Psalms 45
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 45 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.
10 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (1) follow the text.
Psalms 45
1(46) For the end, for the sons of Core; a Psalm concerning secret things.Εἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ τῶν υἱῶν Κορὲ, ὑπὲρ τῶν κρυφίων ψαλμός.
2God is our refuge and strength, a help in the afflictions that have come heavily upon us.Ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν καταφυγὴ καὶ δύναμις, βοηθὸς ἐν θλίψεσι ταῖς εὑρούσαις ἡμᾶς σφόδρα.
3Therefore will we not fear when the earth is troubled, and the mountains are removed into the depths of the seas.Διὰ τοῦτο οὐ φοβηθησόμεθα ἐν τῷ ταράσσεσθαι τὴν γῆν, καὶ μετατίθεσθαι ὄρη ἐν καρδίαις θαλασσῶν.
4Their waters have roared and been troubled, the mountains have been troubled by his might. Pause.Ἤχησαν καὶ ἐταράχθησαν τὰ ὕδατα αὐτῶν, ἐταράχθησαν τὰ ὄρη ἐν τῇ κραταιότητι αὐτοῦ. διάψαλμα.
5The flowings of the river gladden the city of God: the Most High has sanctified his tabernacle.Τοῦ ποταμοῦ τὰ ὁρμήματα εὐφραίνουσι τὴν πόλιν τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἡγίασε τὸ σκήνωμα αὐτοῦ ὁ ὕψιστος.
6God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her * with his countenance.Ὁ Θεὸς ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς οὐ σαλευθήσεται, βοηθήσει αὐτῇ ὁ Θεὸς τῷ προσώπῳ.
7The nations were troubled, the kingdoms tottered: he uttered his voice, the earth shook.Ἐταράχθησαν ἔθνη, ἔκλιναν βασιλεῖαι, ἔδωκε φωνὴν αὐτοῦ, ἐσαλεύθη ἡ γῆ.
8The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our helper. Pause.Κύριος τῶν δυνάμεων μεθʼ ἡμῶν, ἀντιλήπτωρ ἡμῶν ὁ Θεὸς Ἰακώβ. διάψαλμα.
9Come, and behold the works of the Lord, what wonders he has achieved on the earth.Δεῦτε καὶ ἴδετε τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Κυρίου, ἃ ἔθετο τέρατα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς·
10Putting an end to wars as for the ends of the earth; he will crush the bow, and break in pieces the weapon, and burn the bucklers with fire.ἀνταναιρῶν πολέμους μέχρι τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς, τόξον συντρίψει, καὶ συγκλάσει ὅπλον, καὶ θυρεοὺς κατακαύσει ἐν πυρί.
11Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.Σχολάσατε καὶ γνῶτε, ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ Θεὸς, ὑψωθήσομαι ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ὑψωθήσομαι ἐν τῇ γῇ·
12The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our helper.Κύριος τῶν δυνάμεων μεθʼ ἡμῶν, ἀντιλήπτωρ ἡμῶν ὁ Θεὸς Ἰακώβ.
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*Alex. and Heb. before, or, toward the morning. * 47: A song.
The Fathers on Psalms 45
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 45:2Saint Augustine of Hippo2. “Our God is a refuge and strength” (ver. 1). There are some refuges wherein is no strength, whereto when any fleeth, he is more weakened than strengthened. Thou fleest, for example, to some one greater in the world, that thou mayest make thyself a powerful friend; this seemeth to thee a refuge. Yet so great are this world’s uncertainties, and so frequent grow the ruins of the powerful day by day, that when to…
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On Psalms 45:3Saint Augustine of Hippo4. Now then, such security received, what say they? “Therefore will not we fear, when the earth shall be confounded” (ver. 2). Just before anxious, suddenly secure; out of too great tribulations set in great tranquillity. For in them Christ was sleeping, therefore were they tossed: Christ awoke (as but now we heard out of the Gospel), He commanded the winds, and they were still. Since Christ is in each man’s…
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On Psalms 45:4Saint Augustine of Hippo6. “The waters thereof roared, and were troubled” (ver. 3): when the Gospel was preached, “What is this? He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods:” this the Athenians; but the Ephesians, with what tumult would they have slain the Apostles, when in the theatre, for their goddess Diana, they made such an uproar, as to be shouting, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” Amidst which waves and roaring of the sea,…
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On Psalms 45:5Saint Augustine of Hippo7. “The streams of the river make glad the City of God” (ver. 4). When the mountains shake, when the sea rages, God deserteth not His City, by the streams of the river. What are these streams of the river? That overflowing of the Holy Spirit, of which the Lord said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, out of his bosom shall flow rivers of living water.” These rivers then…
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On Psalms 45:6Saint Augustine of Hippo8. “God is in the midst of her: she shall not be moved” (ver. 5). Let the sea rage, the mountains shake; “God is in the midst of her: she shall not be moved.” What is, “in the midst of her”? That God stands in any one place, and they surround Him who believe in Him? Then is God circumscribed by place; and broad that which surroundeth, narrow that which is surrounded? God forbid. No such thing imagine of God, who…
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On Psalms 45:7Saint Augustine of Hippo9. “The heathen are troubled” (ver. 6). And how troubled? why troubled? To cast down the City of God, in the midst whereof is God? To overthrow the tabernacle sanctified, which God helpeth with His Countenance? No: with a wholesome trouble are the heathen now troubled. For what followeth? “And the kingdoms are bowed.” Bowed, saith He, are the kingdoms; not now erected that they may rage, but bowed that they may…
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On Psalms 45:8Saint Augustine of Hippo10. “The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our taker up” (ver. 7). Not any man, not any power, not, in short, Angel, or any creature either earthly or heavenly, but “the Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our taker up.” He who sent Angels, came after Angels, came that Angels might serve Him, came that men He might make equal to Angels. Mighty Grace! If God be for us, who can be against us?…
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On Psalms 45:9Saint Augustine of Hippo11. “Come and see the works of the Lord” (ver. 8). Now of this taking up, what hath the Lord done? Consider the whole world, come and see. For if thou comest not, thou seest not; if thou seest not, thou believest not; if thou believest not, thou standest afar off: if thou believest thou comest, if thou believest thou seest. For how came we to that mountain? Not on foot? Is it by ship? Is it on the wing? Is it on…
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On Psalms 45:10Saint Augustine of Hippo12. “He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth” (ver. 9). This not yet see we fulfilled: yet are there wars, wars among nations for sovereignty; among sects, among Jews, Pagans, Christians, heretics, are wars, frequent wars, some for the truth, some for falsehood contending. Not yet then is this fulfilled, “He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;” but haply it shall be fulfilled. Or is it now…
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On Psalms 45:11–12Open Psalms 45 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 Hippo13. What then followeth? “Be still.” To what purpose? “And see that I am God” (ver. 10). That is, Not ye, but I am God. I created, I create anew; I formed, I form anew; I made, I make anew. If thou couldest not make thyself, how canst thou make thyself anew? This seeth not the contentious tumult of man’s soul; to which contentious tumult is it said, “Be still.” That is, restrain your souls from contradiction. Do…
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