Psalms 49
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 49 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.
24 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (4) follow the text.
Psalms 49
1(50) A Psalm * for Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord, has spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof.Ψαλμὸς τῷ Ἀσάφ. Θεὸς θεῶν Κύριος ἐλάλησε, καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὴν γῆν ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν ἡλίου μέχρι δυσμῶν.
2Out of Sion comes the excellence of his beauty.Ἐκ Σιὼν ἡ εὐπρέπεια τῆς ὡραιότητος αὐτοῦ.
3God, our God, shall come manifestly, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall be kindled before him, and round about him there shall be a very great tempest.Ὁ Θεὸς ἐμφανῶς ἥξει, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, καὶ οὐ παρασιωπήσεται· πῦρ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ καυθήσεται, καὶ κύκλῳ αὐτοῦ καταιγὶς σφοδρά.
4He shall summon the heaven above, and the earth, that he may ✡ judge his people.Προσκαλέσεται τὸν οὐρανὸν ἄνω, καὶ τὴν γῆν διακρῖναι τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ.
5Assemble you his saints to him, those that have engaged in a covenant with him upon sacrifices.Συναγάγετε αὐτῷ τοὺς ὁσίους αὐτοῦ, τοὺς διατιθεμένους τὴν διαθήκην αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ θυσίαις.
6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge. Pause.Καὶ ἀναγγελοῦσιν οἱ οὐρανοὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ, ὅτι Θεὸς κριτής ἐστι· διάψαλμα.
7Hear, my people, and I will speak to you, O Israel: and I will testify to you: I am God, your God.Ἄκουσον λαός μου καὶ λαλήσω σοι, Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ διαμαρτύρομαί σοι· ὁ Θεὸς ὁ Θεός σου εἰμὶ ἐγώ.
8I will not reprove you on account of your sacrifices; for your whole burnt offerings are before me continually.Οὐκ ἐπὶ ταῖς θυσίαις σου ἐλέγξω σε, τὰ δὲ ὁλοκαυτώματά σου ἐνώπιόν μου ἐστὶ διαπαντός.
9I will take no bullocks out of your house, nor he-goats out of your flocks.Οὐ δέξομαι ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου σου μόσχους, οὐδὲ ἐκ τῶν ποιμνίων σου χιυάρους·
10For all the wild beasts of the thicket are mine, the cattle on the mountains, and oxen.Ὅτι ἐμά ἐστι πάντα τὰ θηρία τοῦ δρυμοῦ, κτήνη ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι, καὶ βόες.
11I know all the birds of the sky; and the beauty of the field is mine.Ἔγνωκα πάντα τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ὡραιότης ἀγροῦ μετʼ ἐμοῦ ἐστιν.
12If I should be hungry, I will not tell you: for the world is mine, and the fullness of it.Ἐὰν πεινάσω, οὐ μή σοι εἴπω, ἐμὴ γάρ ἐστιν ἡ οἰκουμένη καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς.
13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?Μὴ φάγομαι κρέα ταύρων, ἢ αἷμα τράγων πίομαι;
14Offer to God the sacrifice of praise; and pay your vows to the Most High.Θῦσον τῷ Θεῷ θυσίαν αἰνέσεως, καὶ ἀπόδος τῷ ὑψίστῳ τὰς εὐχάς σου.
15And call upon me in the day of affliction; and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. Pause.Καὶ ἐπικάλεσαί με ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεως, καὶ ἐξελοῦμαί σε, καὶ δοξάσεις με. διάψαλμα.
16But to the sinner God has said, Why do you declare my ordinances, and take up my covenant in your mouth?Τῷ δὲ ἁμαρτωλῷ εἶπεν ὁ Θεὸς, ἱνατί σὺ διηγῇ τὰ δικαιώματά μου, καὶ ἀναλαμβάνεις τὴν διαθήκην μου διὰ στόματός σου;
17Whereas you have hated instruction, and have cast my words behind you.Σὺ δὲ ἐμίσησας παιδείαν, καὶ ἐξέβαλες τοὺς λόγους μου εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω.
18If you saw a thief, you † ran along with him, and have cast in your lot with adulterers.Εἰ ἐθεώρεις κλέπτην, συνέτρεχες αὐτῷ, καὶ μετὰ μοιχῶν τὴν μερίδα σου ἐτίθεις.
19Your mouth has multiplied wickedness, and your tongue has framed deceit. ‡Τὸ στόμα σου ἐπλεόνασε κακίαν, καὶ ἡ γλῶσσά σου περιέπλεκε δολιότητα.
20You did sit and speak against your brother, and did scandalize your mother's son.Καθήμενος κατὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου κατελάλεις, καὶ κατὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ τῆς μητρός σου ἐτίθεις σκάνδαλον.
21These things you did, and I kept silence: you thought wickedly that I should be like you, but I will reprove you, and set your offenses before you.Ταῦτα ἐποίησας, καὶ ἐσίγησα, ὑπέλαβες ἀνομίαν ὅτι ἔσομαί σοι ὅμοιος· ἐλέγξω σε, καὶ παραστήσω κατὰ πρόσωπόν σου.
22Now consider these things, you that forget God, lest he rend you, and there is no deliverer.Σύνετε δὴ ταῦτα οἱ ἐπιλανθανόμενοι τοῦ Θεοῦ, μήποτε ἁρπάσῃ, καὶ μὴ ᾖ ὁ ῥυόμενος.
23The sacrifice of praise will glorify me: and § that is the way wherein I will show to him the salvation of God.Θυσία αἰνέσεως δοξάσει με, καὶ ἐκεῖ ὁδὸς ᾗ δείξω αὐτῷ τὸ σωτήριον Θεοῦ.
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✡Heb 10:30
- v. 18†See 1 Pe 4:4.
- v. 19‡From these words in Alex. to Ps. 79. 11, thirty psalms are lacking.
- v. 23§Gr. there.
The Fathers on Psalms 49
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 49:1Saint Augustine of Hippo1. How much availeth the Word of God to us for the correction of our life, both regarding His rewards to be expected, and His punishments to be feared, let each one measure in himself; and let him put his conscience without deceit before His eyes, and not flatter himself in a danger so great: for ye see that even our Lord God Himself doth flatter no one: though He comforteth us by promising His blessings, and by…
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On Psalms 49:1Saint Augustine of Hippo3. “The God,” therefore, “of gods, the Lord hath spoken” (ver. 1). Hath spoken many ways. By Angels He hath Himself spoken, by Prophets He hath Himself spoken, by His own mouth He hath Himself spoken, by His faithful He doth Himself speak, by our lowliness, when we say anything true, He doth Himself speak. See then, by speaking diversely, many ways, by many vessels, by many instruments, yet He doth Himself sound…
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On Psalms 49:2Saint Augustine of Hippo4. But we have heard the world called from the rising of the sun unto the going down: whence doth He begin to call, who hath called? This thing also hear ye: “Out of Sion is the semblance of His beauty” (ver. 2). Evidently the Psalm doth agree with the Gospel, which saith, “Throughout all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Hear, “Throughout all nations:” He hath called the world from the rising of the sun unto the…
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On Psalms 49:3Saint Augustine of Hippo6. What then, brethren? This God of gods, both then hidden, and now hidden, shall He ever be hidden? Evidently not: hear what followeth: “God shall come manifest” (ver. 3). He that came hidden, shall come manifest. Hidden He came to be judged, manifest He shall come to judge: hidden He came that He might stand before a judge, manifest He shall come that He may be judge even of judges: “He shall come manifest, and…
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On Psalms 49:3Saint Augustine of Hippo8. “And a mighty tempest round about Him” (ver. 3). “A mighty tempest,” in order to winnow so great a floor. In this tempest shall be that winnowing whereby from the saints shall be put away everything impure, from the faithful every unreality; from godly men and them that fear the Word of God, every scorner and every proud man. For now a sort of mixture doth lie there, from the rising of the sun unto the going…
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On Psalms 49:4Saint Augustine of Hippo11. Since then it is evident, that many are to judge with the Lord, but that others are to be judged, not however on equality, but according to their deserts; He will come with all His Angels, when before Him shall be gathered all nations, and among all the Angels are to be reckoned those that have been made so perfect, that sitting upon twelve thrones they judge the twelve tribes of Israel. For men are called…
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On Psalms 49:6Saint Augustine of Hippo12. “Gather to Him His righteous” (ver. 5). The voice divine and prophetic, seeing future things as if present doth exhort the Angels gathering. For He shall send His Angels, and before Him shall be gathered all nations. Gather to Him His righteous. What righteous men save those that live of faith and do works of mercy? For those works are works of righteousness. Thou hast the Gospel: “Beware of doing your…
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On Psalms 49:6Saint Augustine of Hippo13. “And the Heaven shall declare His righteousness” (ver. 6). Truly this righteousness of God to us the “heavens have declared,” the Evangelists have foretold. Through them we have heard that some will be on the right hand, to whom the Householder saith, “Come, ye blessed of My Father, receive.” Receive what? “A kingdom.” In return for what thing? “I was an hungred, and ye gave Me to eat.” What so valueless,…
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On Psalms 49:7Saint Augustine of Hippo14. “Hear, my people, and I will speak to thee” (ver. 7). He shall come and shall not keep silence; see how that even now, if ye hear, He is not silent. Hear, my people, and I will speak to thee. For if thou hearest not, I will not speak to thee. “Hear, and I will speak to thee.” For if thou hearest not, even though I shall speak, it will not be to thee. When then shall I speak to thee? If thou hearest. When…
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On Psalms 49:8–9Saint Augustine of Hippo15. What He requireth of man, let us see; what tribute our God, our Emperor and our King doth enjoin us; since He hath willed to be our King, and hath willed us to be His province? Let us hear His injunctions. Let not a poor man tremble beneath the injunction of God: what God enjoineth to be given to Himself, He doth Himself first give that enjoineth: be ye only devoted. God doth not exact what He hath not given,…
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On Psalms 49:10Saint Augustine of Hippo17. “For mine are all the beasts of the wood” (ver. 10). Why should I ask of thee what I have made? Is it more thine, to whom I have given it to possess, than Mine, who have made it? “For mine are all the beasts of the wood.” But perchance that Israel saith, The beasts are God’s, those wild beasts which I enclose not in my pen, which I bind not to my stall; but this ox and sheep and he-goat—these are mine own.…
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On Psalms 49:11Saint Augustine of Hippo18. “I know all the winged creatures of heaven” (ver. 11). How doth He know? He hath weighed them, hath counted. Which of us knoweth all the winged creatures of heaven? But even though to some man God give knowledge of all the winged creatures of heaven, He doth not Himself know in the same manner as He giveth man to know. One thing is God’s knowledge, another man’s: in like manner as there is one possession of…
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On Psalms 49:12Saint Augustine of Hippo19. Who can explain, who expound that which is said to Him in another Psalm, “For my goods Thou needest not”? He hath said that He needeth not from us any necessary thing. “If I shall be hungry, I will not tell thee” (ver. 12). He that keepeth Israel shall neither hunger nor thirst, nor be weary, nor fall asleep. But, lo! according to thy carnality I speak: because thou wilt suffer hunger when thou hast not…
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On Psalms 49:13Saint Augustine of Hippo20. Why then dost still think of thy flocks? “Shall I eat the flesh of bulls, or shall I drink the blood of he-goats?” (ver. 13). Ye have heard what of us He requireth not, who willeth to enjoin us somewhat. If of such things ye were thinking, now withdraw your thoughts from such things: think not to offer God any such thing. If thou hast a fat bull, kill for the poor: let them eat the flesh of bulls, though they…
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On Psalms 49:14Saint Augustine of Hippo21. Say then, Lord our God, what dost Thou enjoin thy people, Thy Israel? “Immolate to God the sacrifice of praise” (ver. 14). Let us also say to Him, “In me, O God, are thy vows, which I will render of prose to Thee.” I had feared lest Thou mightest enjoin something which would be out of my power, which I was counting to be in my pen, and but now perchance it had been taken away by a thief. What dost Thou enjoin…
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On Psalms 49:15Saint Augustine of Hippo22. “And call thou upon Me in the day of thy tribulation: and I will draw thee forth, and thou shalt glorify Me” (ver. 15). For thou oughtest not to rely on thy powers, all thy aids are deceitful. “Upon Me call thou in the day of tribulation: I will draw thee forth, and thou shalt glorify Me.” For to this end I have allowed the day of tribulation to come to thee: because perchance if thou wast not troubled, thou…
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On Psalms 49:16Saint Augustine of Hippo23. But see what followeth, my brethren. For now some one or other, because God had said to him, “Immolate to God the sacrifice of praise,” and had enjoined in a manner this tribute, did meditate to himself and said, I will rise daily, I will proceed to Church, I will say one hymn at matins, another at vespers, a third or fourth in my house, daily I do sacrifice the sacrifice of praise, and immolate to my God.…
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On Psalms 49:17Saint Augustine of Hippo24. “But thou hatest instruction” (ver. 17). Thou hatest discipline. When I spare, thou singest and praisest: when I chasten, thou murmurest: as though, when I spare, I am thy God: and, when I chasten, I am not thy God. “I rebuke and chasten those whom I love.” “But thou hatest instruction: and hast thrown My sayings behind thee.” The words that are said through thee, thou throwest behind thee. “And thou hast…
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On Psalms 49:18Saint Augustine of Hippo25. “If thou sawest a thief, thou didst consent unto him, and with adulterers thou didst make thy portion” (ver. 18). Lest perchance thou shouldest say, I have not committed theft, I have not committed adultery. What if he pleased thee that hath committed? Hast thou not with the very pleasing consented? Hast thou not by approval made thy portion with him that hath committed? For this is, brethren, to consent with…
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On Psalms 49:19Saint Augustine of Hippo26. “Thy mouth hath abounded in malice, and thy tongue hath embraced deceit” (ver. 19). Of the malevolence and deceit, brethren, of certain men he speaketh, who by adulation, though they know what they hear to be evil, yet lest they offend those from whom they hear, not only by not reproving but by holding their peace do consent. Too little is it, that they do not say, Thou hast done evil: but they even say, Thou…
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On Psalms 49:20Saint Augustine of Hippo27. “Sitting against thy brother thou didst detract” (ver. 20). And this “sitting” doth belong to that whereof he hath spoken above in, “hath embraced.” For he that doeth anything while standing or passing along, doth it not with pleasure: but if he for this purpose sitteth, how much leisure doth he seek out to do it! That very evil detraction thou wast making with diligence, thou wast making sitting; thou…
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On Psalms 49:22Saint Augustine of Hippo28. “These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue” (ver. 21). Therefore the Lord our God shall come, and shall not keep silence. Now, “These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue.” What is, “I held my tongue”? From vengeance I have desisted, my severity I have deferred, patience to thee I have prolonged, thy repentance I have long looked for…“Thou hast imagined iniquity, that I shall be like unto…
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On Psalms 49:22Saint Augustine of Hippo29. But, “understand these things, ye that forget God” (ver. 22). See how He crieth, and keepeth not silence, spareth not. Thou hadst forgotten the Lord, didst not think of thy evil life. Perceive how thou hast forgotten the Lord. “Lest at length He seize like a lion, and there be none to deliver.” What is “like a lion”? Like a brave one, like a mighty one, like him whom none can withstand. To this he made…
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On Psalms 49:23Open Psalms 49 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 Hippo30. “Sacrifice of praise shall glorify Me” (ver. 23). How shall “sacrifice of praise glorify Me”? Assuredly sacrifice of praise doth no wise profit evil men, because they take Thy Covenant in their mouth, and do damnable things that displease Thine eyes. Straightway, he saith, even to them this I say, “Sacrifice of praise shall glorify Me.” For if thou livest ill and speakest good words, not yet dost thou praise:…
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