Psalm 5 — 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 5
Morning prayer for a straight path
Verse 5:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:1] For the director, for the Nehiloth. A psalm of David.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:1] For the end, concerning her who inherits. A psalm of David.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew הַנְּחִילוֹת is retained as an uncertain performance term; a particular instrument is not asserted. Greek has an explicitly feminine inheriting figure, whose identity is not supplied.
Verse 5:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:2] Give ear to my words, YHWH;
understand my murmuring.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:2] Give ear to my words, Lord;
understand my cry.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew הֲגִיגִי can concern meditation or murmuring; Greek κραυγῆς is an audible cry. Both ask attentive hearing.
Verse 5:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:3] Attend to the voice of my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to You I pray.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:3] Attend to the voice of my petition,
my King and my God,
for to You I will pray, Lord.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both name God as the speaker’s King. Greek places Lord at the end of this source verse; the corresponding Hebrew YHWH begins the next verse, and is retained there.
Verse 5:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:4] YHWH, in the morning You will hear my voice;
in the morning I will set things before You and watch.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:4] In the morning You will hear my voice;
in the morning I will stand before You and watch.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew אֶעֱרָךְ has the sense of arranging, with no expressed object; things minimally marks that ellipsis. Greek describes presenting oneself or standing ready. Neither column inserts an unexpressed sacrifice.
Verse 5:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:5] For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil will not sojourn with You.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:5] For You are not a God who desires lawlessness,
nor will an evildoer sojourn with You.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The rejection of evil corresponds. Hebrew evil can be abstract or personal; Greek explicitly names someone doing evil.
Verse 5:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:6] The boastful will not take their stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who work iniquity.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:6] The lawless will not remain before Your eyes;
You hated all who work lawlessness.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew names boastful or arrogant people; Greek names lawless people. Both explicitly direct hatred toward workers of wrong, without changing the object to deeds alone.
Verse 5:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:7] You destroy those who speak falsehood;
YHWH abhors a man of bloodshed and deceit.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:7] You will destroy all who speak falsehood;
the Lord abhors a man of bloodshed and deceit.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The destruction and abhorrence correspond; Greek explicitly has all. The second clause changes to third-person divine naming in both.
Verse 5:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:8] But I, through the abundance of Your steadfast love, will enter Your house;
I will bow toward Your holy temple in fear of You.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:8] But I, through the multitude of Your mercy, will enter Your house;
I will bow toward Your holy temple in fear of You.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Entrance, prostration and reverence correspond. Hebrew חֶסֶד and Greek ἔλεος retain their contextual renderings steadfast love and mercy.
Verse 5:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:9] YHWH, guide me in Your righteousness because of those who watch me;
make Your way straight before me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:9] Lord, guide me in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
direct Your way straight before me.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew’s hostile watchers and Greek’s enemies describe the opposition; the way requested is Your way in both.
Verse 5:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:10] For there is nothing trustworthy in his mouth;
their inward part is destruction.
Their throat is an open grave;
they smooth their tongue.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:10] For there is no truth in their mouth;
their heart is vain.
Their throat is an opened tomb;
with their tongues they practiced deceit.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew shifts from his mouth to their inward part; Greek uses plural possessors throughout. Destruction differs from vanity, and smoothing a tongue from explicitly practicing deceit; the grave-throat image corresponds.
Verse 5:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:11] Hold them guilty, God!
Let them fall through their counsels.
In the multitude of their transgressions, cast them out,
for they have rebelled against You.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:11] Judge them, God!
Let them fall away from their counsels.
According to the multitude of their impieties, drive them out,
for they provoked You bitterly, Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew asks that they be held guilty and links falling with their counsels; Greek says judge and fall away from counsels. Greek also explicitly addresses Lord and describes bitter provocation rather than rebellion.
Verse 5:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:12] Let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them sing for joy forever, and spread shelter over them.
Let those who love Your name exult in You.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:12] Let all who hope in You rejoice;
they will exult forever, and You will dwell among them.
All who love Your name will boast in You.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew asks protective covering, וְתָסֵךְ עָלֵימוֹ; Greek promises divine dwelling among them, κατασκηνώσεις ἐν αὐτοῖς. Both retain joy and love for the divine name.
Verse 5:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[5:13] For You bless the righteous one, YHWH;
with favor You surround him as with a shield.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[5:13] For You will bless the righteous one;
Lord, You crowned us as with a weapon of favor.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew surrounds him with shield-like favor; Greek crowns us and calls the protective object a weapon or defensive equipment. The shift to communal us and completed crowning are preserved.