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LXX Psalms

Septuagint

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Psalm 21

1 For the end, concerning the morning aid, a Psalm of David. 2 God, my God, attend to me: why have you forsaken me? the account of my transgressions is far from my salvation.⁠ 3 my God, I will cry to you by day, but you will not hear: and by night, and it shall not be accounted for folly to me. 4 But you, the praise of Israel, dwell in a sanctuary. 5 Our fathers hoped in you; they hoped, and you delivered them. 6 They cried to you, and were saved: they hoped in you, and were not ashamed. 7 But I am a worm, and not a man; a reproach of men, and scorn of the people.⁠ 8 All that saw me mocked me: they spoke with their lips, they shook the head, saying, 9 He hoped in the Lord: let him deliver him, let him save him, because he takes pleasure in him.⁠ 10 For you are he that drew me out of the womb; my hope from my mother's breasts. 11 I was cast on you from the womb: you are my God from my mother's belly. 12 Do not stand aloof from me; for affliction is near; for there is no helper. 13 Many bullocks have surrounded me: fat bulls have beset me round. 14 They have opened their mouth against me, as a ravening and roaring lion. 15 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are loosened: my heart in the midst of my belly has become like melting wax. 16 My strength is dried up, like a potsherd; and my tongue is glued to my throat; and you have brought me down to the dust of death. 17 For many dogs have surrounded me: the assembly of the wicked doers has beset me round: they pierced my hands and my feet.⁠ 18 I counted all my bones; and they observed and looked upon me. 19 They parted my garments among themselves, and cast lots upon my clothing. 20 But you, Lord, do not remove my help afar off: be ready for my aid. 21 Deliver my soul from the sword; my only-begotten one from the power of the dog. 22 Save me from the lion's mouth;⁠ and regard my lowliness from the horns of the unicorns. 23 I will declare your name to my brothers: in the midst of the church I will sing praise to you. 24 You that fear the Lord, praise him; all you seed of Jacob, glorify him: let all the seed of Israel fear him. 25 For he has not despised nor been angry at the plea of the poor; nor turned away his face from me; but when I cried to him, he heard me. 26 My praise is of you in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before those that fear him. 27 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their heart shall live for ever. 28 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord: and all the kindred of the nations shall worship before you. 29 For the kingdom is the Lord's; and he is the governor of the nations. 30 All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and worshiped: all that go down to the earth shall fall down before him: my soul also lives to him. 31 And my seed shall serve him: the generation that is coming shall be reported to the Lord. 32 And they shall report his righteousness to the people that shall be born, whom the Lord has made.

Texts in conversation

Compare LXX Psalms 21:22 and 2 Timothy 4:17

Septuagint · New Testament

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Summary

The Greek Septuagint translation of Psalm 21 includes a prayer to be saved from the mouth of the lion. 2 Timothy echoes this to describe being rescued from the lion’s mouth as a metaphor for trial.

Passages

LXX Psalms 21:22

Septuagint
21 Deliver my soul from the sword; my only-begotten one from the power of the dog. 22 Save me from the lion's mouth; and regard my lowliness from the horns of the unicorns. 23 I will declare your name to my brothers: in the midst of the church I will sing praise to you.
100–1 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in LXX Psalms

2 Timothy 4:17

New Testament
16 At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me—may they not be held accountable for it. 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion’s mouth! 18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen.
70–80 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 2 Timothy

References

“... Most likely the clue lies in the observation of the echoes of Psalm 22 throughout the passage (verses 9-18). Just as Paul had been deserted (verses 10, 16; compare Psalm 22:1), so he had been delivered—and will be delivered (verse 18; compare Psalm 22:4-5)—from the lion’s mouth (compare Psalm 22:21). If this is the proper clue, then he would be using the language of the psalm to refer to his being delivered from death. ...”
Gordon D. Fee, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, NIBC (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1988), 298.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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LXX Psalms 21:22 and 2 Timothy 4:17

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