Psalm 33 — Hebrew and Greek compared
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 33
The word that establishes the heavens
Verse 33:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:1] Shout for joy in YHWH, righteous ones;
praise is fitting for the upright.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:1] Of David.
Exult in the Lord, righteous ones;
praise is fitting for the upright.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Only Greek supplies the Davidic superscription; it is retained as part of its first source verse.
Verse 33:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:2] Give thanks to YHWH with the lyre;
make music to Him with a ten-stringed harp.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:2] Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
make music to Him with a ten-stringed psaltery.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both prescribe stringed instruments and retain the number ten; instrument names are not exact modern equivalents.
Verse 33:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:3] Sing Him a new song;
play skillfully with a joyful shout.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:3] Sing Him a new song;
make music well with a shout of triumph.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The musical command and new song agree; the cry has slightly different associations.
Verse 33:4 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:4] For YHWH's word is upright,
and all His work is in faithfulness.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:4] For the Lord's word is upright,
and all His works are in faithfulness.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The Hebrew collective work corresponds to Greek plural works.
Verse 33:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:5] He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of YHWH's steadfast love.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:5] He loves mercy and judgment;
the earth is full of the Lord's mercy.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew names righteousness in the first line; Greek names merciful action.
Verse 33:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:6] By YHWH's word the heavens were made,
and by the breath of His mouth all their host.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:6] By the Lord's word the heavens were established,
and by the spirit of His mouth all their power.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Making and establishing differ, as do host and power. Breath/spirit translates each source term without inserting a later doctrinal identification.
Verse 33:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:7] He gathers the sea's waters like a heap;
He places the deeps in storehouses.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:7] He gathers the sea's waters like a wineskin;
He places abysses in storehouses.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew compares the gathered waters to a heap; Greek uses a skin container.
Verse 33:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:8] Let all the earth fear YHWH;
let all who inhabit the world stand in dread of Him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:8] Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all who inhabit the world be shaken before Him.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both call the whole inhabited world to fearful reverence.
Verse 33:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:9] For He spoke, and it came to be;
He commanded, and it stood.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:9] For He spoke, and they came to be;
He commanded, and they were created.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek explicitly says created and uses plural subjects; Hebrew ends with standing.
Verse 33:10 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:10] YHWH frustrates the counsel of nations;
He thwarts the plans of peoples.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:10] The Lord scatters the counsels of nations;
He nullifies the plans of peoples
and nullifies the counsels of rulers.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek adds the distinct final clause about rulers; no Hebrew counterpart is supplied.
Verse 33:11 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:11] YHWH's counsel stands forever,
the plans of His heart from generation to generation.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:11] But the Lord's counsel remains forever,
the plans of His heart from generation to generation.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Standing and remaining convey the same enduring divine purpose.
Verse 33:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:12] Blessed is the nation whose God is YHWH,
the people He chose as His own inheritance.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:12] Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people He chose as an inheritance for Himself.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both bless the people chosen by God as His inheritance.
Verse 33:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:13] From heaven YHWH looked down;
He saw all the children of humankind.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:13] From heaven the Lord looked down;
He saw all the sons of humankind.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The universal divine observation agrees.
Verse 33:14 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:14] From His established dwelling place He gazed
upon all who inhabit the earth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:14] From His prepared dwelling place He looked
upon all who inhabit the earth.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The dwelling is established in Hebrew and prepared in Greek.
Verse 33:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:15] He fashions their hearts together;
He understands all their deeds.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:15] He formed their hearts individually;
He understands all their deeds.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew together and Greek individually frame the formation of human hearts differently; both affirm knowledge of deeds.
Verse 33:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:16] A king is not saved by a great army;
a mighty warrior is not delivered by great strength.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:16] A king is not saved through a great force,
and a giant will not be saved by the abundance of his strength.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek names a giant where Hebrew names a mighty warrior, preserving different imagery.
Verse 33:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:17] A horse is a false hope for deliverance;
with all its great might it cannot rescue.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:17] A horse is false for salvation,
and by the abundance of its power it will not be saved.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew denies the horse's power to rescue; Greek's passive verb denies being saved, leaving the immediate subject as the horse.
Verse 33:18 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:18] Look, YHWH's eye is upon those who fear Him,
upon those who wait for His steadfast love,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:18] Look, the Lord's eyes are upon those who fear Him,
those who hope in His mercy,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Eye/eyes and waiting/hoping differ slightly; the recipients are the same.
Verse 33:19 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:19] to deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:19] to rescue their souls from death
and nourish them in famine.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both explain divine watchfulness as deliverance from death and sustenance in famine.
Verse 33:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:20] Our soul waits for YHWH;
He is our help and our shield.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:20] Our soul waits for the Lord,
for He is our helper and defender.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek expresses the Hebrew shield metaphor through the role of defender.
Verse 33:21 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:21] For our heart rejoices in Him,
for we have trusted in His holy name.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:21] For our heart will rejoice in Him,
and we have hoped in His holy name.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both connect joy with reliance on God's holy name.
Verse 33:22 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[33:22] Let Your steadfast love, YHWH, be upon us,
as we have waited for You.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[32:22] May Your mercy, Lord, be upon us,
just as we have hoped in You.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The closing prayer and its dependence on expectant trust agree.