Psalm 36 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 36:2
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Psalm 36
The fountain of life
Verse 36:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:1] For the director. Of YHWH's servant, of David.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:1] For the end. Of the Lord's servant, of David.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The performance heading is interpreted differently; both identify David as God's servant.
Verse 36:2 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:2] An oracle of rebellion to the wicked is within my heart:
there is no dread of God before his eyes.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:2] The lawless person speaks within himself of sinning;
there is no fear of God before his eyes.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew retains my heart and personified rebellion; Greek has the lawless person speak within himself. Reception: Rashi understands the Hebrew as the psalmist's perception of the evil inclination addressing the wicked (RASHI-PS36, 36:2).
Verse 36:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:3] For it flatters him in his own eyes,
toward the finding of his iniquity and hatred.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:3] For he acted deceitfully in his sight,
as to finding his lawlessness and hating it.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The Hebrew subject can continue personified rebellion; Greek uses a personal deceiver. The subjects and objects in the final clauses remain difficult. Rashi reads rebellion's flattery as leading to God's finding guilt and hating the offender; this explanatory identification is not inserted into the verse (RASHI-PS36, 36:3). Category basis: The proposed personified/personal agents and the ending are uncertain. This is a difference of construal and agency, not added material; the qualified draft does not yet establish a major distinct outcome.
Verse 36:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:4] The words of his mouth are wrongdoing and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:4] The words of his mouth are lawlessness and deceit;
he was unwilling to understand so as to do good.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew describes cessation of wise action; Greek explicitly describes unwillingness to understand.
Verse 36:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:5] He devises wrongdoing upon his bed;
he takes his stand on a way that is not good;
he does not reject evil.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:5] He devised lawlessness upon his bed;
he stood by every way that was not good,
and he was not offended by wickedness.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek expands a bad way to every such way; the refusal to reject evil otherwise corresponds.
Verse 36:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:6] YHWH, Your steadfast love is in the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:6] Lord, Your mercy is in heaven,
and Your truth reaches the clouds.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Faithfulness and truth express related aspects of God's reliability.
Verse 36:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:7] Your righteousness is like mighty mountains;
Your judgment is a great deep.
You save human and beast, YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:7] Your righteousness is like mountains of God;
Your judgments are a great abyss.
You will save humans and beasts, Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew mighty mountains follows the intensive understanding of el, also explained by Rashi; Greek explicitly says of God (RASHI-PS36, 36:7). Hebrew judgment is singular in the accessed main text.
Verse 36:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:8] How precious is Your steadfast love, God!
Humankind takes refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:8] How You have multiplied Your mercy, God!
The sons of humankind will hope beneath the shelter of Your wings.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew praises the value of steadfast love; Greek its multiplication.
Verse 36:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:9] They drink their fill from the abundance of Your house;
You give them drink from the stream of Your delights.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:9] They will be intoxicated from the richness of Your house;
You will give them the torrent of Your delight to drink.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek intensifies drinking one's fill to intoxication and calls the stream a torrent.
Verse 36:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:10] For with You is the fountain of life;
in Your light we see light.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:10] For with You is a fountain of life;
in Your light we will see light.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The life-giving fountain and light agree.
Verse 36:11 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:11] Extend Your steadfast love to those who know You,
and Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:11] Extend Your mercy to those who know You,
and Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The petitions agree with the established steadfast love/mercy distinction.
Verse 36:12 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:12] Let the foot of pride not come upon me;
let the hand of the wicked not drive me away.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:12] Let a foot of arrogance not come against me;
let a hand of sinners not shake me.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both ask protection from arrogant displacement.
Verse 36:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[36:13] There the workers of wrongdoing have fallen;
they were thrust down and could not rise.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[35:13] There the workers of lawlessness fell;
they were expelled and will certainly not be able to stand.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek places the final inability in the future and strengthens its denial.