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89 Een leerzaam gedicht van de Ezrahiet Ethan.

Ik wil alleen nog maar zingen
van de goedheid en genade van de Here,
van alles wat Hij voor mij heeft gedaan.
Van generatie op generatie
zal ik getuigen van uw trouw.
Ik zeg dan:
uw goedheid en liefde gelden eeuwig,
tot in de hemel blijkt hoe trouw U bent.
De Here zegt:
Ik heb een verbond gesloten
met de man die Ik heb uitgekozen,
dat heb Ik gezworen aan mijn dienaar David.
Ik zei tegen hem:
Ik zal uw nageslacht blijven zegenen,
van generatie op generatie
zullen uw kinderen op de troon blijven.
Here, daarom wordt uw grote macht
tot in de hemel geprezen.
Alle gelovigen loven U om uw trouw.
Kan in de hemel iemand
zich meten met de Here?
Is er op aarde
een god als onze Here?
God dwingt ontzag en respect af
van de heilige engelen die Hem omringen.
Here, God van de hemelse legers,
wie is zo groot en machtig als U?
Uw trouw omgeeft U.
10 U beheerst de woede van de zee,
als de golven hoog oprijzen, brengt U ze tot rust.
11 U hebt Egypte vernietigd
en al uw vijanden door uw kracht verspreid.
12 De hemel is van U
en ook de aarde behoort U toe.
U hebt de wereld en alles wat erop leeft, geschapen.
13 Van noord tot zuid hebt U alles gemaakt.
De bergen juichen U toe.
14 Uw arm is machtig en uw hand is sterk.
Uw rechterhand is de hoogste op aarde.
15 Alles wat U doet, is recht en rechtvaardig.
Goedheid, liefde en trouw
zijn alleen op U van toepassing.
16 Gelukkig is het volk dat U eert, Here,
zij gaan hun weg met U, in uw licht.
17 De hele dag prijzen zij uw naam
en dankzij uw rechtvaardigheid staan zij sterk.
18 Want U bent het kenmerk van hun kracht,
door uw liefde en goedkeuring ontvangen wij een hoge positie.
19 De Here beschermt ons
en de Heilige God van Israël is onze Koning.
20 In het verleden hebt U tegen uw volgelingen gezegd:
‘Ik heb mijn hulp toegezegd aan een dapper man,
één man uit uw volk koos Ik speciaal uit.
21 Ik vond mijn dienaar David
en heb hem met gewijde olie gezalfd.
22 Mijn hand zal hem ondersteunen
en mijn arm zal hem sterk maken.
23 De vijand zal hem niet in zijn macht krijgen
en geen misdadiger zal hem kwaad kunnen doen.
24 Integendeel, Ik zal zijn tegenstanders voor hem vernietigen.
Wie hem haten, zullen Mij tegenkomen.
25 Maar al mijn trouw en liefde zijn voor hem.
Dankzij Mij bekleedt hij een hoge positie.
26 Ik geef hem zelfs gezag over zeeën en rivieren.
27 Hij zal Mij zijn Vader noemen.
Ik zal zijn God zijn
en de rots waar hij zijn redding vindt.
28 Ik zal hem behandelen als een oudste zoon,
als een van de hoogste koningen op aarde.
29 Mijn goedheid en liefde zijn blijvend voor hem,
mijn verbond met hem kan niet meer worden verbroken.
30 Zijn nageslacht zal altijd blijven bestaan
en zijn troon is onaantastbaar.
31 Als zijn zonen mijn wetten negeren
en niet meer leven volgens mijn leefregels,
32 als zij mijn voorschriften ontwijden
en mijn geboden niet meer houden,
33 zal Ik hen straffen en allerlei plagen sturen.
34 Maar mijn goedheid en liefde voor hem
blijven onveranderd, Ik blijf hem trouw.
35 En ook mijn verbond met hem
blijf Ik trouw, dat is Mij heilig.
Wat Ik heb beloofd, zal Ik doen.
36 Ik heb het immers eens bij Mij Zelf gezworen!
Ik kan David niet in de steek laten.
37 Zijn nageslacht zal altijd voortleven
en zijn troon is onwankelbaar, net als de zon.
38 Net als de maan zal hij er altijd zijn,
want Hij die vanuit de hemel getuigt, is trouw.’
39 Maar toch hebt U uw uitverkorene
van U weggedaan en hem verworpen.
U bent boos op hem geworden.
40 U hebt uw verbond met uw dienaar vernietigd
en hem de kroon van het hoofd gestoten.
41 Zijn muren hebt U afgebroken
en zijn sterke burchten tot puin gemaakt.
42 Mensen die langskwamen
hebben zijn bezittingen geplunderd.
Zijn buren dreven de spot met hem.
43 Zijn tegenstanders bleken sterker
en zijn vijanden overwonnen hem.
44 Ook zijn zwaard gaf hem geen overwinning
en hij moest zich in de oorlogen gewonnen geven.
45 Er was geen eer meer voor hem over
en zijn troon hebt U omver geworpen.
46 Hij werd vroeg oud en werd met schande overladen.
47 Moet dit nog lang duren, Here?
Blijft U Zich voor mij verbergen?
Blijft uw toorn branden als het heetste vuur?
48 Denk er alstublieft aan
dat ik maar een vergankelijk mens ben.
U hebt de mensen Zelf geschapen,
dus U weet hoe kort zij leven.
49 Er is immers geen mens die niet zal sterven?
Niemand kan toch ontkomen aan het dodenrijk?
50 Waar zijn nu de blijken van uw genade, Here?
U hebt die eens aan ons toegezegd,
zelfs met een eed aan David gezworen.
51 Kijk toch, Here, hoe uw dienaren worden bespot
en hoe alle volken ons uitlachen.
52 Hoe ook uw tegenstanders de spot met ons drijven, Here.
Zij drijven de spot met hem die door U tot koning is gezalfd!
53 Alle lof en eer is voor de Here, tot in eeuwigheid.
Laat ieder die dit hoort daarmee instemmen.
Amen.

I Will Sing of the Steadfast Love of the Lord

A Maskil[a] of (A)Ethan the Ezrahite.

89 (B)I will sing of (C)the steadfast love of the Lord forever;
    with my mouth I will make known your (D)faithfulness to all generations.
For I said, (E)“Steadfast love will be built up forever;
    in the heavens (F)you will establish your (G)faithfulness.”
You have said, “I have made (H)a covenant with my (I)chosen one;
    I have (J)sworn to David my servant:
‘I will establish your (K)offspring forever,
    and build your (L)throne for all generations.’” Selah

Let (M)the heavens praise your (N)wonders, O Lord,
    your faithfulness in the assembly of (O)the holy ones!
For (P)who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
    (Q)Who among the heavenly beings[b] is like the Lord,
a God greatly (R)to be feared in the council of (S)the holy ones,
    and awesome above all (T)who are around him?
O Lord God of hosts,
    (U)who is mighty as you are, O (V)Lord,
    with your faithfulness all around you?
You rule the raging of the sea;
    when its waves rise, you (W)still them.
10 You (X)crushed (Y)Rahab like a carcass;
    you (Z)scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11 (AA)The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;
    (AB)the world and all that is in it, you have (AC)founded them.
12 (AD)The north and the south, you have created them;
    (AE)Tabor and (AF)Hermon (AG)joyously praise your name.
13 You have a mighty arm;
    strong is your hand, high your right hand.
14 (AH)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
    (AI)steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are the people who know (AJ)the festal shout,
    who walk, O Lord, in (AK)the light of your face,
16 who exult in your (AL)name all the day
    and in your righteousness are (AM)exalted.
17 For you are (AN)the glory of their strength;
    by your favor our (AO)horn is exalted.
18 For our (AP)shield belongs to the Lord,
    our king to (AQ)the Holy One of Israel.

19 (AR)Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one,[c] and said:
    “I have (AS)granted help to one who is (AT)mighty;
    I have exalted one (AU)chosen from the people.
20 (AV)I have found David, my servant;
    with my holy oil I have (AW)anointed him,
21 so that my (AX)hand shall be established with him;
    my arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him;
    (AY)the wicked shall not humble him.
23 I will (AZ)crush his foes before him
    and strike down those who hate him.
24 My (BA)faithfulness and my (BB)steadfast love shall be with him,
    and in my name shall his (BC)horn be exalted.
25 I will set his hand on (BD)the sea
    and his right hand on (BE)the rivers.
26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my (BF)Father,
    my God, and (BG)the Rock of my salvation.’
27 And I will make him the (BH)firstborn,
    (BI)the highest of the kings of the earth.
28 My steadfast love I will keep for him forever,
    and my (BJ)covenant will stand firm[d] for him.
29 I will establish his (BK)offspring forever
    and his (BL)throne as (BM)the days of the heavens.
30 (BN)If his children forsake my law
    and do not walk according to my rules,[e]
31 if they violate my statutes
    and do not keep my commandments,
32 then I will punish their transgression with (BO)the rod
    and their iniquity with stripes,
33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love
    or be false to my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my (BP)covenant
    or alter the word that went forth from my lips.
35 Once for all I have sworn (BQ)by my holiness;
    I will not (BR)lie to David.
36 His (BS)offspring shall endure forever,
    (BT)his (BU)throne as long as (BV)the sun before me.
37 Like (BW)the moon it shall be established forever,
    (BX)a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah

38 But now you have (BY)cast off and rejected;
    you are full of wrath against your (BZ)anointed.
39 You have (CA)renounced (CB)the covenant with your servant;
    you have (CC)defiled his (CD)crown in the dust.
40 You have (CE)breached all his walls;
    you have laid his strongholds in ruins.
41 (CF)All who pass by plunder him;
    he has become (CG)the scorn of his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
    you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You have also turned back the edge of his sword,
    and you have not made him stand in battle.
44 You have made his splendor to cease
    and cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short (CH)the days of his youth;
    you have (CI)covered him with shame. Selah

46 (CJ)How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
    How long will your wrath (CK)burn like fire?
47 (CL)Remember (CM)how short my (CN)time is!
    For what vanity you have created all the children of man!
48 (CO)What man can live and never (CP)see death?
    Who can deliver his soul from the power of (CQ)Sheol? Selah

49 Lord, where is your (CR)steadfast love of old,
    which by your (CS)faithfulness you swore to David?
50 (CT)Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked,
    and how I bear in my (CU)heart the insults[f] of all the many nations,
51 with which your enemies mock, O Lord,
    with which they mock (CV)the footsteps of your (CW)anointed.

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

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 89:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 89:6 Hebrew the sons of God, or the sons of might
  3. Psalm 89:19 Some Hebrew manuscripts godly ones
  4. Psalm 89:28 Or will remain faithful
  5. Psalm 89:30 Or my just decrees
  6. Psalm 89:50 Hebrew lacks the insults

A Song About God’s Loyalty

A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of Ethan the Ezrahite [C a wise man; 1 Kin. 4:31].

89 I will always sing about the Lord’s ·love [loyalty];
    I will ·tell of [L make known with my mouth] his ·loyalty [faithfulness] ·from now on [for generations].
I will say, “Your ·love [loyalty] ·continues [L is built] forever;
    your ·loyalty [faithfulness] ·goes on and on [is established] like the ·sky [heavens].”
You said, “I ·made an agreement [L cut a covenant/treaty] with the man of my choice;
    I made a promise to my servant David.
I told him, ‘I will ·make your family continue [L establish your seed] forever.
    ·Your kingdom will go on and on [L I will build your throne for generations; 2; 72; 78:70–72; 2 Sam. 7:11–16; 1 Chr. 17:10–14].’” ·Selah [Interlude]

Lord, the heavens praise you for your ·miracles [wonderful acts]
    and for your ·loyalty [faithfulness] in the ·meeting [assembly] of your holy ones.
Who in ·heaven [the skies] ·is equal to [ranks with] the Lord?
    None of the ·angels [gods; divine council/assembly; L sons of God; 82:1] is like the Lord.
When the ·holy ones [L council of holy ones] meet, it is God they fear.
    He is more ·frightening [awesome] than all who surround him.
Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], who is like you?
    Lord, you are powerful and completely ·trustworthy [faithful].
You rule the ·mighty [raging; surging] sea
    and ·calm [still] the ·stormy [rising] waves.
10 You crushed the Rahab [C a sea monster, representing chaos (Job 26:12; Is. 51:9) and in some contexts Egypt defeated at the Sea (87:4; Is. 30:7; Ezek. 29:3; 32:3)] like a corpse;
    by your ·power [L strong arm] you scattered your enemies.

11 The ·skies [heavens] and the earth belong to you.
    You ·made [founded] the world and ·everything in it [L its fullness].
12 You created the north and the south.
    Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon [C majestic mountains] sing for joy at your name.
13 Your arm has great power.
    Your hand is strong; your right hand is lifted up.
14 Your ·kingdom [L throne] is ·built [established] on ·what is right and fair [righteousness and judgment/justice].
    ·Love [Loyalty] and ·truth [faithfulness] are ·in all you do [L before your face].

15 ·Happy [Blessed] are the people who know how to ·praise [shout to] you.
    Lord, let them ·live [L walk] in the light of your ·presence [L face].
16 In your name they rejoice
    and continually ·praise [exalt] your ·goodness [righteousness].
17 You are their ·glorious [beautiful] strength,
    and in your ·kindness [favor] you ·honor our king [L lift up our horn; C symbol of power and here of the king].
18 Our shield [C the king] belongs to the Lord,
    our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19 ·Once [Then], in a vision [2 Sam. 7:4], you spoke
    to ·those who worship you [your faithful ones/saints].
You said, “I have ·given strength to [L set help on] a warrior;
    I have raised up a ·young man [chosen one] from my people [1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22].
20 I have found my servant David;
    I ·appointed him by pouring [L have anointed him with] holy oil on him [1 Sam. 16:1–13].
21 I will steady him with my hand
    and strengthen him with my arm.
22 No enemy will ·make him give forced payments [make him pay tribute; or prevail over/or outwit him],
    and wicked people will not ·defeat [afflict; humble] him.
23 I will ·crush [pound] his enemies in front of him;
    I will ·defeat [strike down] those who hate him.
24 My ·loyalty [faithfulness] and ·love [loyalty] will be with him.
    Through ·me [L my name] ·he will be strong [L his horn will be raised up; v. 17].
25 I will ·give him power [L set his hand] over the sea
    ·and control [L his right hand] over the rivers [C the waters represent chaos].
26 He will ·say [proclaim] to me, ‘You are my father,
    my God, the Rock, my ·Savior [Victor].’
27 I will make him my firstborn son,
    the ·greatest [highest] king on earth [2:7; 2 Sam. 7:14].
28 My ·love [loyalty] will ·watch over [keep; guard] him forever,
    and my ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with him will ·never end [be faithful].
29 I will ·make his family continue [L set his seed forever],
    and his ·kingdom [L throne] ·will last as long as the skies [L like the days of the skies/heavens].

30 “If his descendants ·reject [leave; abandon] my ·teachings [instructions; laws]
    and do not ·follow [L walk in] my ·laws [judgments],
31 if they ·ignore [profane] my ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements]
    and ·disobey [L do not keep/guard] my commands,
32 then I will punish their ·sins [transgressions] with a rod
    and their ·wrongs [guilt] with ·a whip [lashes].
33 But I will not ·hold back [break; invalidate] my ·love [loyalty] from ·David [L him],
    nor will I ·stop being loyal [L deal falsely with my faithfulness].
34 I will not ·break [profane; violate] my ·agreement [covenant; treaty]
    nor ·change [alter] what ·I have said [L came out of my lips].
35 Once and for all I have ·promised [sworn] by my holiness,
    I will not lie to David.
36 His ·family [L seed] will go on forever.
    His ·kingdom [L throne] will last before me like the sun.
37 It will ·continue [be established] forever, like the moon,
    like a ·dependable [reliable; faithful] witness in the sky.” ·Selah [Interlude]

38 But now you have ·refused [spurned] and rejected him.
    You have been angry with your ·appointed king [L anointed; v. 20].
39 You have ·abandoned [disavowed] the ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with your servant
    and ·thrown [profaned; defiled] his crown ·to [or in] the ground [Jer. 13:18–19].
40 You have ·torn down [broken up] all his city walls;
    you have turned his strong cities into ruins.
41 Everyone who passes by ·steals from [plunders] him.
    ·His neighbors insult him [L He is scorned by/a reproach to his neighbors].
42 You have ·given strength of [L exalted the right hand of] his ·enemies [foes]
    and have made ·them all [L all his enemies] happy.
43 You have ·made his sword useless [turned back the blade/L rock of his sword];
    you did not help him stand in battle.
44 You have ·kept him from winning [or put aside his purity]
    and have thrown his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut ·his life [L the days of his youth] short
    and ·covered [wrapped] him with shame. ·Selah [Interlude]

46 Lord, how long will this go on?
    Will you ·ignore [hide from] us forever?
    How long will your anger burn like a fire?
47 Remember how ·short [fleeting] my life is.
    Why did you create us? For ·nothing [futility; vanity; no purpose]?
48 What person alive will not ·die [L see death]?
    Who can escape ·the grave [L from the hand/power of Sheol; C the grave or the underworld]? ·Selah [Interlude]

49 Lord, where is your ·love [loyalty] from times past,
    which in your ·loyalty [faithfulness] you ·promised [swore] to David [2 Sam. 7:11–14]?
50 Lord, remember ·how they insulted [L the reproach/scorn of] your servant;
    remember how I ·have suffered the insults of the nations [L carry in my bosom all of the many peoples].
51 Lord, remember how your enemies ·insulted [reproached; scorned] you
    and how they ·insulted [reproached; scorned] ·your appointed king wherever he went [L the footsteps of your anointed; v. 20].
52 ·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord forever!

Amen and amen.

Sing of the Lovingkindness of Yahweh Forever

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

89 I will (A)sing of the lovingkindnesses of Yahweh forever;
From generation to generation I will (B)make known Your (C)faithfulness with my mouth.
For I have said, “(D)Lovingkindness will be built up forever;
In the heavens You will establish Your (E)faithfulness.”
“I have cut a covenant with (F)My chosen;
I have (G)sworn to David My [d]servant,
I will establish your (H)seed forever
And build up your (I)throne from generation to generation.” [e]Selah.

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

11 The (V)heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The (W)world and its fullness, You have founded them.
12 The (X)north and the south, You have created them;
(Y)Tabor and (Z)Hermon (AA)sing with joy at Your name.
13 You have a mighty arm;
Your hand is strong, Your (AB)right hand is exalted.
14 (AC)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
(AD)Lovingkindness and [i]truth go before You.
15 How blessed are the people who know the (AE)loud shout of joy!
O Yahweh, 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 beauty of (AH)their strength,
And by Your favor [j]our (AI)horn is exalted.
18 For our (AJ)shield belongs to Yahweh,
[k]And our king to the (AK)Holy One of Israel.

19 Formerly You spoke in vision to Your [l]holy [m]ones,
And said, “I have bestowed help to a (AL)mighty one;
I have exalted one (AM)chosen from the people.
20 I have (AN)found David My [n]servant;
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 [o]deceive him,
Nor the [p](AR)son of unrighteousness afflict him.
23 But I shall (AS)crush his adversaries before him,
And strike those who hate him.
24 My (AT)faithfulness and My lovingkindness will be with him,
And in My name his (AU)horn will be exalted.
25 I shall also set 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 also shall make him My (AY)firstborn,
The (AZ)highest of the kings of the earth.
28 My (BA)lovingkindness I will keep for him forever,
And My (BB)covenant shall be confirmed to him.
29 So I will set up his (BC)seed to endure forever
And his (BD)throne (BE)as the days of heaven.

30 “If his sons (BF)forsake My law
And do not walk in My judgments,
31 If they profane My statutes
And do not keep My commandments,
32 Then I will punish their transgression with the (BG)rod
And their iniquity with striking.
33 But I will not break off (BH)My lovingkindness from him,
Nor deal falsely in My faithfulness.
34 My (BI)covenant I will not profane,
Nor will I (BJ)alter what comes forth from My lips.
35 [q]Once I have (BK)sworn by My holiness;
I will not lie to David.
36 His (BL)seed shall endure forever
And his (BM)throne (BN)as the sun before Me.
37 It shall be established forever (BO)like the moon,
And the (BP)witness in the sky is faithful.” [r]Selah.

38 But You have (BQ)cast off and (BR)rejected,
You have been full of wrath [s]against Your (BS)anointed.
39 You have (BT)spurned the covenant of Your [t]slave;
You have (BU)profaned (BV)his crown to the ground.
40 You have (BW)broken down all his walls;
You have (BX)beset his strongholds with ruin.
41 (BY)All who pass along the way plunder him;
He has become a (BZ)reproach to his neighbors.
42 You have (CA)exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
You have (CB)made all his enemies be glad.
43 You also turn back the edge of his sword
And have (CC)not made him arise in battle.
44 You have made his [u](CD)splendor to cease
And cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have (CE)shortened the days of his youth;
You have (CF)wrapped him up with shame. Selah.

46 (CG)How long, O Yahweh?
Will You hide Yourself forever?
Will Your (CH)wrath burn like fire?
47 (CI)Remember [v]what my span of life is;
For what (CJ)vanity [w]You have created all the sons of men!
48 What man can live and not (CK)see death?
Can he (CL)provide his soul escape from the [x]power of Sheol? Selah.

49 Where are Your former lovingkindnesses, O Lord,
Which You (CM)swore to David in Your faithfulness?
50 Remember, O Lord, the (CN)reproach of Your [y]slaves;
[z]How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples,
51 With which (CO)Your enemies have reproached, O Yahweh,
With which they have reproached the footsteps of (CP)Your anointed.

52 (CQ)Blessed be Yahweh forever!
Amen and Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 89 Title Possibly Contemplative, Didactic, Skillful Psalm
  2. Psalm 89 Title 1 Kin 4:31
  3. Psalm 89 Title Ps 88: title
  4. Psalm 89:3 Or slave, cf. 89:39; see Foreword, “The Terminology of Slave”
  5. Psalm 89:4 Selah may mean Pause, Crescendo, Musical Interlude
  6. Psalm 89:6 Or sons of gods
  7. Psalm 89:7 Or awesome
  8. Psalm 89:10 Egypt
  9. Psalm 89:14 Or faithfulness
  10. Psalm 89:17 Or You exalt our horn
  11. Psalm 89:18 Or Even to the Holy One of Israel our King
  12. Psalm 89:19 Or ones of lovingkindness
  13. Psalm 89:19 Some mss one, cf. 16:10
  14. Psalm 89:20 Or slave,cf. 89:39; see Foreword, “The Terminology of Slave”
  15. Psalm 89:22 Or exact usury from him
  16. Psalm 89:22 Or unrighteous man
  17. Psalm 89:35 Or One thing
  18. Psalm 89:37 Selah may mean Pause, Crescendo, Musical Interlude
  19. Psalm 89:38 Lit with
  20. Psalm 89:39 Or servant, cf. Ps 89:3, 20
  21. Psalm 89:44 Lit clearness, luster
  22. Psalm 89:47 Lit of what duration I am
  23. Psalm 89:47 Or have You...men?
  24. Psalm 89:48 Lit hand
  25. Psalm 89:50 Or servants, cf. Ps 89:3, 20
  26. Psalm 89:50 Lit My bearing in my bosom

Psalm 89[a]

A maskil[b] of Ethan the Ezrahite.

I will sing(A) of the Lord’s great love forever;
    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known(B)
    through all generations.
I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
    that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.(C)
You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
    I have sworn to David my servant,
‘I will establish your line forever
    and make your throne firm through all generations.’”[c](D)

The heavens(E) praise your wonders, Lord,
    your faithfulness too, in the assembly(F) of the holy ones.
For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
    Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?(G)
In the council(H) of the holy ones(I) God is greatly feared;
    he is more awesome than all who surround him.(J)
Who is like you,(K) Lord God Almighty?(L)
    You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

You rule over the surging sea;
    when its waves mount up, you still them.(M)
10 You crushed Rahab(N) like one of the slain;
    with your strong arm you scattered(O) your enemies.
11 The heavens are yours,(P) and yours also the earth;(Q)
    you founded the world and all that is in it.(R)
12 You created the north and the south;
    Tabor(S) and Hermon(T) sing for joy(U) at your name.
13 Your arm is endowed with power;
    your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.(V)

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;(W)
    love and faithfulness go before you.(X)
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
    who walk(Y) in the light(Z) of your presence, Lord.
16 They rejoice in your name(AA) all day long;
    they celebrate your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength,(AB)
    and by your favor you exalt our horn.[d](AC)
18 Indeed, our shield[e](AD) belongs to the Lord,
    our king(AE) 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 raised up a young man from among the people.
20 I have found David(AF) my servant;(AG)
    with my sacred oil(AH) I have anointed(AI) him.
21 My hand will sustain him;
    surely my arm will strengthen him.(AJ)
22 The enemy will not get the better of him;(AK)
    the wicked will not oppress(AL) him.
23 I will crush his foes before him(AM)
    and strike down his adversaries.(AN)
24 My faithful love will be with him,(AO)
    and through my name his horn[f] will be exalted.
25 I will set his hand over the sea,
    his right hand over the rivers.(AP)
26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,(AQ)
    my God, the Rock(AR) my Savior.’(AS)
27 And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,(AT)
    the most exalted(AU) of the kings(AV) of the earth.
28 I will maintain my love to him forever,
    and my covenant with him will never fail.(AW)
29 I will establish his line forever,
    his throne as long as the heavens endure.(AX)

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;(AY)
33 but I will not take my love from him,(AZ)
    nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my covenant
    or alter what my lips have uttered.(BA)
35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
    and I will not lie to David—
36 that his line will continue forever
    and his throne endure before me like the sun;(BB)
37 it will be established forever like the moon,
    the faithful witness in the sky.”(BC)

38 But you have rejected,(BD) 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.(BE)
40 You have broken through all his walls(BF)
    and reduced his strongholds(BG) to ruins.
41 All who pass by have plundered(BH) him;
    he has become the scorn of his neighbors.(BI)
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
    you have made all his enemies rejoice.(BJ)
43 Indeed, you have turned back the edge of his sword
    and have not supported him in battle.(BK)
44 You have put an end to his splendor
    and cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short(BL) the days of his youth;
    you have covered him with a mantle of shame.(BM)

46 How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
    How long will your wrath burn like fire?(BN)
47 Remember how fleeting is my life.(BO)
    For what futility you have created all humanity!
48 Who can live and not see death,
    or who can escape the power of the grave?(BP)
49 Lord, where is your former great love,
    which in your faithfulness you swore to David?
50 Remember, Lord, how your servant has[g] been mocked,(BQ)
    how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,
51 the taunts with which your enemies, Lord, have mocked,
    with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.(BR)

52 Praise be to the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.(BS)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 89:1 In Hebrew texts 89:1-52 is numbered 89:2-53.
  2. Psalm 89:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 89:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 37, 45 and 48.
  4. Psalm 89:17 Horn here symbolizes strong one.
  5. Psalm 89:18 Or sovereign
  6. Psalm 89:24 Horn here symbolizes strength.
  7. Psalm 89:50 Or your servants have