Psalms 72
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 72 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.
20 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (3) follow the text.
Psalms 72
1(73) A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!Ψαλμὸς τῷ Ἀσάφ. Ὡς ἀγαθὸς ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Ἰσραὴλ, τοῖς εὐθέσι καρδίᾳ.
2But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.Ἐμοῦ δὲ παρὰ μικρὸν ἐσαλεύθησαν οἱ πόδες, παρʼ ὀλίγον ἐξεχύθη τὰ διαβήματά μου.
3For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.Ὅτι ἐζήλωσα ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀνόμοις, εἰρήνην ἁμαρτωλῶν θεωρῶν.
4For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and they have firmness under their affliction.Ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀνάνευσις ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτῶν, καὶ στερέωμα ἐν τῇ μάστιγι αὐτῶν.
5They are not in the troubles of other men; and they shall not be scourged with other men.Ἐν κόποις ἀνθρώπων οὐκ εἰσὶ, καὶ μετὰ ἀνθρώπων οὐ μαστιγωθήσονται.
6Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.Διὰ τοῦτο ἐκράτησεν αὐτοὺς ἡ ὑπερηφανία, περιεβάλοντο ἀδικίαν καὶ ἀσέβειαν αὐτῶν.
7Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.Ἐξελεύσεται ὡς ἐκ στέατος ἡ ἀδικία αὐτῶν· διῆλθον εἰς διάθεσιν καρδίας.
8They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.Διενοήθησαν, καὶ ἐλάλησαν ἐν πονηρίᾳ, ἀδικίαν εἰς τὸ ὕψος ἐλάλησαν.
9They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.Ἔθεντο εἰς οὐρανὸν τὸ στόμα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα αὐτῶν διῆλθεν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
10Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found * with them.Διὰ τοῦτο ἐπιστρέψει ὁ λαός μου ἐνταῦθα, καὶ ἡμέραι πλήρεις εὑρεθήσονται ἐν αὐτοῖς.
11And they said, How does God know? and † is there knowledge in the Most High?Καὶ εἶπαν, πῶς ἔγνω ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ εἰ ἔστι γνῶσις ἐν τῷ ὑψίστῳ;
12Behold, these are the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.Ἰδοὺ οὗτοι οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ καὶ εὐθηνοῦντες εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, κατέσχον πλούτου.
13And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.Καὶ εἶπα, ἄρα ματαίως ἐδικαίωσα τὴν καρδίαν μου, καὶ ἐνιψάμην ἐν ἀθώοις τὰς χεῖράς μου·
14For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof was every morning.Καὶ ἐγενόμην μεμαστιγωμένος ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν, καὶ ὁ ἔλεγχός μου εἰς τὰς πρωΐας.
15If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I should have broken covenant with the generation of your children.Εἰ ἔλεγον, διηγήσομαι οὕτως, ἰδοὺ τῇ γενεᾷ τῶν υἱῶν σου ἠσυνθέτηκα.
16And I undertook to understand this, but it is too hard for me,Καὶ ὑπέλαβον τοῦ γνῶναι, τοῦτο κόπος ἐστὶν ἐναντίον μου,
17until I go into the sanctuary of God; and so understand the latter end.ἕως εἰσέλθω εἰς τὸ ἁγιαστήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ, συνῶ εἰς τὰ ἔσχατα.
18Surely you have appointed judgments to them because of their crafty dealings: you have cast them down when they were lifted up.Πλὴν διὰ τὰς δολιότητας ἔθου αὐτοῖς, κατέβαλες αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ἐπαρθῆναι.
19How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.Πῶς ἐγένοντο εἰς ἐρήμωσιν; ἐξάπινα ἐξέλιπον, ἀπώλοντο διὰ τὴν ἀνομίαν αὐτῶν.
20As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in your city you will despise their image.Ὡσεὶ ἐνύπνιον ἐξεγειρομένου, Κύριε ἐν τῇ πόλει σου τὴν εἰκόνα αὐτῶν ἐξουδενώσεις.
21For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been ‡ gladdened.Ὅτι ηὐφράνθη ἡ καρδία μου, καὶ οἱ νεφροί μου ἠλλοιώθησαν.
22But I was vile and knew not: I became brutish before you.Κᾀγὼ ἐξουδενωμένος, καὶ οὐκ ἔγνων, κτηνώδης ἐγενόμην παρὰ σοὶ,
23Yet I am continually with you: you have holden my right hand.κᾀγὼ διαπαντὸς μετὰ σου· ἐκράτησας τῆς χειρὸς τῆς δεξιᾶς μου,
24You have guided me by your counsel, and you have taken me to yourself with glory.ἐν τῇ βουλῇ σου ὡδήγησάς με, καὶ μετὰ δόξης προσελάβου με.
25For what have I in heaven but you? and what have I desired upon the earth beside you?Τί γάρ μοι ὑπάρχει ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, καὶ παρὰ σοῦ τί ἠθέλησα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς;
26My heart and my flesh have failed: but God is the strength of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.Ἐξέλιπεν ἡ καρδία μου καὶ ἡ σάρξ μου, ὁ Θεὸς τῆς καρδίας μου, καὶ ἡ μερίς μου ὁ Θεὸς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
27For, behold, they that remove themselves far from you shall perish: you have destroyed every one that goes a whoring from you.Ὅτι ἰδοὺ οἱ μακρύνοντες ἑαυτοὺς ἀπὸ σοῦ, ἀπολοῦνται· ἐξωλόθρευσας πάντα τὸν πορνεύοντα ἀπὸ σοῦ.
28But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all your praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.Ἐμοὶ δὲ τὸ προσκολλᾶσθαι τῷ Θεῷ ἀγαθόν ἐστι, τίθεσθαι ἐν τῷ Κυρίῳ τὴν ἐλπίδα μου· τοῦ ἐξαγγεῖλαι πάσας τὰς αἰνέσεις σου ἐν ταῖς πύλαις τῆς θυγατρὸς Σιών.
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. 10*Gr. in.
- v. 11†Gr. if there is.
- v. 21‡Gr. changed. * 73: Gr. understanding.
The Fathers on Psalms 72
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 72:1Saint Augustine of Hippo6. “How good is the God of Israel!” But to whom? “To men right in heart” (ver. 1). To men perverse what? Perverse He seemeth. So also in another Psalm He saith: “With a holy man holy Thou shalt be, and with the innocent man innocent Thou shalt be, and with the perverse man perverse Thou shalt be.” What is, perverse Thou shalt be with the perverse man? Perverse the perverse man shall think Thee. Not that by any…
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On Psalms 72:2Saint Augustine of Hippo7. But what to thee? “But my feet were almost moved” (ver. 2). When were the feet moved, except when the heart was not right? Whence was the heart not right? Hear: “My steps were well nigh overthrown.” What he hath meant by “almost,” the same he hath meant by “well nigh:” and what he hath meant by “my feet were almost moved,” the same he hath meant by “my steps were overthrown.” Almost my feet were moved, almost…
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On Psalms 72:3–5Saint Augustine of Hippo8. But why even this? “For I was jealous,” he saith, “in the case of sinners, looking on the peace of sinners” (ver. 3). I observed sinners, I saw them to have peace. What peace? Temporal, transient, falling, and earthly: but yet such as I also was desiring of God. I saw them that served not God to have that which I desired in order that I might serve God: and my feet were moved and my steps were almost…
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On Psalms 72:6Saint Augustine of Hippo9. Wherefore on this account what do these men, while they are not scourged, while they labour not with men? “Therefore,” he saith “there hath holden them pride” (ver. 6). Observe these men, proud, undisciplined; observe the bull, devoted for a victim, suffered to stray at liberty; and to damage whatever he may, even up to the day of his slaughter. Now it is a good thing, brethren, that we should hear in the very…
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On Psalms 72:7Saint Augustine of Hippo10. At first these men are being described. “There shall go forth as if out of fat their iniquity” (ver. 7).…A poor beggar committeth a theft; out of leanness hath gone forth the iniquity: but when a rich man aboundeth in so many things, why doth he plunder the things of others? Of the former the iniquity out of leanness, of the other out of fatness, hath gone forth. Therefore to the lean man when thou sayest,…
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On Psalms 72:8Saint Augustine of Hippo11. “They have thought and have spoken spitefulness” (ver. 8). But men do speak spitefulness even with fear: but these men how? “Iniquity on high they have spoken.” Not only they have spoken iniquity; but even openly, in the hearing of all, proudly; “I will do it;” “I will show you;” “thou shalt know with whom thou hast to do;” “I will not let thee live.” Thou mightest have but thought such things, not have given…
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On Psalms 72:9Saint Augustine of Hippo12. “They have set against Heaven their mouth, and their tongue hath passed over above the earth” (ver. 9). For this, “hath passed over above the earth” is, they pass over all earthly things? What is it to pass over all earthly things? He doth not think of himself as a man that can die suddenly, when he is speaking; he doth menace as if he were alway to live: his thought doth transcend earthly frailty, he knoweth…
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On Psalms 72:10Saint Augustine of Hippo13. “Therefore there shall return hither My people” (ver. 10). Now Asaph himself is returning hither. For he saw these things abound to unrighteous men, he saw them abound to proud men: he is returning to God, and is beginning to inquire and discuss. But when? “When full days shall be found in them.” What is “full days”? “But when there came the fulness of time, God sent His Son.” This is the very fulness of…
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On Psalms 72:11–12Saint Augustine of Hippo14. “And they said, How hath God known, and is there knowledge in the Most High?” (ver. 11). See through what thought they pass. Behold unjust men are happy, God doth not care for things human. Doth He indeed know what we do? See what things are being said. We are inquiring, brethren, “How hath God known,” etc. (no longer let Christians say it). For how doth it appear to thee that God knoweth not, and that there…
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On Psalms 72:13Saint Augustine of Hippo15. “And I said, therefore without cause I have justified my heart” (ver. 13). In that I serve God, and have not these things; they serve him not, and they abound in these things: “therefore without cause I have justified my heart, and have washed among the innocent my hands.” This without cause I have done. Where is the reward of my good life? Where is the wage of my service? I live well and am in need; and the…
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On Psalms 72:15–16Saint Augustine of Hippo16. “If I said, I shall declare thus; behold, the generation of Thy sons I have reprobated” (ver. 15): that is, I will teach thus. How wilt thou teach? that there is no knowledge in the Most High, that God doth not know? Wilt thou propound this opinion, that without cause men live justly who do live justly; that a just man hath lost his service, because God doth more show favour to evil men, or else He doth care…
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On Psalms 72:17Saint Augustine of Hippo17. …And he hath done this; for he saith how long labour is before him; “until I enter into the sanctuary of God, and understand upon the last things” (ver. 17). A great thing it is, brethren: now for a long time I labour, he saith, and before my face I see a sort of insuperable labour, to know in what manner both God is just, and doth care for things human, and is not unjust because men sinning and doing wicked…
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On Psalms 72:18Saint Augustine of Hippo18. To wit, “because of deceitfulness Thou hast set upon them” (ver. 18). Because deceitful they are, that is fraudulent; because deceitful they are, they suffer deceits. What is this, because fraudulent they are they suffer a fraud? They desire to play a fraud upon mankind in all their naughtinesses, they themselves also suffer a fraud, in choosing earthly good things, and in forsaking the eternal. Therefore,…
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On Psalms 72:19–20Saint Augustine of Hippo19. “How have they become a desolation suddenly?” (ver. 19). He is wondering at them, understanding unto the last things. “They have vanished.” Truly like smoke, which while it mounteth upward, doth vanish, so they have vanished. How doth he say, “They have vanished”? In the manner of one who understandeth the last things: “they have perished because of their iniquity.” “Like as the dream of one rising up” (ver.…
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On Psalms 72:21–22Saint Augustine of Hippo20. “Because my heart was delighted” (ver. 21). He is saying with what things he is tempted: “because my heart was delighted,” he saith, “my reins also were changed.” When those temporal things delighted me, my reins were changed. It may also be understood thus: “because my heart was delighted” in God, “my reins also were changed, that is, my lusts were changed, and I became wholly chaste. “My reins were…
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On Psalms 72:22Saint Augustine of Hippo21. What is, “I knew not”? “As it were a beast I became to Thee, and I am alway with Thee” (ver. 23). There is a great difference between this man and others. He became as it were a beast in longing for earthly things, when being brought to nothing he knew not things eternal: but he departed not from his God, because he did not desire these things of demons, of the devil. For this I have already brought to your…
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On Psalms 72:25Saint Augustine of Hippo23. And he is beginning to think of that same Heavenly felicity, and to reprove himself, because he hath been a beast, and hath longed for things earthly. “For what have I in Heaven, and from Thee what have I willed upon earth?” (ver. 25). By your voice I see that ye have understood. He compared with his earthly will the heavenly reward which he is to receive; he saw what was there being reserved for him; and…
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On Psalms 72:26Saint Augustine of Hippo24. “My heart and my flesh hath failed, O God of my heart” (ver. 26). This then for me in Heaven hath been reserved, “God of my heart, and my portion is my God.” What is it, brethren? Let us find out our riches, let mankind choose their parts. Let us see men torn with diversity of desires: let some choose war-service, some advocacy, some divers and sundry offices of teaching, some merchandise, some farming, let…
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On Psalms 72:27Saint Augustine of Hippo25. “Behold, they that put themselves afar from Thee shall perish” (ver. 27). He therefore departed from God, but not far: for “I have become as it were a beast,” he saith, and “I am alway with Thee.” But they have departed afar, because not only things earthly they have desired, but have sought them from demons and the Devil. “They that put themselves afar from Thee shall perish.” And what is it, to become afar…
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On Psalms 72:28Open Psalms 72 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 Hippo26. But thou doest what? “But for me to cleave to God is a good thing” (ver. 28). This is whole good. Will ye have more? I grieve at your willing. Brethren, what will ye have more? Than to cleave to God nothing is better, when we shall see Him face to face. But now what? For yet as a stranger I am speaking: “to cleave,” he saith, “to God is a good thing:” but now in my sojourning (for not yet hath come the…
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