Psalms 48
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 48 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.
13 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (4) follow the text.
Psalms 48
1(49) For the end, a Psalm for the sons of Core.Εἰς τὸ τέλος, τοῖς υἱοῖς Κορὲ ψαλμός.
2Hear these words, all you nations, listen, all you that dwell upon the earth:Ἀκούσατε ταῦτα πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, ἐνωτίσασθε πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν οἰκουμένην,
3both the * sons of mean men, and sons of great men; the rich and poor man together.οἵ τε γηγενεῖς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἐπιτοαυτὸ πλούσιος καὶ πένης.
4My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding.Τὸ στόμα μου λαλήσει σοφίαν, καὶ ἡ μελέτη τῆς καρδίας μου σύνεσιν.
5I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my † riddle on the harp.Κλινῶ εἰς παραβολὴν τὸ οὖς μου, ἀνοίξω ἐν ψαλτηρίῳ τὸ πρόβλημά μου.
6Therefore ‡ should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.Ἱνατί φοβοῦμαι ἐν ἡμέρᾳ πονηρᾷ; ἡ ἀνομία τῆς πτέρνης μου κυκλώσει με.
7They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—Οἱ πεποιθότες ἐπὶ τῇ δυνάμει αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ πλήθει τοῦ πλούτου αὐτῶν καυχώμενοι.
8A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,Ἀδελφὸς οὐ λυτροῦται, λυτρώσεται ἄνθρωπος; οὐ δώσει τῷ Θεῷ ἐξίλασμα ἑαυτοῦ,
9or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labor for ever,καὶ τὴν τιμὴν τῆς λυτρώσεως τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐκοπίασεν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα,
10and live to the end, so that he should not see corruption.καὶ ζήσεται εἰς τέλος· ὅτι οὐκ ὄψεται καταφθορὰν,
11When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.Ὅταν ἴδῃ σοφοὺς ἀποθνήσκοντας, ἐπιτοαυτὸ ἄφρων καὶ ἄνους ἀπολοῦνται, καὶ καταλείψουσιν ἀλλοτρίοις τὸν πλοῦτον αὐτῶν.
12And their sepulchres are their houses for ever, even their tabernacles to all generations: they have called their lands after their own names.Καὶ οἱ τάφοι αὐτῶν οἰκίαι αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, σκηνώματα αὐτῶν εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεὰν, ἐπεκαλέσαντο τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τῶν γαιῶν αὐτῶν.
13And man being in honor, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.Καὶ ἄνθρωπος ἐν τιμῇ ὢν, οὐ συνῆκε, παρασυνεβλήθη τοῖς κτήνεσι τοῖς ἀνοήτοις, καὶ ὡμοιώθη αὐτοῖς.
14This their way is an offense to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. Pause.Αὕτη ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτῶν σκάνδαλον αὐτοῖς, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν εὐλογήσουσι· διάψαλμα.
15They have laid them as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory.Ὡς πρόβατα ἐν ᾅδῃ ἔθεντο, θάνατος ποιμανεῖ αὐτούς· καὶ κατακυριεύσουσιν αὐτῶν οἱ εὐθεῖς τοπρωῒ, καὶ ἡ βοήθεια αὐτῶν παλαιωθήσεται ἐν τῷ ᾅδῃ ἐκ τῆς δόξης αὐτῶν.
16But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. Pause.Πλὴν ὁ Θεὸς λυτρώσεται τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐκ χειρὸς ᾅδου, ὅταν λαμβάνῃ με· διάψαλμα.
17Fear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.Μὴ φοβοῦ ὅταν πλουτήσῃ ἄνθρωπος, καὶ ὅταν πληθυνθῇ ἡ δόξα τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ.
18For he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.Ὅτι οὐκ ἐν τῷ ἀποθνήσκειν αὐτὸν λήψεται τὰ πάντα, οὐδὲ συγκαταβήσεται αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα αὐτοῦ.
19For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to you when you do well to him.Ὅτι ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτοῦ εὐλογηθήσεται, ἐξομολογήσεταί σοι ὅταν ἀγαθύνῃς αὐτῷ.
20Yet he shall go in § to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.Εἰσελεύσεται ἕως γενεᾶς πατέρων αὐτοῦ, ἕως αἰῶνος οὐκ ὄψεται φῶς.
21Man that is in honor, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.Ἄνθρωπος ἐν τιμῇ ὢν, οὐ συνῆκε, παρασυνεβλήθη τοῖς κτήνεσι τοῖς ἀνοήτοις, καὶ ὡμοιώθη αὐτοῖς.
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. 2*Gr. earth-born.
- v. 4†Gr. problem.
- v. 5‡Gr. shall.
- v. 19§Gr. as far as. * 49: Or, of.
The Fathers on Psalms 48
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 48:2, 15Saint Augustine of Hippo1. …“Hear ye these things, all ye nations” (ver. 1). Not then you only who are here. For of what power is our voice so to cry out, as that all nations may hear? For Our Lord Jesus Christ hath proclaimed it through the Apostles, hath proclaimed it in so many tongues that He sent; and we see this Psalm, which before was only repeated in one nation, in the Synagogue of the Jews, now repeated throughout the whole…
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On Psalms 48:3Saint Augustine of Hippo3. And again he saith, “both all ye earthborn, and sons of men” (ver. 2). The expression “earthborn” he doth refer to sinners; the expression “sons of men” to the faithful and righteous. Ye see then that this distinction is observed. Who are the “earthborn”? The children of the earth. Who are the children of the earth? They who desire earthly inheritances. Who are the “sons of men”? They who appertain to the Son…
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On Psalms 48:4, 16Saint Augustine of Hippo4. And what is it they are now to hear? “My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and the meditation of my heart understanding” (ver. 3). And this repetition is perhaps made, lest perchance if he had said only “my mouth,” thou shouldest suppose that one spake to thee who had understanding but in his lips. For many have understanding in their lips, but have not in their heart, of whom the Scripture saith, “This people…
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On Psalms 48:5, 17Saint Augustine of Hippo5. “I will incline mine ear to the parable, I will show my proposition upon the harp” (ver. 4).…And why “to a parable”? Because “now we see through a glass darkly,” as saith the Apostle; “whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.” For our vision is not yet that face to face, where there are no longer parables, where there no longer are riddles and comparisons. Whatever now we understand we…
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On Psalms 48:6, 16Saint Augustine of Hippo6. And what hath he said? “And wherefore shall I fear in the evil day? The iniquity of my heel shall compass me” (ver. 5). He beginneth something obscurely. Therefore he ought the rather to fear if the iniquity of his heel shall compass him. Nay, for let not man fear, he saith, who hath not power to escape. For example, he who feareth death, what shall he do to escape death? Let him tell me how he is to escape…
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On Psalms 48:7, 19Saint Augustine of Hippo7. But who are they whom the “iniquity of their heel shall compass”? “They who trust in their virtue, and in the abundance of their riches do glory” (ver. 6). Therefore such sins will I avoid, and the “iniquity of my heel” shall never compass me. What is avoiding such sins? Let us not trust in our own virtue, let us not glory in the abundance of our own riches, but let us glory in Him who hath promised to us,…
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On Psalms 48:8Saint Augustine of Hippo8. There are some who rely on their friends, others rely on their virtue, others on their riches. This is the presumption of mankind which relieth not on God. He hath spoken of virtue, he hath spoken of riches, he speaketh of friends. “Brother redeemeth not, shall man redeem?” (ver. 7). Dost thou expect that man shall redeem thee from the wrath to come? If brother redeem thee not, shall man redeem thee? Who is…
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On Psalms 48:9, 20–21Saint Augustine of Hippo9. “He shall not give to God his propitiation, and the price of the redemption of his soul” (ver. 8). He trusteth in his virtue, and in the abundance of his riches doth glory, who “shall not give to God his propitiation:” that is, satisfaction whereby he may prevail with God for his sins: “nor the price of the redemption of his soul,” who relieth on his virtue, and on his friends, and on his riches. But who are…
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On Psalms 48:9Saint Augustine of Hippo14. But do those same aliens indeed serve them who are called their own? Hear in what they serve them, observe how they are ridiculed: why hath he said, “to strangers”? Because they can do them no good. Nevertheless, wherein do they seem to themselves to do good? “And their tombs shall be their house for ever” (ver. 11). Now because these tombs are erected, the tombs are a house. For often thou hearest a rich man…
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On Psalms 48:10Saint Augustine of Hippo10. And what hath he said of such a man? “Yea, he hath laboured for ever, and shall live till the end” (ver. 9). His labour shall be without end, his life shall have an end. Wherefore saith he, “He shall live till the end”? Because such men think life to be nought but daily enjoyments. So when many poor and needy men of our times, unstable, and not looking to what God doth promise them for their labours, see rich…
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On Psalms 48:11Saint Augustine of Hippo11. “For he shall not see death, though he shall have seen wise men dying” (ver. 10). The man who laboured for ever and shall live till the end, “shall not see death, though he shall have seen wise men dying.” What is this? He shall not comprehend what death is, whenever he shall have seen wise men dying. For he saith to himself, “this fellow, for all he was wise and dwelled with wisdom and worshipped God with…
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On Psalms 48:13Saint Augustine of Hippo15. “And man though he was in honour perceived not, he was compared to the beasts without sense, and was made like to them” (ver. 12).…They ought, on the contrary, to have made ready for themselves an eternal house in good works, to have made ready for themselves everlasting life, to have sent before them expenditure, to have followed their works, to have ministered to a needy companion, to have given to him with…
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On Psalms 48:14Open Psalms 48 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 Hippo16. “This their own way is an offence to them” (ver. 13). Be it an offence to them, not to thee. But when will it be so to thee too? If thou thinkest such men to be blessed. If thou perceivest that they be not blessed, their own way will be an offence to themselves; not to Christ, not to His Body, not to His members. “And afterwards they shall bless with their mouth.” What meaneth, “Afterwards they shall bless…
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