Psalms 89
1 A psalm (maskil) of Ethan the Ezraite I will sing of the Lord's trustworthy love forever; I will tell all generations of your faithfulness.
I will sing of the chesed ·loving-kindness· of Adonai forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I have said, “Your unfailing love lasts forever; your faithfulness endures as long as the heavens.”
I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.”
3 You said, “I have made an agreement with my chosen one, I gave a binding promise to my servant David:
“I have made a covenant ·binding contract between two or more parties· with my chosen one, I have sworn to David [Beloved], my servant,
4 I will make sure your lineage lasts forever; I will keep your throne secure for all generations.” (Selah)
‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
5 All the heavenly beings will sing of the wonderful things you have done, Lord; angels will gather to sing of your faithfulness.
The heavens will yadah ·extend hands in thankful praise· of your wonders, Adonai; your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in heaven can compare to the Lord? Who is like the Lord even among the angels?
For who in the skies can be compared to Adonai? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like Adonai,
7 The heavenly council are in awe of God; all who surround him are overwhelmed by him.
a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him?
8 Lord God Almighty, who is as powerful as you? In all this, Lord, you are completely trustworthy.
Adonai, Elohim Tzva'ot [Yahweh, God Commander of heaven’s armies], who is a mighty one, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you.
9 You rule the restless seas; you calm their stormy waves.
You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them.
10 You crushed Rahab the sea-monster to death; by your power you scattered your enemies.
You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11 The heavens belong to you, and the earth too; you made the world and everything in it.
The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours; the world and its fullness. You have founded them.
12 You created north and south; Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon celebrate you.
The north and the south, you have created them. Tabor and Hermon [Devoted to destruction] rejoice in your name.
13 Your arm is powerful. Your hand is strong. Your right hand is held up high in command.
You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted.
14 Your character of goodness and fairness is the basis for the way you rule; dependable love and trustworthiness are always with you.
Righteousness and mishpat ·justice· are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face.
15 How happy are those who know how to shout your praises, Lord. They live in the light of your presence.
Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Adonai.
16 They celebrate the person you are all day long, so glad that you do what's right.
In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted.
17 They rely on you, their glory and strength; by your grace you lift us up.
For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted.
18 Yes, the Lord is the one who shields us, and our king belongs to the Holy One of Israel.
For our shield belongs to Adonai; our king to haKadosh Isra'el [the Holy One of God prevails].
19 Once you spoke in a vision to your faithful servant and said, “I have given strength to the warrior I have chosen from the people to become king.
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 selected David my servant, and I have anointed him with the oil of my holiness.
I have found David [Beloved], my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil,
21 I have placed my hand on him to steady him; and I have made him strong by my powerful arm.
with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him.
22 His enemies will not deceive him; the wicked will not bring him down.
No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him.
23 I will wipe out his enemies before him; I will strike down those who hate him.
I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him.
24 My trustworthiness and unfailing love will be with him, and through me he will be victorious.
But my faithfulness and my chesed ·loving-kindness· will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted.
25 I will extend his rule from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River.
I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.’
He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my yishu'ah ·salvation·!’
27 I will also make him my first-born son, the highest of the kings of the earth.
I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
28 I will love him faithfully forever; my agreement with him shall never come to an end.
I will keep my chesed ·loving-kindness· for him forever more. My covenant ·binding contract between two or more parties· will stand firm with him.
29 I will make sure his royal line lasts forever; his dynasty will continue as long as the heavens endure.
I will also make his offspring endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
30 But if his descendants abandon my laws, if they do not follow my rules,
If his children forsake my Torah ·Teaching·, and don’t walk in my judgments;
31 if they break my decrees, and do not keep my commandments,
if they break my regulations, and don’t keep my mitzvot ·instructions·;
32 I will punish their rebellion by beating them with a rod, and their sin by lashing them with a whip.
then I will punish their rebellious breach of relationship with the rod, and their depravity (moral evil) with stripes.
33 However, I will not take away my love from him; I will not break my promise to him.
But I will not completely take my chesed ·loving-kindness· from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail.
34 I will not annul the agreement I have with him; I will not alter a single word I've said.
I will not break my covenant ·binding contract between two or more parties·, nor alter what my lips have uttered.
35 By my holy character I have made a vow to David that I will not lie to him.
Once have I sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David [Beloved].
36 His royal line will last forever, and his dynasty will continue before me as long as the sun endures.
His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me.
37 It will continue forever like the moon, an enduring witness in the heavens.” (Selah)
It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
38 But you have rejected and abandoned him! You are angry with your chosen king!
But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.
39 You have broken the agreement you had with him; you have thrown his crown to the ground!
You have renounced the covenant ·binding contract between two or more parties· of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust.
40 You have torn down his defensive walls; you have ruined his fortresses.
You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
41 Everyone who passes by has robbed him; he has become an object of mockery to the nations nearby.
All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors.
42 You have made his enemies strong; you have made them celebrate their victory.
You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice.
43 You have repelled his sharp sword; you have not helped him in battle.
Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven’t supported him in battle.
44 You took away his glory; you threw his throne to the ground.
You have ended his splendor, and thrown his throne down to the ground.
45 You have made him grow old before his time; you have totally humiliated him. (Selah)
You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
46 How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself from us forever, your anger burning like fire?
How long, Adonai? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember me—my life is so short! Why did you bother creating futile humanity?
Remember how short my time is! For what vanity have you created all the children of men!
48 There's no one who doesn't die—no one can save themselves from the power of the grave. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol ·Place of the dead·? (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·. (Sheol h7585)
49 Where is the trustworthy love you used to have, Lord, that you faithfully promised to David?
Lord, where are your former chesed ·loving-kindnesses·, which you swore to David [Beloved] in your faithfulness?
50 Don't forget, Lord, how your servants are being humiliated! I'm burdened down with the insults of so many nations!
Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples,
51 Your enemies taunt me, Lord, mocking your king wherever he goes.
With which your enemies have mocked, Adonai, with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one.
52 May the Lord be blessed for ever. Amen and amen.
Blessed be Adonai forever more. Amen v'Amen ·So be it and So be it·.
