The Earth Trembles Before the Lord
Psalms 96
This psalm depicts the Lord's reign in terms of storm and fire, with cloud and darkness surrounding his throne, lightning lighting the world, and mountains melting like wax at his presence. It calls those who worship idols to be ashamed, and the righteous to rejoice and give thanks for his holiness.
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
ThomsonTHE Lord is king; let the earth rejoice—let the multitude of isles be glad.
BrentonFor David, when his land is established. The Lord reigns, let the earth exult, let many islands rejoice.
GreekΤῷ Δαυὶδ, ὅτε ἡ γῆ αὐτοῦ καθίσταται. Ὁ Κύριος ἐβασίλευσεν, ἀγαλλιάσθω ἡ γῆ, εὐφρανθήτωσαν νῆσοι πολλαί.
KJVThe LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
JPSThe LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad.
2
ThomsonA cloud and darkness are around Him: justice and judgment are the basis of His throne.
BrentonCloud and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the establishment of his throne.
GreekΝεφέλη καὶ γνόφος κύκλῳ αὐτοῦ, δικαιοσύνη καὶ κρίμα κατόρθωσις τοῦ θρόνου αὐτοῦ.
KJVClouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
JPSClouds and darkness are round about Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
3
ThomsonBefore Him a fire shall march, and burn up His enemies all around.
BrentonFire shall go before him, and burn up his enemies round about.
GreekΠῦρ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ προπορεύσεται, καὶ φλογιεῖ κύκλῳ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὐτοῦ.
KJVA fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
JPSA fire goeth before Him, And burneth up His adversaries round about.
4
ThomsonHis lightnings shot a glare through the world: the earth saw and trembled.
BrentonHis lightnings appeared to the world; the earth saw, and trembled.
GreekἜφαναν αἱ ἀστραπαὶ αὐτοῦ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ, εἶδε καὶ ἐσαλεύθη ἡ γῆ·
KJVHis lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
JPSHis lightnings lighted up the world; The earth saw, and trembled.
5
ThomsonThe mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord—at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
BrentonThe mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
Greekτὰ ὄρη ὡσεὶ κηρὸς ἐτάκησαν ἀπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου, ἀπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου πάσης τῆς γῆς.
KJVThe hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
JPSThe mountains melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6
ThomsonThe heavens declared His saving goodness: and all the peoples saw His glory.
BrentonThe heavens have declared his righteousness, and all the people have seen his glory.
GreekἈνήγγειλαν αἱ οὐρανοὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἴδοσαν πάντες οἱ λαοὶ τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ.
KJVThe heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
JPSThe heavens declared His righteousness, And all the peoples saw His glory.
7
ThomsonLet all the worshippers of graven images, who boast of their idols, be confounded. Worship Him all ye His angels.
BrentonLet all that worship graven images be ashamed, who boast of their idols; worship him, all ye his angels.
GreekΑἰσχυνθήτωσαν πάντες οἱ προσκυνοῦντες τοῖς γλυπτοῖς, οἱ ἐγκαυχώμενοι ἐν τοῖς εἰδώλοις αὐτῶν· προσκυνήσατε αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ.
KJVConfounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
JPSAshamed be all they that serve graven images, That boast themselves of things of nought; Bow down to Him, all ye gods.
8
ThomsonSion heard, and was glad, and the daughters of Judea rejoiced, because of Thy judgments, O Lord.
BrentonSion heard and rejoiced; and the daughters of Judea exulted, because of thy judgments, O Lord.
GreekἬκουσε καὶ εὐφράνθη Σιὼν, καὶ ἠγαλλιάσαντο αἱ θυγατέρες τῆς Ἰουδαίας, ἕνεκεν τῶν κριμάτων σου Κύριε.
KJVZion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
JPSZion heard and was glad, And the daughters of Judah rejoiced; Because of Thy judgments, O LORD.
9
ThomsonFor Thou art the Lord Most High, over all the earth; Thou art far exalted above all the gods.
BrentonFor thou art Lord most high over all the earth; thou art greatly exalted above all gods.
GreekὍτι σὺ εἶ Κύριος ὁ ὕψιστος ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν, σφόδρα ὑπερυψώθης ὑπὲρ πάντας τοὺς θεούς.
KJVFor thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
JPSFor Thou, LORD, art most high above all the earth; Thou art exalted far above all gods.
10
ThomsonHate iniquity, ye who love the Lord: the Lord preserveth the lives of His saints. Out of the hand of sinners He will save them.
BrentonYe that love the Lord, hate evil; the Lord preserves the souls of his saints; he shall deliver them from the hand of sinners.
GreekΟἱ ἀγαπῶντες τὸν Κύριον, μισεῖτε πονηρόν· φυλάσσει Κύριος τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ὁσίων αὐτοῦ, ἐκ χειρὸς ἁμαρτωλῶν ῥύσεται αὐτούς.
KJVYe that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
JPSO ye that love the LORD, hate evil; He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivered them out of the hand of the wicked.
11
ThomsonA light is sprung up for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
BrentonLight is sprung up for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
GreekΦῶς ἀνέτειλε τῷ δικαίῳ, καὶ τοῖς εὐθέσι τῇ καρδίᾳ εὐφροσύνη.
KJVLight is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
JPSLight is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.
12
ThomsonRejoice in the Lord, ye righteous, and give thanks at the mention of His holiness.
BrentonRejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks for a remembrance of his holiness.
GreekΕὐφράνθητε δίκαιοι ἐν τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ ἐξομολογεῖσθε τῇ μνήμῃ τῆς ἁγιωσύνης αὐτοῦ.
KJVRejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
JPSBe glad in the LORD, ye righteous; And give thanks to His holy name.