Psalms 116:10

“I believed, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted.””
Psalms 116:10 · direct translation from the Hebrew

With the Hebrew beneath

I believed,הֶאֱמַנְתִּיeven whenכִּיI said,אֲדַבֵּר“Iאֲנִיam greatly afflicted.”עָנִיתִי מְאֹד

Paul quotes “I believed, therefore I spoke.” The Hebrew of Psalm 116:10 says “I believed, even when I said…”.

Formula: κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον “according to what is written” (2 Corinthians 4:13)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: Ἔχοντες δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πίστεως κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον Ἐπίστευσα διὸ ἐλάλησα καὶ ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν διὸ καὶ λαλοῦμεν

Hebrew (Masoretic text): הֶאֱמַנְתִּי כִּי אֲדַבֵּר אֲנִי עָנִיתִי מְאֹד

This passage could not be located with certainty in the transcription of the Septuagint we use, so it is not compared.

I believedהֶאֱמַנְתִּיheemanti

believe

To rely on someone and on what they say: Abram with YHWH.

I saidאֲדַבֵּרadaber

speak

To speak, say something; above all God to his people.

am greatly afflictedעָנִיתִיaniti

afflict

To make suffer, oppress.

am greatly afflictedמְאֹדmeod

very

To a very high degree: the word that adds force to what is said.

The Hebrew can also be understood “I believed, therefore I spoke.” That is how the apostle Paul quotes it in 2 Corinthians 4:13.

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Paul quotes “I believed, therefore I spoke.” The Hebrew of Psalm 116:10 says “I believed, even when I said…”.

See them side by side

Psalms 116:10

¹⁰I believed, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted.”

¹³And having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,

9I will walk before YHWH in the lands of the living.

10 · This verse (above)

11I said in my alarm, “Every human being is a liar.”