Psalms 23
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 23 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.
9 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (1) follow the text.
Psalms 23
1(24) A Psalm for David on the first day of the week. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; the world, and all that dwell in it.Ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυὶδ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτου. Τοῦ Κυρίου ἡ γῆ καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς, ἡ οἰκουμένη καὶ πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν αὐτῇ.
2He has founded it upon the seas, and prepared it upon the rivers.Αὐτὸς ἐπὶ θαλασσῶν ἐθεμελιώσεν αὐτὴν, καὶ ἐπὶ ποταμῶν ἡτοίμασεν αὐτήν.
3Who shall go up to the mountain of the Lord, and who shall stand in his holy place?Τίς ἀναβήσεται εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ τίς στήσεται ἐν τόπῳ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ;
4He that is innocent in his hands and pure in his heart; who has not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully * to his neighbor.Ἀθῶος χερσὶ καὶ καθαρὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὃς οὐκ ἔλαβεν ἐπὶ ματαίῳ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ὤμοσεν ἐπὶ δόλῳ τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ.
5He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour.Οὗτος λήψεται εὐλογίαν παρὰ Κυρίου, καὶ ἐλεημοσύνην παρὰ Θεοῦ σωτῆρος αὐτοῦ.
6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Pause.Αὕτη ἡ γενεὰ ζητούντων αὐτὸν, ζητούντων τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ Θεοῦ Ἰακώβ. διάψαλμα.
7Lift up your gates, you princes, and be you lifted up, you everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in.Ἄρατε πύλας οἱ ἄρχοντες ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπάρθητε πύλαι αἰώνιοι, καὶ εἰσελεύσεται ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης.
8Who is this king of Glory? the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης; Κύριος κραταιὸς καὶ δυνατὸς, Κύριος δυνατὸς ἐν πολέμῳ.
9Lift up your gates, you princes; and be you lift up, you everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in.Ἄρατε πύλας οἱ ἄρχοντες ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπάρθητε πύλαι αἰώνιοι, καὶ εἰσελεύσεται ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης.
10Who is this king of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is this king of glory.Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης; Κύριος τῶν δυνάμεων, αὐτός ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης.
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. 4*Or, against.
The Fathers on Psalms 23
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 23:1–2Saint Augustine of Hippo2. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof, the compass of the world, and all they that dwell therein” (ver. 1); when the Lord, being glorified, is announced for the believing of all nations; and the whole compass of the world becomes His Church. “He hath founded it above the seas.” He hath most firmly established it above all the waves of this world, that they should be subdued by it, and should not…
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On Psalms 23:3Saint Augustine of Hippo3. “Who shall ascend into the mount of the Lord?” Who shall ascend to the height of the righteousness of the Lord? “Or who shall stand in His holy place?” (ver. 3). Or who shall abide in that place, whither He shall ascend, founded above the seas, and prepared above the rivers?
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On Psalms 23:4Saint Augustine of Hippo4. “The innocent of hand, and the pure in heart” (ver. 4). Who then shall ascend thither, and abide there, but the guiltless in deed, and pure in thought? “Who hath not received his soul in vain.” Who hath not reckoned his soul among things that pass away, but feeling it to be immortal, hath longed for an eternity stedfast and unchangeable. “And hath not sworn in deceit to his neighbour.” And therefore without…
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On Psalms 23:5Saint Augustine of Hippo5. “This man shall receive blessing from the Lord, and mercy from the God of his salvation” (ver. 5).
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On Psalms 23:6Saint Augustine of Hippo6. “This is the generation of them that seek the Lord” (ver. 6). For thus are they born that seek Him. “Of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Diapsalma.” Now they seek the face of God, who gave the pre-eminence to the younger born.
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On Psalms 23:7Saint Augustine of Hippo7. “Take away your gates, ye princes” (ver. 7). All ye, that seek rule among men, remove, that they hinder not, the entrances which ye have made, of desire and fear. “And be ye lift up, ye everlasting gates.” And be ye lift up, ye entrances of eternal life, of renunciation of the world, and conversion to God. “And the King of glory shall come in.” And the King, in whom we may glory without pride, shall come in:…
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On Psalms 23:8Saint Augustine of Hippo8. “Who is this King of glory?” Mortal nature is awe-struck in wonder, and asks, “Who is this King of glory?” “The Lord strong and mighty.” He whom thou didst deem weak and overwhelmed. “The Lord mighty in battle” (ver. 8). Handle the scars, and thou wilt find them made whole, and human weakness restored to immortality. The glorifying of the Lord, which was owing to earth, where It warred with death, hath been paid.
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On Psalms 23:9Saint Augustine of Hippo9. “Take away your gates, ye princes.” Let us go hence straightway into heaven. Again, let the Prophet’s trumpet cry aloud, “Take away too, ye princes of the air, the gates, which ye have in the minds of men who ‘worship the host of heaven.’” “And be ye lift up, ye everlasting gates.” And be ye lift up, ye doors of everlasting righteousness, of love, and chastity, through which the soul loveth the One True God,…
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On Psalms 23:10Open Psalms 23 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 Hippo10. “Who is this King of glory?” What! dost thou too, prince of the power of this air, marvel and ask, “Who is this King of glory?” “The Lord of powers, He is the King of glory” (ver. 10). Yea, His Body now quickened, He who was tempted marches above thee; He who was tempted by the angel, the deceiver, goes above all angels. Let none of you put himself before us and stop our way, that he may be worshipped as a…
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