top Psalm 18 (19)
Greek: Septuagint (LXX)
English: John Barach
Psalm 18 (19)

Heading
Εἰς τὸ τέλος, ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ. For the end; a psalm for David.
The Witness of the Heavens
1 [MT=19:1] Οἱ οὐρανοὶ διηγοῦνται δόξαν θεοῦ, ποίησιν δὲ χειρῶν αὐτοῦ ἀναγγέλλει τὸ στερέωμα. 2 [MT=19:2] ἡμέρα τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐρεύγεται ῥῆμα, καὶ νὺξ νυκτὶ ἀναγγέλλει γνῶσιν. 3 [MT=19:3] οὐκ εἰσὶν λαλιαὶ οὐδὲ λόγοι, ὧν οὐχὶ ἀκούονται αἱ φωναὶ αὐτῶν. 4 [MT=19:4] εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος αὐτῶν, καὶ εἰς τὰ πέρατα τῆς οἰκουμένης τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν· ἐν τῷ ἡλίῳ ἔθετο τὸ σκήνωμα αὐτοῦ, 5 [MT=19:5] καὶ αὐτὸς ὡς νυμφίος ἐκπορευόμενος ἐκ παστοῦ αὐτοῦ· ἀγαλλιάσεται ὡς γίγας δραμεῖν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ. 6 [MT=19:6] ἀπ' ἄκρου τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἡ ἔξοδος αὐτοῦ· καὶ τὸ κατάντημα αὐτοῦ ἕως ἄκρου τοῦ οὐρανοῦ· καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὃς ἀποκρυβήσεται τὴν θέρμην αὐτοῦ. 18.1 [MT=19:1] The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. 18.2 [MT=19:2] Day unto day pours forth a word, and night unto night proclaims knowledge. 18.3 [MT=19:3] There are no speeches nor words whose voices are not heard. 18.4 [MT=19:4] Their sound went out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the sun He set His tent; 18.5 [MT=19:5] and he, like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, will exult as a giant to run his course. 18.6 [MT=19:6] His going forth is from the edge of heaven, and his circuit is unto the edge of heaven; and there is no one who shall be hidden from his heat.
The Perfection of the Law
7 [MT=19:7] Ὁ νόμος τοῦ κυρίου ἄμωμος ἐπιστρέφων ψυχάς, ἡ μαρτυρία κυρίου πιστή σοφίζουσα νήπια. 8 [MT=19:8] τὰ δικαιώματα κυρίου εὐθεῖα εὐφραίνοντα καρδίαν, ἡ ἐντολὴ κυρίου τηλαυγής φωτίζουσα ὀφθαλμούς. 9 [MT=19:9] ὁ φόβος κυρίου ἁγνός διαμένων εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνος, τὰ κρίματα κυρίου ἀληθινά δεδικαιωμένα ἐπὶ1 τὸ αὐτό· 10 [MT=19:10] ἐπιθυμητὰ ὑπὲρ χρυσίον καὶ λίθον τίμιον πολύν, καὶ γλυκύτερα ὑπὲρ μέλι καὶ κηρίον. 11 [MT=19:11] καὶ γὰρ ὁ δοῦλός σου φυλάσσει αὐτά, ἐν τῷ φυλάσσειν αὐτὰ ἀνταπόδοσις πολλή. 18.7 [MT=19:7] The law of the Lord is blameless, converting souls; the testimony of the Lord is faithful, making infants wise. 18.8 [MT=19:8] The ordinances of the Lord are upright, gladdening the heart; the commandment of the Lord is far-shining, enlightening the eyes. 18.9 [MT=19:9] The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever and ever; the judgments of the Lord are true, justified altogether. 18.10 [MT=19:10] More to be desired than gold and much precious stone, and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. 18.11 [MT=19:11] For indeed Your servant guards them; in guarding them there is great reward.
The Prayer for Purity
12 [MT=19:12] Παραπτώματα τίς συνήσει; ἐκ τῶν κρυφίων μου καθάρισόν με, 13 [MT=19:13] καὶ ἀπὸ ἀλλοτρίων φεῖσαι τοῦ δούλου σου· ἐὰν μή μου κατακυριεύσωσιν, τότε ἄμωμος ἔσομαι, καὶ καθαρισθήσομαι ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας μεγάλης. 14 [MT=19:14] καὶ ἔσονται εἰς εὐδοκίαν τὰ λόγια τοῦ στόματός μου, καὶ ἡ μελέτη τῆς καρδίας μου ἐνώπιόν σου διαπαντός· κύριε βοηθέ μου, καὶ λυτρωτά μου. 18.12 [MT=19:12] Who will understand transgressions? Cleanse me from my hidden [sins], 18.13 [MT=19:13] and spare Your servant from strangers; if they do not lord it over me, then I shall be blameless, and I shall be cleansed from great sin. 18.14 [MT=19:14] And the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart shall be for [Your] good-will before You continually, O Lord, my helper and my redeemer.