Psalm 89

Psalm 89

A psalm of Ethan the Ezrahite.

1 I will sing of the LORD’s unfailing love forever!
Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.2 Your unfailing love will last forever.
Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.3 The LORD said, “I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant.
I have sworn this oath to him:4 ‘I will establish your descendants as kings forever;
they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.’”
Interlude5 All heaven will praise your great wonders, LORD;
myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness.6 For who in all of heaven can compare with the LORD?
What mightiest angel is anything like the LORD?7 The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God.
He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.8 O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies!
Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O LORD?
You are entirely faithful.9 You rule the oceans.
You subdue their storm-tossed waves.10 You crushed the great sea monster.t
You scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.11 The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours;
everything in the world is yours—you created it all.12 You created north and south.
Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon praise your name.13 Powerful is your arm!
Strong is your hand!
Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.
Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.15 Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,
for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.16 They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.
They exult in your righteousness.17 You are their glorious strength.
It pleases you to make us strong.18 Yes, our protection comes from the LORD,
and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king.19 Long ago you spoke in a vision to your faithful people.
You said, “I have raised up a warrior.
I have selected him from the common people to be king.20 I have found my servant David.
I have anointed him with my holy oil.21 I will steady him with my hand;
with my powerful arm I will make him strong.22 His enemies will not defeat him,
nor will the wicked overpower him.23 I will beat down his adversaries before him
and destroy those who hate him.24 My faithfulness and unfailing love will be with him,
and by my authority he will grow in power.25 I will extend his rule over the sea,
his dominion over the rivers.26 And he will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’27 I will make him my firstborn son,
the mightiest king on earth.28 I will love him and be kind to him forever;
my covenant with him will never end.29 I will preserve an heir for him;
his throne will be as endless as the days of heaven.30 But if his descendants forsake my instructions
and fail to obey my regulations,31 if they do not obey my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,32 then I will punish their sin with the rod,
and their disobedience with beating.33 But I will never stop loving him
nor fail to keep my promise to him.34 No, I will not break my covenant;
I will not take back a single word I said.35 I have sworn an oath to David,
and in my holiness I cannot lie:36 His dynasty will go on forever;
his kingdom will endure as the sun.37 It will be as eternal as the moon,
my faithful witness in the sky!”
Interlude38 But now you have rejected him and cast him off.
You are angry with your anointed king.39 You have renounced your covenant with him;
you have thrown his crown in the dust.40 You have broken down the walls protecting him
and ruined every fort defending him.41 Everyone who comes along has robbed him,
and he has become a joke to his neighbors.42 You have strengthened his enemies
and made them all rejoice.43 You have made his sword useless
and refused to help him in battle.44 You have ended his splendor
and overturned his throne.45 You have made him old before his time
and publicly disgraced him.
Interlude46 O LORD, how long will this go on?
Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your anger burn like fire?47 Remember how short my life is,
how empty and futile this human existence!48 No one can live forever; all will die.
No one can escape the power of the grave.t
Interlude49 Lord, where is your unfailing love?
You promised it to David with a faithful pledge.50 Consider, Lord, how your servants are disgraced!
I carry in my heart the insults of so many people.51 Your enemies have mocked me, O LORD;
they mock your anointed king wherever he goes.52 Praise the LORD forever!
Amen and amen!

PSALMS 89

The [Lord]'s Agreement //with David

1  t Our [Lord], I will sing
of your love forever.
Everyone yet to be born
will hear me praise
your faithfulness.

2 I will tell them, “God's love
can always be trusted,
and his faithfulness lasts
as long as the heavens.”

3 You said, “David, my servant,
is my chosen one,
and this is the agreement
I made with him:

4  t David, one of your descendants
will always be king.”

5 Our [Lord], let the heavens
now praise your miracles,
and let all your angels
praise your faithfulness.

6 None who live in the heavens
can compare with you.

7 You are the most fearsome
of all who live in heaven;
all the others fear
and greatly honor you.

8 You are [Lord] God All-Powerful!
No one is as loving
and faithful as you are.

9 You rule the roaring sea
and calm its waves.

10 You crushed the monster Rahab, t
and with your powerful arm
you scattered your enemies.

11 The heavens and the earth
belong to you.
And so does the world
with all its people
because you created them

12 and everything else.t
Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon
gladly praise you.

13 You are strong and mighty!

14 Your kingdom is ruled
by justice and fairness
with love and faithfulness
leading the way.

15 Our [Lord], you bless those
who join in the festival
and walk in the brightness
of your presence.

16 We are happy all day
because of you,
and your saving power
brings honor to us.

17 Your own glorious power
makes us strong,
and because of your kindness,
our strength increases.

18 Our [Lord] and our King,
the Holy One of Israel,
you are truly our shield.

19 In a vision, you once said
to your faithful followers:
“I have helped a mighty hero.
I chose him from my people
and made him famous.

20  t David, my servant, is the one
I chose to be king,

21 and I will always be there
to help and strengthen him.

22 “No enemy will outsmart David,
and he won't be defeated
by any hateful people.

23 I will strike down and crush
his troublesome enemies.

24 He will always be able
to depend on my love,
and I will make him strong
with my own power.

25 I will let him rule the lands
across the rivers and seas.

26 He will say to me,
‘You are my Father
and my God,
as well as the mighty rockt
where I am safe.’

27  t “I have chosen David
as my first-born son,
and he will be the ruler
of all kings on earth.

28 My love for him will last,
and my agreement with him
will never be broken.

29 “One of David's descendants
will always be king,
and his family will rule
until the sky disappears.

30 Suppose some of his children
should reject my Law
and refuse my instructions.

31 Or suppose they should disobey
all of my teachings.

32 Then I will correct
and punish them
because of their sins.

33 But I will always love David
and faithfully keep all
of my promises to him.

34 “I won't break my agreement
or go back on my word.

35 I have sworn once and for all
by my own holy name,
and I won't lie to David.

36 His family will always rule.
I will let his kingdom last
as long as the sun

37 and moon
appear in the sky.”

38 You are now angry, [Lord],
and you have turned your back
on your chosen king.

39 You broke off your agreement
with your servant, the king,
and you completely destroyed
his kingdom.

40 The walls of his city
have been broken through,
and every fortress
now lies in ruins.

41 All who pass by
take what they want,
and nations everywhere
joke about the king.

42 You made his enemies powerful
and let them celebrate.

43 But you forced him to retreat
because you did not fight
on his side.

44 You took his crownt
and threw his throne
in the dirt.

45 You made an old man of him
and put him to shame.

46 How much longer, [Lord]?
Will you hide forever?
How long will your anger
keep burning like fire?

47 Remember, life is short!t
Why did you empty our lives
of all meaning?

48 No one can escape the power
of death and the grave.

49 Our Lord, where is the love
you have always shown
and that you promised
so faithfully to David?

50 Remember your servant, Lord!
People make jokes about me,
and I suffer many insults.

51 I am your chosen one,
but your enemies chase
and make fun of me.

52 Our [Lord], we praise you
forever. Amen and amen.