Psalms 119
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 119 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.
6 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (1) follow the text.
Psalms 119
1(120) A Song of Degrees. In my affliction I cried to the Lord, and he listened to me.Ὠδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. Πρὸς Κύριον ἐν τῷ θλίβεσθαί με ἐκέκραξα, καὶ εἰσήκουσέ μου.
2Deliver my soul, O Lord, from unjust lips, and from a deceitful tongue.Κύριε, ῥῦσαι τὴν ψυχήν μου ἀπὸ χειλέων ἀδίκων καὶ ἀπὸ γλώσσης δολίας.
3What should be given to you, and what should be added to you, for your crafty tongue?Τί δοθείη σοι, καὶ τί προστεθείη σοι πρὸς γλῶσσαν δολίαν;
4Sharpened weapons of the mighty, with coals of the desert.Τὰ βέλη τοῦ δυνατοῦ ἠκονημένα σὺν τοῖς ἄνθραξι τοῖς ἐρημικοῖς.
5Woe is me, that my sojourning is * prolonged; I have tabernacled among the tents of Kedar.Οἴμοι ὅτι ἡ παροικία μου ἐμακρύνθη, κατεσκήνωσα μετὰ τῶν σκηνωμάτων Κηδάρ.
6My soul has long been a sojourner;Πολλὰ παρῴκησεν ἡ ψυχή μου· μετὰ τῶν μισούντων τὴν εἰρήνην.
7I was peaceful among them that hated peace; when I spoke to them, they warred against me without a cause.Ἤμην εἰρηνικός· ὅταν ἐλάλουν αὐτοῖς, ἐπολέμουν με δωρεάν.
Translator's Notes
These notes come from the printed edition of Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), and record where the Greek differs from the English rendering or admits more than one reading.
- v. 5*Heb. משך
The Fathers on Psalms 119
Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On Psalms 119:1Saint Augustine of Hippo2. When therefore a man hath commenced thus to order his ascent; to speak more plainly, when a Christian hath begun to think of spiritual amendment, he beginneth to suffer the tongues of adversaries. Whoever hath not yet suffered from them, hath not yet made progress; whoever suffereth them not, doth not even endeavour to improve. Doth he wish to know what we mean? Let him at the same time experience what is…
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On Psalms 119:2Saint Augustine of Hippo3. “Deliver my soul, O Lord, from unrighteous lips, and from a deceitful tongue” (ver. 2). What is a deceitful tongue? A treacherous tongue, one that hath the semblance of counsel, and the bane of real mischief. Such are those who say, And wilt thou do this, that nobody doth? Wilt thou be the only Christian?…Some deter by dissuasion, others discourage yet more by their praise. For since such is the life that hath…
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On Psalms 119:3–4Saint Augustine of Hippo4. And thy Lord saith unto thee, “What shall be given thee, or what shall be set before thee, against the deceitful tongue?” (ver. 3). What shall be given thee, that is, as a weapon to oppose to the deceitful tongue, to guard thyself against the deceitful tongue? “Or what shall be set before thee?” He asketh to try thee: for He will answer His own question. For He answers following up his own inquiry, “even sharp…
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On Psalms 119:5Saint Augustine of Hippo5. “Alas, that my sojourning is become far off!” (ver. 5). It hath departed far from Thee: my pilgrimage hath become a far one. I have not yet reached that country, where I shall live with no wicked person; I have not yet reached that company of Angels, where I shall not fear offences. But why am I not as yet there? Because sojourning is pilgrimage. He is called a sojourner who dwells in a foreign land, not in…
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On Psalms 119:6Saint Augustine of Hippo7. “My soul hath wandered much” (ver. 6). Lest thou shouldest understand bodily wandering, he hath said that the soul wandered. The body wandereth in places, the soul wandereth in its affections. If thou love the earth, thou wanderest from God: if thou lovest God, thou risest unto God. Let us be exercised in the love of God, and of our neighbour, that we may return unto charity. If we fall towards the earth, we…
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On Psalms 119:7Open Psalms 119 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint Augustine of Hippo8. “With them that hated peace, I was peaceful” (ver. 7). But howsoever ye may hear, most beloved brethren, ye will not be able to prove how truly ye sing, unless ye have begun to do that which ye sing. How much soever I say this, in whatsoever ways I may expound it, in whatsoever words I may turn it, it entereth not into the heart of him in whom its operation is not. Begin to act, and see what we speak. Then…
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