Psalms 93
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 93 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.
19 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (3) follow the text.
Psalms 93
1(94) A Psalm of David for the fourth day of the week. The Lord is a God of vengeance; the God of vengeance * has declared himself.Ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυὶδ τετράδι σαββάτου. Θεὸς ἐκδικήσεων Κύριος, ὁ Θεὸς ἐκδικήσεων ἐπαῤῥησιάσατο.
2Be you exalted, you that judge the earth: render a reward to the proud.Ὑψώθητι ὁ κρίνων τὴν γῆν, ἀπόδος ἀνταπόδοσιν τοῖς ὑπερηφάνοις.
3How long shall sinners, O Lord, how long shall sinners boast?Ἕως πότε ἁμαρτωλοὶ, Κύριε, ἕως πότε ἁμαρτωλοὶ καυχήσονται;
4They will utter and speak unrighteousness; all the workers of iniquity will speak so.Φθέγξονται καὶ λαλήσουσιν ἀδικίαν, λαλήσουσι πάντες οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν.
5They have afflicted your people, O Lord, and hurt your heritage.Τὸν λαόν σου, Κύριε, ἐταπείνωσαν, καὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν σου ἐκάκωσαν.
6They have slain the widow and fatherless, and murdered the stranger.Χήραν καὶ ὀρφανὸν ἀπέκτειναν, καὶ προσήλυτον ἐφόνευσαν.
7And they said, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob understand.Καὶ εἶπαν, οὐκ ὄψεται Κύριος, οὐδὲ συνήσει ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ Ἰακώβ.
8Understand now, you simple among the people; and you fools, at length be wise.Σύνετε δὴ ἄφρονες ἐν τῷ λαῷ, καὶ μωροὶ, ποτὲ φρονήσατε.
9He that planted the ear, does he not hear? or he that formed the eye, does not he perceive?Ὁ φυτεύσας τὸ οὖς, οὐχὶ ἀκούει; ἢ ὁ πλάσας τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν, οὐχὶ κατανοεῖ;
10He that chastises the heathen, shall not he punish, even he that teaches man knowledge?Ὁ παιδεύων ἔθνη, οὐχὶ ἐλέγξει; ὁ διδάσκων ἄνθρωπον γνῶσιν;
11✡ The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vain.Κύριος γινώσκει τοὺς διαλογισμοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅτι εἰσὶ μάταιοι.
12Blessed is the man whoever you shall chasten, O Lord, and shall teach him out of your law;Μακάριος ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὃν ἂν σὺ παιδεύσῃς Κύριε, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ νόμου σου διδάξῃς αὐτόν·
13to give him rest from evil days, until a pit be digged for the sinful one.τοῦ πραΰναι αὐτῷ ἀφʼ ἡμερῶν πονηρῶν, ἕως οὗ ὀρυγῇ τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ βόθρος.
14For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance;Ὅτι οὐκ ἀπώσεται Κύριος τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψει,
15until righteousness return to judgment, and all the upright in heart shall follow it. Pause.ἕως οὗ δικαιοσύνη ἐπιστρέψῃ εἰς κρίσιν, καὶ ἐχόμενοι αὐτῆς πάντες οἱ εὐθεῖς τῇ καρδίᾳ· διάψαλμα.
16Who will rise up for me against the transgressors? or who will stand up with me against the workers of iniquity?Τίς ἀναστήσεταί μοι ἐπὶ πονηρευομένους, ἢ τίς συμπαραστήσεταί μοι ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐργαζομένους τὴν ἀνομίαν;
17If the Lord had not helped me, my soul had almost sojourned in Hades.Εἰ μὴ ὅτι Κύριος ἐβοήθησέ μοι, παραβραχὺ παρῴκησε τῷ ᾅδῃ ἡ ψυχή μου.
18If I said, My foot has been moved;Εἰ ἔλεγον, σεσάλευται ὁ πούς μου, τὸ ἔλεός σου Κύριε ἐβοήθει μοι.
19your mercy, O Lord, helped me. O Lord, according to the multitude of my griefs within my heart, your consolation have † soothed my soul.Κύριε, κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ὀδυνῶν μου ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ μου, αἱ παρακλήσεις σου ἠγάπησαν τὴν ψυχήν μου.
20Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with you, which frames mischief by an ordinance?Μὴ συμπροσέσται σοι θρόνος ἀνομίας, ὁ πλάσσων κόπον ἐπὶ προστάγματι.
21They will hunt for the soul of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.Θηρεύσουσιν ἐπὶ ψυχὴν δικαίου, καὶ αἷμα ἀθῶον καταδικάσονται.
22But the Lord was my refuge; and my God the helper of my hope.Καὶ ἐγένετό μοι Κύριος εἰς καταφυγὴν, καὶ ὁ Θεός μου εἰς βοηθὸν ἐλπίδος μου.
23And he will recompense to them their iniquity and their wickedness: the Lord our God shall utterly destroy them.Καὶ ἀποδώσει αὐτοῖς τὴν ἀνομίαν αὐτῶν, καὶ τὴν πονηρίαν αὐτῶν· ἀφανιεῖ αὐτοὺς Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν.
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. 1*Gr. plural, bis.
- v. 11✡1 Cor 3:20
- v. 19†Lit. 'have loved'. Alex. ἠὺφπαναν, 'have gladdened'.
The Fathers on Psalms 93
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 93:1Saint Augustine of Hippo3. Let us now attend to the Psalm. “The Lord is the God of vengeance; the God of vengeance hath dealt confidently” (ver. 1). Dost thou think that He doth not punish? “The God of vengeance” punisheth. What is, “The God of vengeance”? The God of punishments. Thou murmurest surely because the bad are not punished: yet do not murmur, lest thou be among those who are punished. That man hath committed a theft, and…
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On Psalms 93:2Saint Augustine of Hippo4. And what followed, because He dealt confidently? “Be exalted, Thou Judge of the world” (ver. 2). Because they imprisoned Him when humble, thinkest thou they will imprison Him when exalted? Because they judged Him when mortal, will they not be judged by Him when immortal? What then saith He? “Be exalted,” Thou, who hast dealt confidently, the confidence of whose word the wicked bore not, but thought they did a…
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On Psalms 93:3–4Saint Augustine of Hippo5. “Lord, how long shall the ungodly, how long shall the ungodly triumph?” (ver. 3). “They answer, and will speak wickedness, they all will speak that work unrighteousness” (ver. 4). What is their saying, but against God, when they say: What profiteth it us that we live thus? What wilt thou reply? Doth God truly regard our deeds? For because they live, they imagine that God knoweth not their actions. Behold, what…
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On Psalms 93:5–6Saint Augustine of Hippo6. …“They have humbled Thy people, O Lord; and have troubled Thine heritage” (ver. 5). “They have murdered the widow, and the fatherless: and slain the proselyte” (ver. 6); that is, the traveller, the pilgrim: the comer from far, as the Psalmist calleth himself. Each of these expressions is too clear in meaning to make it worth while to dwell upon them.
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On Psalms 93:7Saint Augustine of Hippo7. “And they have said, The Lord shall not see” (ver. 7): He observeth not, regardeth not these things: He careth for other matters, He understandeth not. These are the two assertions of the wicked: one which I have just quoted, “These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue, and thou thoughtest unrighteousness, that I will be like thyself.” What meaneth, “that I will be like thyself”? Thou thinkest that I…
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On Psalms 93:8Saint Augustine of Hippo8. “Take heed now, ye that are unwise among the people: O ye fools, some time understand!” (ver. 8). He teacheth His people whose feet might slip: any one among them seeth the prosperity of the wicked, himself living well among the Saints of God, that is, among the number of the sons of the Church: he seeth that the wicked flourish, and work iniquity, he envieth, and is led to follow them in their actions;…
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On Psalms 93:9Saint Augustine of Hippo9. “He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? or He that made the eye, doth He not consider?” (ver. 9) “or He that instructeth the nations, shall He not reprove?” (ver. 10). This is what God is at present doing: He is instructing the nations: for this reason he sent His word to man throughout the world: He sent it by Angels, by Patriarchs, by Prophets, by servants, through so many heralds going before the…
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On Psalms 93:11Saint Augustine of Hippo10. “The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are but vain” (ver. 11). For although thou knowest not the thoughts of God, that they are righteous; “He knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are but vain.” Even men have known the thoughts of God: but those to whom He hath become a friend, it is to them He showeth His counsel. Do not, brethren, despise yourselves: if ye approach the Lord with faith, ye hear…
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On Psalms 93:12Saint Augustine of Hippo11. “Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord: and teachest him from Thy law” (ver. 12). Behold, thou hast the counsel of God, wherefore He spareth the wicked: the pit is being digged for the sinner. Thou wishest to bury him at once: the pit is as yet being dug for him: do not be in haste to bury him. What mean the words, “until the pit be digged up for the sinner”? or whom doth He mean by sinner? One man?…
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On Psalms 93:13Saint Augustine of Hippo12. “That Thou mayest give him patience in days of malice: until the pit be digged up for the ungodly” (ver. 13). Have patience therefore every one, if thou art a Christian, in time of malice. Days of malice are those in which the ungodly appear to flourish, and the righteous to suffer; but the suffering of the righteous is the rod of the Father, and the prosperity of the ungodly is their own snare. For because…
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On Psalms 93:14Saint Augustine of Hippo13. …Do thou rejoice beneath the scourge: because the heritage is kept for thee, “for the Lord will not cast off His people” (ver. 14). He chasteneth for a season, He condemneth not for ever: the others He spareth for a season, and will condemn them for evermore. Make thy choice: dost thou wish temporary suffering, or eternal punishment? temporal happiness, or eternal life? What doth God threaten? Eternal…
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On Psalms 93:15Saint Augustine of Hippo14. “Until righteousness,” he saith, “turn again unto judgment, and all they that have it are right in heart” (ver. 15). Listen now, and gain righteousness: for judgment thou canst not yet have. Thou shouldest gain righteousness first; but that very righteousness of thine shall turn unto judgment. The Apostles had righteousness here on earth, and bore with the wicked. But what is said unto them? “Ye shall sit on…
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On Psalms 93:16Saint Augustine of Hippo15. “Who will rise up for me against the wicked? or who will take my part against the evil doers?” (ver. 16). Many persuade us to divers evils: the serpent ceaseth not to whisper to thee to work iniquity: whichever way thou shalt turn, if perchance thou hast done well, thou seekest to live well with some one, and thou hardly findest any one; many wicked men surround thee, for there are few grains of wheat, and…
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On Psalms 93:17Saint Augustine of Hippo16. “If the Lord,” he saith, “had not helped me: within a little my soul had dwelt in hell” (ver. 17). I had almost plunged into that pit which is preparing for sinners: that is, my soul had dwelt in hell. Because he already began to waver, and nearly to consent, he looked back unto the Lord. Suppose, for example’s sake, he was insulted to tempt him to iniquity. For sometimes the wicked flock together, and insult…
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On Psalms 93:18–19Saint Augustine of Hippo17. “If I said, My foot hath slipt; Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up” (ver. 18). See how God loveth confession. Thy foot hath slipt, and thou sayest not, my foot hath slipt; but thou sayest thou art firm, when thou art slipping. The moment thou beginnest to slip or waver, confess thou that slip, that thou mayest not bewail thy total fall; that He may help, so that thy soul be not in hell. God loveth confession,…
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On Psalms 93:20Saint Augustine of Hippo18. “Wilt Thou have anything to do with the stool of iniquity, who makest sorrow in learning?” (ver. 20). He hath said this, No wicked man sitteth with Thee, nor shalt Thou have anything to do with the stool of iniquity. And he giveth an account whereof he understandeth this, “For Thou makest sorrow in learning.” For from this, because Thou hast not spared us, do I understand that Thou hast nothing to do with the…
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On Psalms 93:21Saint Augustine of Hippo21. For what followeth? “They will be captious against the soul of the righteous” (ver. 21). Why will they be captious? Because they can find no true ground of accusation. For how were they captious against our Lord? They made up false accusations, because they could not find true ones. “And will condemn the innocent blood.” Why all this taketh place, he will show in the sequel.
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On Psalms 93:22Saint Augustine of Hippo22. “And the Lord is become my refuge” (ver. 22), he saith. Thou wouldest not seek such a refuge, if thou wert not in danger: but thou hast therefore been in danger, that thou mightest seek for it: for He teacheth us by sorrow. He causeth me tribulation from the malice of the wicked: pricked with that tribulation, I begin to seek a refuge which I had ceased to seek for in that worldly prosperity. For who, that is…
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On Psalms 93:23Open Psalms 93 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 Hippo23. “And the Lord shall recompense them according to their works, and after their own malice; the Lord our God shall destroy them” (ver. 23). The words, “after their own malice,” are not said without meaning. I am benefited through them: and yet it is said to be their malice, and not their benefits. For assuredly He trieth us, scourgeth us, by means of the wicked. To prepare us for what doth He scourge us?…
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