Psalms 61
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 61 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 (3) follow the text.
Psalms 61
1(62) For the end, a Psalm of David for Idithun.Εἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ Ἰδιθοὺν ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ.
2Shall not my soul be subjected to God? for of him is my salvation.Οὐχὶ τῷ Θεῷ ὑποταγήσεται ἡ ψυχή μου; παρʼ αὐτοῦ γὰρ τὸ σωτήριόν μου.
3For he is my God, and my savior; my helper, I shall not be moved * very much.Καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς Θεός μου καὶ σωτήρ μου, ἀντιλήπτωρ μου, οὐ μὴ σαλευθῶ ἐπὶ πλεῖον.
4How long will you assault a man? you are all slaughtering as with a bowed wall and a broken hedge.Ἕως πότε ἐπιτίθεσθε ἐπʼ ἄνθρωπον; φονεύετε πάντες ὡς τοίχῳ κεκλιμένῳ καὶ φραγμῷ ὠσμένῳ.
5They only took counsel to set at nothing my honor: I ran in thirst: with their mouth they blessed, but with their heart they cursed. Pause.Πλὴν τὴν τιμήν μου ἐβουλεύσαντο ἀπώσασθαι· ἔδραμον ἐν δίψει· τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν εὐλόγουν, καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν κατηρῶντο. διάψαλμα.
6Nevertheless do you, my soul, be subjected to God; for of him is my patient hope.Πλὴν τῷ Θεῷ ὑποτάγηθι, ἡ ψυχή μου, ὅτι παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἡ ὑπομονή μου.
7For he is my God and my Saviour; my helper, I shall not be moved.Ὅτι αὐτὸς Θεός μου καὶ σωτήρ μου, ἀντιλήπτωρ μου, οὐ μὴ μεταναστεύσω.
8† In God is my salvation and my glory: he is the God of my help, and my hope is in God.Ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ τὸ σωτήριόν μου, καὶ ἡ δόξα μου· ὁ Θεὸς τῆς βοηθείας μου, καὶ ἡ ἐλπίς μου ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ.
9Hope in him, all you congregation of the people; pour out your hearts before him, for God is our helper. Pause.Ἐλπίσατε ἐπʼ αὐτὸν πᾶσα συναγωγὴ λαοῦ· ἐκχέετε ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν, ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς βοηθὸς ἡμῶν· διάψαλμα.
10But the sons of men are vain; the sons of men are false, so as to be deceitful in the balances; they are ‡ all alike formed out of vanity.Πλὴν μάταιοι οἱ νἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ψευδεῖς οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐν ζυγοῖς τοῦ ἀδικῆσαι, αὐτοὶ ἐκ ματαιότητος ἐπιτοαυτό.
11Trust not in unrighteousness, and lust not after robberies: if wealth should flow in, set not your heart upon it.Μὴ ἐλπίζετε ἐπʼ ἀδικίαν, καὶ ἐπὶ ἁρπάγματα μὴ ἐπιποθεῖτε· πλοῦτος ἐὰν ῥέῃ, μὴ προστίθεσθε καρδίαν.
12God has spoken once, and I have heard these two things, that power is of God;Ἅπαξ ἐλάλησεν ὁ Θεὸς, δύο ταῦτα ἤκουσα, ὅτι τὸ κράτος τοῦ Θεοῦ·
13and mercy is your, O Lord; for you will recompense every one according to his works.καὶ σοῦ, Κύριε τὸ ἔλεος, ὅτι σὺ ἀποδώσεις ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.
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*Or, any more.
- v. 7†Gr. on.
- v. 9‡Gr. altogether.
The Fathers on Psalms 61
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 61:2–3Saint Augustine of Hippo1. The title of it is, “Unto the end, in behalf of Idithun, a Psalm to David himself.” I recollect that already to you hath been explained what Idithun is.…Let us see how far he hath leaped over, and whom he hath “leaped over,” and in what place, though he hath leaped over certain men, he is situate, whence as from a kind of spiritual and secure position he may behold what is below.…He being set, I say, in a…
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On Psalms 61:4Saint Augustine of Hippo2. Therefore, down from the higher place fortified and protected, he, to whom the Lord hath been made a refuge, he, to whom is God Himself for a fortified place, hath regard to those whom he hath leaped over, and looking down upon them speaketh as though from a lofty tower: for this also hath been said of Him, “A Tower of strength from the face of the enemy:” he giveth heed therefore to them, and saith, “How long…
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On Psalms 61:6Saint Augustine of Hippo3. “Nevertheless, mine honour they have thought to drive back” (ver. 4). Conquered while they slay men yielding, by the blood of the slain multiplying the faithful, yielding to these and no longer being able to kill; “Nevertheless, mine honour they have thought to drive back.” Now because a Christian cannot be killed, pains are taken that a Christian should be dishonoured. For now by the honour of Christians the…
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On Psalms 61:6Saint Augustine of Hippo7. What dost Thou, O Idithun, Body of Christ, leaping over them? What dost Thou amid all these things? What wilt Thou? wilt faint? wilt Thou not persevere even unto the end? wilt Thou not hearken, “He that shall have persevered even unto the end, the same shall be saved,” though for that iniquity aboundeth, the love of many shall wax cold? And where is it that Thou hast leaped over them? where is it that Thy…
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On Psalms 61:7–8Saint Augustine of Hippo8. “For Himself is my God and My Saving One, my Taker up, I will not remove hence” (ver. 6). Because “Himself is my God,” therefore He calleth me: “and my Saving One,” therefore He justifieth me: “and my Taker up,” therefore He glorifieth me. For here I am called and am justified, but there I am glorified; and from thence where I am glorified, “I will not remove.” For a sojourner I am with Thee on earth as all my…
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On Psalms 61:8Saint Augustine of Hippo10. He turneth therefore Himself to them, thirsting for them: “Do not hope in iniquity” (ver. 10). For my hope is in God. Ye that will not draw near and pass over, “do not hope in iniquity.” For I that have leapt over, my hope is in God; and is there anywise iniquity with God? This thing let us do, that thing let us do, of that thing let us think, thus let us adjust our lyings in wait; “Because of vanity being at…
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On Psalms 61:9–10Saint Augustine of Hippo9. “Hope ye in Him all the council of the people” (ver. 8). Imitate ye Idithun, leap over your enemies; men fighting against you, stopping up your way, men hating you, leap ye over: “Hope in Him all the council of the people: pour out before Him your hearts:”…By imploring, by confessing, by hoping. Do not keep back your hearts within your hearts: “Pour out before Him your hearts.” That perisheth not which ye pour…
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On Psalms 61:12Open Psalms 61 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 Hippo11. What followeth? “Once hath God spoken, these two things I have heard, that power is of God (ver. 11), and to Thee, O Lord, is mercy, for Thou shalt render to each one after his works” (ver. 12).…“Once hath God spoken.” What sayest thou, Idithun? If thou that hadst leapt over them art saying, “Once He hath spoken;” I turn to another Scripture and it saith to me, “In many quarters and in many ways formerly God…
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