Psalm 89
A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite.
1 I will sing
of the loving kindness of the
LORD forever.
With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all
generations.
2 I
indeed declare, “Love
stands firm forever.
You established the heavens.
Your faithfulness
is in them.”
3 “I
have made
a covenant with
my chosen one,
I have sworn
to David, my servant,
4 ‘I
will establish your offspring
forever,
and build up your throne
to all generations.’ ”
Selah.
5 The heavens
will praise
your wonders, LORD,
your faithfulness also
in the assembly of
the holy ones.
6 For
who in the skies
can be compared to
the LORD?
Who among the sons
of the
heavenly beings is
like the LORD,
7 a very awesome
God in the council
of the holy ones,
to be feared above
all those who
are around him?
8 LORD,
God of Armies, who
is a mighty
one, like you?
LORD,
your faithfulness is
around you.
9 You rule
the pride of
the sea.
When its waves rise up,
you calm them.
10 You
have broken Rahab in pieces, like
one of the slain.
You have scattered your enemies
with your mighty arm.
11 The heavens
are yours.
The earth also
is yours,
the world and its fullness.
You have founded them.
12 You have created
the north and
the south.
Tabor and Hermon rejoice in
your name.
13 You have
a mighty arm.
Your hand is strong,
and your right
hand is exalted.
14 Righteousness
and justice are
the foundation of
your throne.
Loving kindness and truth go
before your face.
15 Blessed are
the people who learn
to acclaim you.
They walk in
the light of your
presence, LORD.
16 In
your name they rejoice
all day.
In your righteousness,
they are exalted.
17 For
you are the glory
of their strength.
In your favor,
our horn will be
exalted.
18 For
our shield belongs to
the LORD,
our king to
the Holy One
of Israel.
19 Then
you spoke in vision
to your saints,
and said, “I
have given strength to
the warrior.
I have exalted
a young man from
the people.
20 I
have found David, my servant.
I have anointed
him with my
holy oil,
21 with whom
my hand shall
be established.
My arm will
also strengthen him.
22 No enemy
will tax him.
No wicked man will oppress him.
23 I
will beat down his adversaries
before him,
and strike those
who hate him.
24 But
my faithfulness and
my loving kindness will
be with him.
In my name,
his horn will
be exalted.
25 I
will set his hand
also on the sea,
and his right hand
on the rivers.
26 He
will call to me,
‘You are my Father,
my God, and
the rock of
my salvation!’
27 I
will also appoint
him my firstborn,
the highest of
the kings of
the earth.
28 I
will keep my loving kindness
for him forever more.
My covenant will stand firm
with him.
29 I will
also make his offspring
endure forever,
and his throne as
the days of heaven.
30 If
his children forsake
my law,
and don’t walk in
my ordinances;
31 if
they break my statutes,
and don’t keep my commandments;
32 then
I will punish
their sin with
the rod,
and their iniquity
with stripes.
33 But I
will not completely take
my loving kindness from
him,
nor allow my faithfulness to fail.
34 I
will not break
my covenant,
nor alter what my lips
have uttered.
35 Once I
have sworn by
my holiness,
I will not lie
to David.
36 His offspring will endure forever,
his throne like the sun before me.
37 It
will be established
forever like
the moon,
the faithful witness in
the sky.”
Selah.
38 But you
have rejected and spurned.
You have
been angry with your anointed.
39 You
have renounced the covenant
of your servant.
You have defiled
his crown in
the dust.
40 You have
broken down all his hedges.
You have brought
his strongholds to ruin.
41 All
who pass by the
way rob him.
He has become
a reproach to
his neighbors.
42 You
have exalted the right hand
of his adversaries.
You have made
all of his enemies
rejoice.
43 Yes, you
turn back the edge
of his sword,
and haven’t supported him
in battle.
44 You
have ended his splendor,
and thrown his throne down
to the ground.
45 You
have shortened the days
of his youth.
You have covered him with shame.
Selah.
46 How long,
LORD?
Will you hide
yourself forever?
Will your wrath burn
like fire?
47 Remember
how short my time
is,
for what vanity
you have created
all the children
of men!
48 What
man is he
who shall live and
not see death,
who shall deliver
his soul from
the power of Sheol?
Selah.
49 Lord, where
are your former loving kindnesses,
which you swore
to David in
your faithfulness?
50 Remember,
Lord, the reproach
of your servants,
how I bear in
my heart the taunts
of all the mighty peoples,
51 With
which your enemies
have mocked, LORD,
with which they
have mocked the footsteps
of your anointed
one.
52 Blessed be
the LORD forever more.
Amen, and Amen.