Psalms 66
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 66 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.
6 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Psalms 66
1(67) For the end, a Psalm of David among the Hymns.Εἰς τὸ τέλος, ἐν ὕμνοις ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ.
2God be merciful to us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us. Pause.Ὁ Θεὸς οἰκτειρήσαι ἡμᾶς, καὶ εὐλογήσαι ἡμᾶς, ἐπιφάναι τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς· διάψαλμα.
3That men may know your way on the earth, your salvation among all nations.Τοῦ γνῶναι ἐν τῇ γῇ τὴν ὁδόν σου, ἐν πᾶσιν ἔθνεσι τὸ σωτήριόν σου.
4Let the nations, O God, give thanks to you; let all the nations give thanks to you.Ἐξομολογησάσθωσάν σοι λαοὶ ὁ Θεὸς, ἐξομολογησάσθωσάν σοι λαοὶ πάντες.
5Let the nations rejoice and exult, for you shall judge the peoples in equity, and shall guide the nations on the earth. Pause.Εὐφρανθήτωσαν καὶ ἀγαλλιάσθωσαν ἔθνη, ὅτι κρινεῖς λαοὺς ἐν εὐθύτητι, καὶ ἔθνη ἐν τῇ γῇ ὁδηγήσεις· διάψαλμα.
6Let the peoples, O God, give thanks to you; let all the peoples give thanks to you.Ἐξομολογησάσθωσάν σοι λαοὶ, ὁ Θεὸς, ἐξομολογησάσθωσάν σοι λαοὶ πάντες.
7The earth has yielded her fruit; let God, our God bless us.Γῆ ἔδωκε τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῆς· εὐλογήσαι ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν,
8Let God bless us; and let all the ends of the earth fear him.εὐλογήσαι ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ φοβηθήτωσαν αὐτὸν πάντα τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς.
The Fathers on Psalms 66
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 66:2Saint Augustine of Hippo1. Your Love remembereth, that in two Psalms, which have been already treated of, we have stirred up our soul to bless the Lord, and with godly chant have said, “Bless thou, O my soul, the Lord.” If therefore we have stirred up our soul in those Psalms to bless the Lord, in this Psalm is well said, “May God have pity on us, and bless us” (ver. 1). Let our soul bless the Lord, and let God bless us. When God…
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On Psalms 66:3Saint Augustine of Hippo5. “That we may know on earth Thy way” (ver. 2). “On earth,” here, in this life, “we may know Thy way.” What is, “Thy way”? That which leadeth to Thee. May we acknowledge whither we are going, acknowledge where we are as we go; neither in darkness we can do. Afar Thou art from men sojourning, a way to us Thou hast presented, through which we must return to Thee. “Let us acknowledge on earth Thy way.” What is His…
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On Psalms 66:4Saint Augustine of Hippo6. What followeth because the Salvation of God is known in all nations? “Let the peoples confess to Thee, O God” (ver. 3); “confess to Thee,” he saith, “all peoples.” There standeth forth a heretic, and he saith, In Africa I have peoples: and another from another quarter, And I in Galatia have peoples. Thou in Africa, he in Galatia: therefore I require one that hath them everywhere. Ye have indeed dared to exult…
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On Psalms 66:5Saint Augustine of Hippo7. And because this confession leadeth not to punishment, he continueth and saith, “Let the nations rejoice and exult” (ver. 4). If robbers after confession made do wail before man, let the faithful after confessing before God rejoice. If a man be judge, the torturer and his fear exact from a robber a confession: yea sometimes fear wringeth out confession, pain extorteth it: and he that waileth in tortures, but…
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On Psalms 66:7Saint Augustine of Hippo8. He exulteth, rejoiceth, exhorteth, he repeateth those same verses in exhortation. “The earth hath given her fruit” (ver. 6). What fruit? “Let all peoples confess to Thee.” Earth it was, of thorns it was full; there came the hand of One rooting them up, there came a calling by His majesty and mercy, the earth began to confess; now the earth giveth her fruit. Would she give her fruit unless first she were rained…
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On Psalms 66:7Open Psalms 66 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. The fruit of the earth was first in Jerusalem. For from thence began the Church: there came there the Holy Spirit, and filled full the holy men gathered together in one place; miracles were done, with the tongues of all men they spake. They were filled full of the Spirit of God, the people were converted that were in that place, fearing and receiving the divine shower, by confession they brought forth so much…
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