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