Psalms 86
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 86 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. The translator's notes for this chapter (1) follow the text.
Psalms 86
1(87) A Psalm of a Song for the sons of Core. His foundations are in the holy mountains.Τοῖς υἱοῖς Κορὲ ψαλμὸς ᾠδῆς. Οἱ θεμέλιοι αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι τοῖς ἁγίοις.
2The Lord loves the gates of Sion, more than all the tabernacles of Jacob.Ἀγαπᾷ Κύριος τὰς πύλας Σιὼν, ὑπὲρ πάντα τὰ σκηνώματα Ἰακώβ.
3Glorious things have been spoken of you, O city of God. Pause.Δεδοξασμένα ἐλαλήθη περὶ σοῦ ἡ πόλις τοῦ Θεοῦ· διάψαλμα.
4I will make mention of Raab and Babylon to them that know me: behold also the Philistines, and Tyre, and the people of the Ethiopians: these were born there.Μνησθήσομαι Ῥαὰβ, καὶ Βαβυλῶνος, τοῖς γινώσκουσί με· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀλλόφυλοι καὶ Τύρος καὶ λαὸς Αἰθιόπων, οὗτοι ἐγεννήθησαν ἐκεῖ.
5A man shall say, Sion is my mother; and such a man was born in her; and the Highest himself has founded her.Μήτηρ Σιὼν ἐρεῖ ἄνθρωπος, καὶ ἄνθρωπος ἐγενήθη ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐθεμελίωσεν αὐτὴν ὁ ὕψιστος.
6The Lord shall recount it in the writing of the people, and of these princes that * were born in her.Κύριος διηγήσεται ἐν γραφῇ λαῶν, καὶ ἀρχόντων τούτων τῶν γεγενημένων ἐν αὐτῇ. διάψαλμα.
7The dwelling of all within you is as the dwelling of those that rejoice.Ὡς εὐφραινομένων πάντων ἡ κατοικία ἐν σοί.
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. 6*Gr. have been in her. * 87: Gr. understanding.
The Fathers on Psalms 86
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 86:1Saint Augustine of Hippo2. “Her foundations are upon the holy hills” (ver. 1). The Psalm had as yet said nothing of the city: it begins thus, and says, “Her foundations are upon the holy hills.” Whose? There can be no doubt that foundations, especially among the hills, belong to some city. Thus filled with the Holy Spirit, and with many thoughts of love and longing for that city, as if after long internal meditation, that citizen bursts…
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On Psalms 86:2Saint Augustine of Hippo4. “The Lord loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob” (ver. 2). I have made the foregoing remarks, that ye may not imagine the gates are one thing, the foundations another. Why are the Apostles and Prophets foundations? Because their authority is the support of our weakness. Why are they gates? because through them we enter the kingdom of God: for they proclaim it to us: and while we enter…
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On Psalms 86:3–4Saint Augustine of Hippo5. “Very excellent things are said of thee, thou city of God” (ver. 3). He was, as it were, contemplating that city of Jerusalem on earth: for consider what city he alludes to, of which certain very excellent things are spoken. Now the earthly city has been destroyed: after suffering the enemy’s rage, it fell to the earth; it is no longer what it was: it exhibited the emblem, and the shadow hath passed away.…
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On Psalms 86:5Saint Augustine of Hippo6. Listen now to a deep mystery. Rahab is there through Him, through whom also is Babylon, now no longer Babylon, but beginning to be Jerusalem. The daughter is divided against her mother, and will be among the members of that queen to whom is said, “Forget thine own people, and thy father’s house, so shall the king have pleasure in thy beauty.” For how could Babylon aspire to Jerusalem? How could Rahab reach…
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On Psalms 86:6Saint Augustine of Hippo7. As though it were said, How do ye know this? All of us have sung these Psalms: and Christ, Man for our sake, God before us, sings within us all. But is this much to say, “before us,” of Him who was before heaven and earth and time? He then, born for our sakes a man, in that city, also founded her when He was the Most High. Yet how are we assured of this? “The Lord shall rehearse it when He writeth up the…
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On Psalms 86:7Open Psalms 86 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 Hippo8. So thus, after drawing together and mingling every source of joyous exultation, how doth he conclude? “The dwelling as of all that shall be made joyous is in Thee” (ver. 7). As if all made joyous, all rejoicing, shall dwell in that city. Amid our journeyings here we suffer bruises: our last home shall be the home of joy alone. Toil and groans shall perish: prayers pass away, hymns of praise succeed. There…
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