King James Version

Psalms 11:3

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

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Hebrew

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כִּ֣יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…הַ֭שָּׁתוֹתhashatotthe foundationשָׁתָהdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “the foundation”, the ordinary formH8356a basis, i.e. (figuratively) political or moral supportfoundation, purpose.יֵֽהָרֵס֑וּןyeharesunbreakהָרַסverb, niphal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural, paragogic nun — “break”, an unfinished actionH2040to pull down or in pieces, break, destroybeat down, break (down, through), destroy, overthrow, pluck down, pull down, ruin, throw down, [idiom] utterly.צַ֝דִּ֗יקtsadiqjustצַדִּיקadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “just”, the ordinary formH6662justjust, lawful, righteous (man).מַהmahhowמָהparticle, interrogative — “how”H4100properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senseshow (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.פָּעָֽלpaaldoפָּעַלverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “do”, a completed actionH6466to do or make (systematically and habitually), especially to practisecommit, (evil-) do(-er), make(-r), ordain, work(-er).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

When the foundations are destroyed, what hath the righteous wrought?

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?

Young’s Literal Translation

When the foundations are destroyed, The righteous — what hath he done?

World English Bible

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Darby Translation

If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?

Douay-Rheims

They have spoken vain things every one to his neighbour: with deceitful lips, and with a double heart have they spoken.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

When the foundations are destroyed, what hath the righteous wrought?

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For they have pulled down what thou didst frame, but what has the righteous done?

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὅτι ἃ κατηρτίσω καθεῖλον, ὁ δὲ δίκαιος τί ἐποίησε;