The Lords Covenant with David and Israel’s Afflictions.

A [a]Maskil of [b]Ethan [c]the Ezrahite.

89 I will (A)sing of the graciousness of the Lord forever;
To all generations I will (B)make Your (C)faithfulness known with my mouth.
For I have said, “(D)Graciousness will be built up forever;
In the heavens You will establish Your (E)faithfulness.”
“I have made a covenant with (F)My chosen;
I have (G)sworn to My servant David,
I will establish your [d](H)descendants forever
And build up your (I)throne to all generations.” Selah

The (J)heavens will praise Your wonders, Lord;
Your faithfulness also (K)in the assembly of the (L)holy ones.
For (M)who in the skies is comparable to the Lord?
Who among the [e](N)sons of the mighty is like the Lord,
A God (O)greatly feared in the council of the (P)holy ones,
And (Q)awesome above all those who are around Him?
Lord God of armies, (R)who is like You, mighty [f]Lord?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
You rule the surging of the sea;
When its waves rise, You (S)calm them.
10 You Yourself crushed [g](T)Rahab like one who is slain;
You (U)scattered Your enemies with [h]Your mighty arm.

11 The (V)heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The (W)world and [i]all it contains, You have established them.
12 The (X)north and the south, You have created them;
(Y)Tabor and (Z)Hermon (AA)shout for joy at Your name.
13 You have [j]a strong arm;
Your hand is mighty, Your (AB)right hand is exalted.
14 (AC)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
(AD)Mercy and [k]truth go before You.
15 Blessed are the people who know the [l](AE)joyful sound!
Lord, they walk in the (AF)light of Your face.
16 In (AG)Your name they rejoice all the day,
And by Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of (AH)their strength,
And by Your favor [m]our (AI)horn is exalted.
18 For our (AJ)shield belongs to the Lord,
[n]And our king to the (AK)Holy One of Israel.

19 [o]Once You spoke in vision to Your godly [p]ones,
And said, “I have [q]given help to one who is (AL)mighty;
I have exalted one (AM)chosen from the people.
20 I have (AN)found My servant David;
With My holy (AO)oil I have anointed him,
21 With whom (AP)My hand will be established;
My arm also will (AQ)strengthen him.
22 The enemy will not [r]deceive him,
Nor will the [s](AR)son of wickedness afflict him.
23 But I will (AS)crush his adversaries before him,
And strike those who hate him.
24 My (AT)faithfulness and My favor will be with him,
And in My name his (AU)horn will be exalted.
25 I will also place his hand (AV)on the sea,
And his right hand on the rivers.
26 He will call to Me, ‘You are (AW)my Father,
My God, and the (AX)rock of my salvation.’
27 I will also make him My (AY)firstborn,
The (AZ)highest of the kings of the earth.
28 I will maintain My (BA)favor for him forever,
And My (BB)covenant shall be confirmed to him.
29 So I will establish his [t](BC)descendants forever,
And his (BD)throne (BE)as the days of heaven.

30 “If his sons (BF)abandon My Law
And do not walk in My judgments,
31 If they [u]violate My statutes
And do not keep My commandments,
32 Then I will punish their wrongdoing with the (BG)rod,
And their guilt with [v]afflictions.
33 But I will not [w]withhold (BH)My favor from him,
Nor deal falsely in My faithfulness.
34 I will not [x]violate My (BI)covenant,
Nor will I (BJ)alter [y]the utterance of My lips.
35 [z]Once I have (BK)sworn by My holiness;
I will not lie to David.
36 His [aa](BL)descendants shall endure forever,
And his (BM)throne (BN)as the sun before Me.
37 It shall be established forever (BO)like the moon,
And a (BP)witness in the sky is faithful.” Selah

38 But You have (BQ)rejected and (BR)refused,
You have been full of wrath [ab]against Your (BS)anointed.
39 You have [ac](BT)repudiated the covenant of Your servant;
You have (BU)profaned (BV)his crown [ad]in the dust.
40 You have (BW)broken down all his walls;
You have (BX)brought his strongholds to ruin.
41 (BY)All who pass along the way plunder him;
He has become a (BZ)disgrace to his neighbors.
42 You have (CA)exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
You have (CB)made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You also turn back the edge of his sword,
And have (CC)not made him stand in battle.
44 You have put an end to his [ae](CD)splendor
And cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have (CE)shortened the days of his youth;
You have (CF)covered him with shame. Selah

46 (CG)How long, Lord?
Will You hide Yourself forever?
Will Your (CH)wrath burn like fire?
47 (CI)Remember [af]what my lifespan is;
For what (CJ)futility [ag]You have created all the sons of mankind!
48 What man can live and not (CK)see death?
Can he (CL)save his soul from the [ah]power of [ai]Sheol? Selah

49 Where are Your former acts of favor, Lord,
Which You (CM)swore to David in Your faithfulness?
50 Remember, Lord, the (CN)taunt against Your servants;
[aj]How I carry in my heart the taunts of all the many peoples,
51 With which (CO)Your enemies have taunted, Lord,
With which they have taunted the footsteps of (CP)Your anointed.

52 (CQ)Blessed be the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 89 Title Possibly, Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
  2. Psalm 89 Title 1 Kin 4:31
  3. Psalm 89 Title Ps 88: title
  4. Psalm 89:4 Lit seed
  5. Psalm 89:6 Or sons of gods
  6. Psalm 89:8 Heb Yah
  7. Psalm 89:10 I.e., Egypt, as a sea monster; not to be confused with Rahab in Joshua 2
  8. Psalm 89:10 Lit the arm of Your might
  9. Psalm 89:11 Lit its fullness
  10. Psalm 89:13 Lit an arm with strength
  11. Psalm 89:14 Or faithfulness
  12. Psalm 89:15 Or blast of the trumpet, shout of joy
  13. Psalm 89:17 Another reading is You exalt our horn
  14. Psalm 89:18 Or Even to the Holy One of Israel our King
  15. Psalm 89:19 Or At that time
  16. Psalm 89:19 Some mss one
  17. Psalm 89:19 Lit placed help upon
  18. Psalm 89:22 Or exact usury from him
  19. Psalm 89:22 Or wicked man
  20. Psalm 89:29 Lit seed
  21. Psalm 89:31 Lit profane
  22. Psalm 89:32 Or plagues
  23. Psalm 89:33 Lit break
  24. Psalm 89:34 Lit profane
  25. Psalm 89:34 Lit that which goes forth
  26. Psalm 89:35 Or One thing
  27. Psalm 89:36 Lit seed
  28. Psalm 89:38 Lit with
  29. Psalm 89:39 I.e., scornfully rejected
  30. Psalm 89:39 Lit to the ground
  31. Psalm 89:44 Lit clearness, luster
  32. Psalm 89:47 Lit of what duration I am
  33. Psalm 89:47 Or have You...mankind?
  34. Psalm 89:48 Lit hand
  35. Psalm 89:48 I.e., the netherworld
  36. Psalm 89:50 Lit My bearing in my chest

Psalm 89

God’s Covenant with David

A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord,[a] forever;
    with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.(A)
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
    your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.(B)

You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
    I have sworn to my servant David:(C)
‘I will establish your descendants forever
    and build your throne for all generations.’ ” Selah(D)

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,
    your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.(E)
For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
    Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord,(F)
a God feared in the council of the holy ones,
    great and awesome[b] above all who are around him?(G)
O Lord God of hosts,
    who is as mighty as you, O Lord?
    Your faithfulness surrounds you.(H)
You rule the raging of the sea;
    when its waves rise, you still them.(I)
10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
    you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.(J)
11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;
    the world and all that is in it—you founded them.(K)
12 The north and the south[c]—you created them;
    Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.(L)
13 You have a mighty arm;
    strong is your hand, high your right hand.(M)
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
    steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.(N)
15 Happy are the people who know the festal shout,
    who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance;(O)
16 they exult in your name all day long
    and extol[d] your righteousness.
17 For you are the glory of their strength;
    by your favor our horn is exalted.(P)
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,
    our king to the Holy One of Israel.(Q)

19 Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one and said,
    “I have set the crown[e] on one who is mighty;
    I have exalted one chosen from the people.(R)
20 I have found my servant David;
    with my holy oil I have anointed him;(S)
21 my hand shall always remain with him;
    my arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him;
    the wicked shall not humble him.(T)
23 I will crush his foes before him
    and strike down those who hate him.(U)
24 My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him,
    and in my name his horn shall be exalted.(V)
25 I will set his hand on the sea
    and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
    my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’(W)
27 I will make him the firstborn,
    the highest of the kings of the earth.(X)
28 Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him,
    and my covenant with him will stand firm.(Y)
29 I will establish his line forever
    and his throne as long as the heavens endure.(Z)
30 If his children forsake my law
    and do not walk according to my ordinances,(AA)
31 if they violate my statutes
    and do not keep my commandments,
32 then I will punish their transgression with the rod
    and their iniquity with scourges,(AB)
33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love
    or be false to my faithfulness.(AC)
34 I will not violate my covenant
    or alter the word that went forth from my lips.(AD)
35 Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness;
    I will not lie to David.(AE)
36 His line shall continue forever,
    and his throne endure before me like the sun.(AF)
37 It shall be established forever like the moon,
    an enduring witness in the skies.” Selah

38 But now you have spurned and rejected him;
    you are full of wrath against your anointed.(AG)
39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant;
    you have defiled his crown in the dust.(AH)
40 You have broken through all his walls;
    you have laid his strongholds in ruins.(AI)
41 All who pass by plunder him;
    he has become the scorn of his neighbors.(AJ)
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
    you have made all his enemies rejoice.(AK)
43 Moreover, you have turned back the edge of his sword,
    and you have not supported him in battle.(AL)
44 You have removed the scepter from his hand[f]
    and hurled his throne to the ground.(AM)
45 You have cut short the days of his youth;
    you have covered him with shame. Selah(AN)

46 How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
    How long will your wrath burn like fire?(AO)
47 Remember how short my time is—[g]
    for what vanity you have created all mortals!(AP)
48 Who can live and never see death?
    Who can escape the power of Sheol? Selah(AQ)

49 Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,
    which by your faithfulness you swore to David?(AR)
50 Remember, O Lord, how your servant is taunted,
    how I bear in my bosom the insults of the peoples,[h](AS)
51 with which your enemies taunt, O Lord,
    with which they taunted the footsteps of your anointed.(AT)

52 Blessed be the Lord forever.
                Amen and Amen.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. 89.1 Gk: Heb the steadfast love of the Lord
  2. 89.7 Gk Syr: Heb greatly awesome
  3. 89.12 Or Zaphon and Yamin
  4. 89.16 Cn: Heb are exalted in
  5. 89.19 Cn: Heb help
  6. 89.44 Cn: Heb removed his cleanness
  7. 89.47 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  8. 89.50 Cn: Heb bosom all of many peoples