Psalms 27
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 27 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.
8 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (2) follow the text.
Psalms 27
1(28) A Psalm of David. To you, O Lord, have I cried; my God, be not silent toward me: lest you be silent toward me, and so I should be likened to them that go down to the pit.Τοῦ Δαυίδ. Πρὸς σὲ Κύριε ἐκέκραξα, ὁ Θεός μου μὴ παρασιωπήσῃς ἐπʼ ἑμοὶ, μήποτε παρασιωπήσῃς ἐπʼ ἐμοὶ, καὶ ὁμοιωθήσομαι τοῖς καταβαίνουσιν εἰς λάκκον.
2Listen to the voice of my supplication, when I pray to you, when I lift up my hands toward your holy temple.Εἰσάκουσον τῆς φωνῆς τῆς δεήσεώς μου, ἐν τῷ δέεσθαί με πρὸς σὲ, ἐν τῷ αἴρειν με χεῖράς μου εἰς ναὸν ἅγιόν σου.
3Draw not away my soul with sinners, and destroy me not with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace with their neighbors, but evils are in their hearts.Μὴ συνελκύσῃς μετὰ ἁμαρτωλῶν τὴν ψυχήν μου, καὶ μετὰ ἐργαζομένων ἀδικίαν μὴ συναπολέσῃς με, τῶν λαλούντων εἰρήνην μετὰ τῶν πλησίον αὐτῶν, κακὰ δὲ ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν.
4Give them according to their works, and according to the wickedness of their devices: give them according to the works of their hands; render their recompense to them.Δὸς αὐτοῖς κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν, καὶ κατὰ τὴν πονηρίαν τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων αὐτῶν· κατὰ τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν δὸς αὐτοῖς, ἀπόδος τὸ ἀνταπόδομα αὐτῶν αὐτοῖς.
5Because they have not attended to the works of the Lord, even to the works of his hands, you shall pull them down, and shall not build them up.Ὅτι οὐ συνῆκαν εἰς τὰ ἔργα Κυρίου καὶ εἰς τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ, καθελεῖς αὐτοὺς καὶ οὐ μὴ οἰκοδομήσεις αὐτούς.
6Blessed be the Lord, for he has listened to the voice of my petition.Εὐλογητὸς Κύριος, ὅτι εἰσήκουσε τῆς φωνῆς τῆς δεήσεώς μου.
7The Lord is my helper and my defender; my heart has hoped in him, and I am helped: my flesh has revived, and willingly will I * give praise to him.Κύριος βοηθός μου καὶ ὑπερασπιστής μου· ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἤλπισεν ἡ καρδία μου, καὶ ἐβοηθήθην, καὶ ἀνέθαλεν ἡ σάρξ μου· καὶ ἐκ θελήματός μου ἐξομολογήσομαι αὐτῷ.
8The Lord is the strength of his people, and the † saving defender of his anointed.Κύριος κραταίωμα τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑπερασπιστὴς τῶν σωτηρίων τοῦ χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐστι.
9Save your people, and bless your inheritance: and take care of them, and lift them up for ever.Σῶσον τὸν λαόν σου, καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, καὶ ποίμανον αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἔπαρον αὐτοὺς ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος.
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. 7*Or, confess to him.
- v. 8†Gr. defender of the salvation of.
The Fathers on Psalms 27
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 27:1–2Saint Augustine of Hippo2. “Unto Thee, O Lord, have I cried; My God, be not silent from me” (ver. 1). Unto Thee, O Lord, have I cried; My God, separate not the unity of Thy Word from that which as Man I am. “Lest at any time Thou be silent from me: and I shall be like them that go down into the pit.” For from this, that the Eternity of Thy Word ceaseth not to unite Itself to Me, it comes that I am not such a man as the rest of men, who…
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On Psalms 27:3Saint Augustine of Hippo3. “Draw not My Soul away with sinners, and destroy me not with them that work iniquity, with them that speak peace with their neighbours” (ver. 3). With them that say unto Me, “We know that Thou art a Master come from God.” “But evil in their hearts.” But they speak evil in their hearts.
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On Psalms 27:4Saint Augustine of Hippo4. “Give unto them according to their works” (ver. 4). Give unto them according to their works, for this is just. “And according to the malice of their affections.” For aiming at evil, they cannot discover good. “According to the works of their hands give Thou unto them.” Although what they have done may avail for salvation to others, yet give Thou unto them according to the works of their wills. “Pay them their…
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On Psalms 27:5Saint Augustine of Hippo5. “For they have not had understanding in the works of the Lord” (ver. 5). And whence is it clear that this hath befallen them? From this forsooth, “for they have not had understanding in the works of the Lord.” This very thing, in truth, hath been, even now, their recompense, that in Him whom they tempted with malicious intent as a Man, they should not recognise God, with what design the Father sent Him in the…
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On Psalms 27:6Saint Augustine of Hippo6. “Blessed be the Lord, for He hath heard the voice of My prayer” (ver. 6).
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On Psalms 27:7Saint Augustine of Hippo7. “The Lord My Helper and My Protector” (ver. 7). The Lord helping Me in so great sufferings, and protecting Me with immortality in My resurrection. “In Him hath My Heart trusted, and I have been helped.” “And My Flesh hath flourished again:” that is, and My Flesh hath risen again. “And of my will I will confess unto Him.” Wherefore, the fear of death being now destroyed, not by the necessity of fear under the…
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On Psalms 27:8Saint Augustine of Hippo8. “The Lord is the strength of His people” (ver. 8). Not that people “ignorant of the righteousness of God, and willing to establish their own.” For they thought not themselves strong in themselves: for the Lord is the strength of His people, struggling in this life’s difficulties with the devil. “And the protector of the salvation of His Christ.” That, having saved them by His Christ after the strength of war,…
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On Psalms 27:9Open Psalms 27 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 Hippo9. “Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance” (ver. 9). I intercede therefore, after My Flesh hath flourished again, because Thou hast said, “Desire of Me, and I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance;” “Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance:” for “all Mine are Thine.” “And rule them, and set them up even for ever.” And rule them in this temporal life, and raise them from hence into life eternal.
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