with him in affliction: I will deliver him and honour him.
BrentonHe shall call upon me, and I will hearken to him: I am with him in affliction; and I will deliver him, and glorify him.
GreekἘπικαλέσεται πρὸς μὲ, καὶ εἰσακούσομαι αὐτοῦ, μετʼ αὐτοῦ εἰμι ἐν θλίψει, καὶ ἐξελοῦμαι αὐτὸν, καὶ δοξάσω αὐτόν.
KJVHe shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
JPSHe shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and bring him to honour.
16
ThomsonWith length of days I will satisfy him; and I will shew him My salvation.
BrentonI will satisfy him with length of days, and shew him my salvation.
GreekΜακρότητι ἡμερῶν ἐμπλήσω αὐτὸν, καὶ δείξω αὐτῷ τὸ σωτήριόν μου.
KJVWith long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
JPSWith long life will I satisfy him, And make Him to behold My salvation.'