Psalm 89

Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

1I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.footnote afootnote b

2For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

3I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,

4Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.

5And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

6For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?

7God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

8O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

9Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

10Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.footnote cfootnote d

11The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.footnote e

12The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

13Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.footnote f

14Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.footnote g

15Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

16In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

17For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

18For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.footnote h

19Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

20I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

21With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.

22The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

23And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

24But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

25I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

26He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

27Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

28My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

29His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

30If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

31If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;footnote i

32Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

33Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.footnote jfootnote k

34My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

35Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.footnote l

36His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.

37It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

38But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

39Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

40Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.

41All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.

42Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.

43Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.

44Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.footnote m

45The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

46How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

47Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

48What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

49Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?

50Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;

51Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.

52Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

I Will Sing of His Love Forever

A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

1I will sing of the loving devotion of the LORD forever;with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations. 2For I have said, “Loving devotion is built up forever;in the heavens You establish Your faithfulness.”

3You said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one,I have sworn to David My servant: 4‘I will establish your offspring foreverand build up your throne for all generations.’”Selah 5The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD—Your faithfulness as well—in the assembly of the holy ones. 6For who in the skies can compare with the LORD?Who among the heavenly beingsfootnote ais like the LORD? 7In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared,and awesome above all who surround Him.

8O LORD God of Hosts, who is like You?O mighty LORD, Your faithfulness surrounds You. 9You rule the raging sea;when its waves mount up, You still them. 10You crushed Rahab like a carcass;You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm. 11The heavens are Yours, and also the earth.The earth and its fullness You founded. 12North and south You created;Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.

13Mighty is Your arm; strong is Your hand.Your right hand is exalted. 14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.

15Blessed are those who know the joyful sound,who walk, O LORD, in the light of Your presence. 16They rejoice in Your name all day long,and in Your righteousness they exult. 17For You are the glory of their strength,and by Your favor our horn is exalted. 18Surely our shield belongs to the LORD,and our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19You once spoke in a vision;to Your godly ones You said,“I have bestowed help on a warrior;I have exalted one chosen from the people. 20I have found My servant David;with My sacred oil I have anointed him. 21My hand will sustain him;surely My arm will strengthen him.

22No enemy will exact tribute;no wicked man will oppress him. 23I will crush his foes before himand strike down those who hate him. 24My faithfulness and loving devotion will be with him,and through My name his horn will be exalted. 25I will set his hand over the sea,and his right hand upon the rivers. 26He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father,my God, the Rock of my salvation.’

27I will indeed appoint him as My firstborn,the highest of the kings of the earth. 28I will forever preserve My loving devotion for him,and My covenant with him will stand fast. 29I will establish his line forever,his throne as long as the heavens endure.

30If his sons forsake My lawand do not walk in My judgments, 31if they violate My statutesand fail to keep My commandments, 32I will attend to their transgression with the rod,and to their iniquity with stripes.

33But I will not withdraw My loving devotion from him,nor ever betray My faithfulness. 34I will not violate My covenantor alter the utterance of My lips. 35Once and for all I have sworn by My holiness—I will not lie to David— 36his offspring shall endure forever,and his throne before Me like the sun, 37like the moon, established forever,a faithful witness in the sky.”Selah 38Now, however, You have spurned and rejected him;You are enraged by Your anointed one. 39You have renounced the covenant with Your servantand sullied his crown in the dust. 40You have broken down all his walls;You have reduced his strongholds to rubble. 41All who pass by plunder him;he has become a reproach to his neighbors.

42You have exalted the right hand of his foes;You have made all his enemies rejoice. 43You have bent the edge of his swordand have not sustained him in battle. 44You have ended his splendorand cast his throne to the ground. 45You have cut short the days of his youth;You have covered him with shame.Selah 46How long, O LORD?Will You hide Yourself forever?Will Your wrath keep burning like fire? 47Remember the briefness of my lifespan!For what futility You have created all men! 48What man can live and never see death?Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?Selah 49Where, O Lord, is Your loving devotion of old,which You faithfully swore to David? 50Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants,which I bear in my heart from so many people— 51how Your enemies have taunted, O LORD,and have mocked every step of Your anointed one!

52Blessed be the LORD forever!Amen and amen.