Psalm 89

A maskilTitle: Probably a literary or musical term of Ethan the Ezrahite.

1 I will sing of the Lord's great love for ever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.2 I will declare that your love stands firm for ever,
that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.3 You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,4 'I will establish your line for ever
and make your throne firm through all generations."' Selah 5 The heavens praise your wonders, OLord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.8 OLord God Almighty, who is like you?
You are mighty, OLord, and your faithfulness surrounds you.9 You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;
with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.12 You created the north and the south;
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.13 Your arm is endued with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, OLord.16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
they exult in your righteousness.17 For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favour you exalt our horn.t18 Indeed, our shieldt belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.19 Once you spoke in a vision,
to your faithful people you said:
"I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
I have exalted a young man from among the people.20 I have found David my servant;
with my sacred oil I have anointed him.21 My hand will sustain him;
surely my arm will strengthen him.22 No enemy will subject him to tribute;
no wicked man will oppress him.23 I will crush his foes before him
and strike down his adversaries.24 My faithful love will be with him,
and through my name his hornt will be exalted.25 I will set his hand over the sea,
his right hand over the rivers.26 He will call out to me, 'You are my Father,
my God, the Rock my Saviour.'27 I will also appoint him my firstborn,
the most exalted of the kings of the earth.28 I will maintain my love to him for ever,
and my covenant with him will never fail.29 I will establish his line for ever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.30 "If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,31 if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,32 I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;33 but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.34 I will not violate my covenant
or alter what my lips have uttered.35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness-
and I will not lie to David-36 that his line will continue for ever
and his throne endure before me like the sun;37 it will be established for ever like the moon,
the faithful witness in the sky." Selah 38 But you have rejected, you have spurned,
you have been very angry with your anointed one.39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant
and have defiled his crown in the dust.40 You have broken through all his walls
and reduced his strongholds to ruins.41 All who pass by have plundered him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbours.42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.43 You have turned back the edge of his sword
and have not supported him in battle.44 You have put an end to his splendour
and cast his throne to the ground.45 You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with a mantle of shame. Selah 46 How long, OLord? Will you hide yourself for ever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?47 Remember how fleeting is my life.
For what futility you have created all men!48 What man can live and not see death,
or save himself from the power of the grave?t Selah 49 O Lord, where is your former great love,
which in your faithfulness you swore to David?50 Remember, Lord, how your servant hast been mocked,
how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,51 the taunts with which your enemies have mocked, OLord,
with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.52 Praise be to the Lord for ever!
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.