Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Psalm 10

The Septuagint (LXX) was the accepted version of the Old Testament at the time of Christ and during the early church period. It was much later that the Masoretic Text (MT) became the basis for our English translations, which continues to this day in the Western church. The Eastern Orthodox Church stayed with the LXX. Conventional wisdom is that there were various textual versions of the paleo-Hebrew that were passed down, the LXX using one of them, perhaps the earliest. The MT is supposed to be based on alternate sources and to be superior. This claim is made without offering any sort of proof, however, and creates doubt regarding the preservation of the original inspired text.

It seems to me that God has already given us the answer. 70 – 80 % of the quotes from the Old Testament that are found in the New Testament come directly from the Septuagint, which is a divine affirmation of that version.

A very significant factor in making a decision regarding which version is better is that the MT sometimes omits or obscures references to Christ that are quoted from the LXX in the New Testament.

This makes one question the integrity and motives of the translators of the MT.

After perusing the MT alongside the LXX, I have discovered numerous textual differences, not just a few, but not all of them, or even the majority of them, have theological or Christological significance. My own “gut” feeling is that the LXX better. It seems more “literal” and believable. The conversations seem natural, and, perhaps most importantly, almost always the LXX provides the clearest references to Christ.

You can read about some of my insights after comparing numerous sections of scripture by clicking here. In this series on the LXX, I have done my best to compare and contrast significant passages. Here is an another example. The Septuagint version I am using is the Lexham English Septuagint 2nd Edition, which I like the best. It is available in print or through Logos Bible Software. Another favorite English version is that translated by Brenton, which uses an older style of English.

Masoretic Text	Septuagint	Significance
1 Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide in times of trouble? 2 The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. 3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD. 4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. Psalm 10:1–4 (NKJV)	22 Why, O Lord, have you withdrawn far from here? You disregard in seasons in affliction 23 When the ungodly one is arrogant, the poor one is burned. They are caught in the counsels with which they devise, 24 because the sinner praises himself in the desires of his soul, and the one doing wrong blesses himself. 25 The sinful one angered the Lord. According to the magnitude of his wrath he will not seek God. God is not before him. Psalm 9:22–25 (LES2)	I chose to compare the text of Psalm 10/9 not because of an omission or obfuscation of a Christological text but because this comparison is a good example of how much difference there is between the MT and LXX even when theological issues are not at stake. The first thing we notice is that the LXX simply continues Psalm 9, but the MT starts another psalm, thus making the rest of the psalms out of order until Psalm 148, when they realign. In verse 1/22, the MT says God hides himself in times of trouble. The LXX says he disregards when we are in seasons of affliction. In the next verse, the MT seems to take the literal words of David found in the LXX and reword them for us to make it read better. The rest of this passage does not seem to follow the same paleo-Hebrew document. As I have already argued, I believe the LXX is more reliable.
5 His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them. 6 He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.” 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity. Psalm 10:5–7 (NKJV)	26 His ways are profane in every season. Your judgments are removed from his face. He will gain dominion over all his enemies. 27 For he said in his heart, “I will not be afflicted, from generation to generation I will be without evil.” 28 Him whose curse and bitterness and guile fill his mouth, under his tongue are trouble and distress. Psalm 9:26–28 (LES2)	Death by a thousand cuts. These little changes add up to something quite big.
8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the secret places he murders the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless. 9 He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catch the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net. 10 So he crouches, he lies low, That the helpless may fall by his strength. Psalm 10:8–10 (NKJV)	29 He takes a position in ambush with the wealthy, in hidden places to kill the innocent one. His eyes gaze steadily toward the poor one. 30 He lies in wait with concealment as a lion in its den. He lies in wait to snatch away the poor, to snatch away the poor when he drags him in his net. In his trap 31 he will make him lowly. He will stoop down and fall when he gains dominion over the poor. Psalm 9:29–31 (LES2)	The MT sounds better, perhaps, but I lean toward the LXX for accuracy. Why should I not? Once we catch someone in a lie, we should not trust him or her going forward, unless there is clear evidence of repentance and transformation. The lie in which the MT has been caught refers to all the verses pointing to Christ that were changed.
11 He has said in his heart, “God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.” 12 Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble. 13 Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account.” Psalm 10:11–13 (NKJV)	32 For he said in his heart, “God has forgotten; he turned away his face so that he does not see in the end.” 33 Rise up, O Lord God. Lift up your hand. Do not forget the poor. 34 On what behalf did the ungodly provoke God? For he said in his heart, “He will not seek.” Psalm 9:32–34 (LES2)	Other than changing a few words, these passages agree in essence. If agreement was accomplished here, why not elsewhere in the psalm? Why does the MT make so many changes to prophetic portions of the Old Testament and to the psalms?
14 But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man; Seek out his wickedness until You find none. Psalm 10:14–15 (NKJV)	35 You see, for you will perceive distress and anger, to give them over into your hands. Therefore the poor one has been abandoned to you; for the orphan you were a helper. 36 Crush the arm of the sinner and evil one. His sin will be sought for, and he will not be found because of it. Psalm 9:35–36 (LES2)	As usual, the MT changes some verb tenses and words. The last part of verse 14/35 is problematic in the LXX. I think the MT captures the meaning in this case. Perhaps the LXX should have said, “The poor has abandoned himself to you.” Other than that, the passages align.
16 The LORD is King forever and ever; The nations have perished out of His land. 17 LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, 18 To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more. Psalm 10:16–18 (NKJV)	37 The Lord will rule for eternity and for eternity of eternity. The nations will perish from his earth. 38 The Lord heard the desire of the poor ones. Your ear paid heed to the preparation of their heart, 39 to judge for the orphan and for the low, so a person does not proceed further to boast upon the earth. Psalm 9:37–39 (LES2)	The LXX says the nations shall perish from the land / earth. The MT says the have perished. Verse 17-18/38-39 are quite different. As I said before, such variances makes one question what sources did the MT use that were so different from the LXX, or did they simply change the wording? The paleo-Hebrew Phoenician script had been a dead language for centuries before the MT was translated into the modern Hebrew block script derived from Aramaic. I see no reason to suppose the Masoretes had more accurate sources than the Seventy. I rather think they simply took greater liberties with the text, but that is just my opinion. You have to decide for yourself or let someone else decide for you, as most people do.