Psalms 89

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[1]The Psalmist praiseth God for his covenanted mercies to David: [5]for his mighty power, and moral perfections: [15]for his care of his people: [19]for his promised favour to the kingdom of David: [38]then complaining of contrary events, [46]he expostulateth, prayeth, and in the end blesseth God.

Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

1. I WILL sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

2. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

3. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,

4. Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.

5. And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

6. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?

7. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

8. O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

9. Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

10. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

11. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

12. The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

13. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

14. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

15. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

16. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

17. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

18. For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

19. Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

20. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

21. With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.

22. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

23. And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

24. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

25. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

26. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

27. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

28. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

29. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

30. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

31. If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;

32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

33. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

34. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

35. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

36. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.

37. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

38. But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

39. Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.

41. All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.

42. Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.

43. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.

44. Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.

45. The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

46. How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

47. Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

48. What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

49. Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?

50. Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;

51. Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; where-with they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.

52. Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I WILL sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah. But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground. Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin. All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours. Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle. Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground. The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah. How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah. Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth? Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people; Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; where-with they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed. Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

NKJV

1. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;
With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.

2. For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever;
Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.”

3. “I have made a covenant with My chosen,
I have sworn to My servant David:

4. ‘Your seed I will establish forever,
And build up your throne to all generations.’ ” Selah

5. And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.

6. For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord?
Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?

7. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,
And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.

8. O Lord God of hosts,
Who is mighty like You, O Lord?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.

9. You rule the raging of the sea;
When its waves rise, You still them.

10. You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain;
You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.

11. The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all its fullness, You have founded them.

12. The north and the south, You have created them;
Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name.

13. You have a mighty arm;
Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.

14. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Mercy and truth go before Your face.

15. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.

16. In Your name they rejoice all day long,
And in Your righteousness they are exalted.

17. For You are the glory of their strength,
And in Your favor our horn is exalted.

18. For our shield belongs to the Lord,
And our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19. Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one,
And said: “I have given help to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from the people.

20. I have found My servant David;
With My holy oil I have anointed him,

21. With whom My hand shall be established;
Also My arm shall strengthen him.

22. The enemy shall not outwit him,
Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

23. I will beat down his foes before his face,
And plague those who hate him.

24. “But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him,
And in My name his horn shall be exalted.

25. Also I will set his hand over the sea,
And his right hand over the rivers.

26. He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father,
My God, and the rock of my salvation.’

27. Also I will make him My firstborn,
The highest of the kings of the earth.

28. My mercy I will keep for him forever,
And My covenant shall stand firm with him.

29. His seed also I will make to endure forever,
And his throne as the days of heaven.

30. “If his sons forsake My law
And do not walk in My judgments,

31. If they break My statutes
And do not keep My commandments,

32. Then I will punish their transgression with the rod,
And their iniquity with stripes.

33. Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him,
Nor allow My faithfulness to fail.

34. My covenant I will not break,
Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.

35. Once I have sworn by My holiness;
I will not lie to David:

36. His seed shall endure forever,
And his throne as the sun before Me;

37. It shall be established forever like the moon,
Even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah

38. But You have cast off and abhorred,
You have been furious with Your anointed.

39. You have renounced the covenant of Your servant;
You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

40. You have broken down all his hedges;
You have brought his strongholds to ruin.

41. All who pass by the way plunder him;
He is a reproach to his neighbors.

42. You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
You have made all his enemies rejoice.

43. You have also turned back the edge of his sword,
And have not sustained him in the battle.

44. You have made his glory cease,
And cast his throne down to the ground.

45. The days of his youth You have shortened;
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 futility have You created all the children of men?

48. What man can live and not see death?
Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah

49. Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses,
Which You swore to David in Your truth?

50. Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants—
How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples,

51. With which Your enemies have reproached, O Lord,
With which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed.

52. Blessed be the Lord forevermore!
Amen and Amen.

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;
With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever;
Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.” “I have made a covenant with My chosen,
I have sworn to My servant David: ‘Your seed I will establish forever,
And build up your throne to all generations.’ ” Selah And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints. For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord?
Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,
And to be held in reverence by all those around Him. O Lord God of hosts,
Who is mighty like You, O Lord?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea;
When its waves rise, You still them. You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain;
You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm. The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all its fullness, You have founded them. The north and the south, You have created them;
Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name. You have a mighty arm;
Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Mercy and truth go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long,
And in Your righteousness they are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength,
And in Your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the Lord,
And our king to the Holy One of Israel. Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one,
And said: “I have given help to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from the people. I have found My servant David;
With My holy oil I have anointed him, With whom My hand shall be established;
Also My arm shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him,
Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. I will beat down his foes before his face,
And plague those who hate him. “But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him,
And in My name his horn shall be exalted. Also I will set his hand over the sea,
And his right hand over the rivers. He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father,
My God, and the rock of my salvation.’ Also I will make him My firstborn,
The highest of the kings of the earth. My mercy I will keep for him forever,
And My covenant shall stand firm with him. His seed also I will make to endure forever,
And his throne as the days of heaven. “If his sons forsake My law
And do not walk in My judgments, If they break My statutes
And do not keep My commandments, Then I will punish their transgression with the rod,
And their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him,
Nor allow My faithfulness to fail. My covenant I will not break,
Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness;
I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure forever,
And his throne as the sun before Me; It shall be established forever like the moon,
Even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah But You have cast off and abhorred,
You have been furious with Your anointed. You have renounced the covenant of Your servant;
You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground. You have broken down all his hedges;
You have brought his strongholds to ruin. All who pass by the way plunder him;
He is a reproach to his neighbors. You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
You have made all his enemies rejoice. You have also turned back the edge of his sword,
And have not sustained him in the battle. You have made his glory cease,
And cast his throne down to the ground. The days of his youth You have shortened;
You have covered him with shame. Selah How long, Lord?
Will You hide Yourself forever?
Will Your wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is;
For what futility have You created all the children of men? What man can live and not see death?
Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses,
Which You swore to David in Your truth? Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants—
How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples, With which Your enemies have reproached, O Lord,
With which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed. Blessed be the Lord forevermore!
Amen and Amen.

Metrical version

Psalm 89

C.M. Dunfermline, Effingham

GOD's mercies I will ever sing;
and with my mouth I shall
Thy faithfulness make to be known
to generations all.

For mercy shall be built, said I,
for ever to endure;
Thy faithfulness, ev'n in the heav'ns,
thou wilt establish sure.

I with my chosen One have made
a cov'nant graciously;
And to my servant, whom I loved,
to David sworn have I;

That I thy seed establish shall
for ever to remain,
And will to generations all
thy throne build and maintain.

The praises of thy wonders, LORD,
the heavens shall express;
And in the congregation
of saints thy faithfulness.

For who in heaven with the LORD
may once himself compare?
Who is like GOD among the sons
of those that mighty are?

Great fear in meeting of the saints
is due unto the Lord;
And he of all about him should
with rev'rence be adored.

O thou that art the LORD of hosts,
what Lord in mightiness
Is like to thee? who compassed round
art with thy faithfulness.

Ev'n in the raging of the sea
thou over it dost reign;
And when the waves thereof do swell,
thou stillest them again.

Rahab in pieces thou didst break,
like one that slaughtered is;
And with thy mighty arm thou hast
dispersed thine enemies.

The heav'ns are thine, thou for thine own
the earth dost also take;
The world, and fulness of the same,
thy pow'r did found and make.

The north and south from thee alone
their first beginning had;
Both Tabor mount and Hermon hill
shall in thy name be glad.

Thou hast an arm that's full of power,
thy hand is great in might;
And thy right hand exceedingly
exalted is in height.

Justice and judgment of thy throne
are made the dwelling-place;
Mercy, accompanied with truth,
shall go before thy face.

O greatly blessed the people are
the joyful sound that know;
In brightness of thy face, O LORD,
they ever on shall go.

They in thy name shall all the day
rejoice exceedingly;
And in thy righteousness shall they
exalted be on high.

Because the glory of their strength
doth only stand in thee;
And in thy favour shall our horn
and pow'r exalted be.

For GOD is our defence; and he
to us doth safety bring:
The Holy One of Israel
is our almighty King.

In vision to thy Holy One
thou saidst, I help upon
A strong one laid; out of the folk
I raised a chosen one;

Ev'n David, I have found him out
a servant unto me;
And with my holy oil my King
anointed him to be.

With whom my hand shall stablished be;
mine arm shall make him strong.
On him the foe shall not exact,
nor son of mischief wrong.

I will beat down before his face
all his malicious foes;
I will them greatly plague who do
with hatred him oppose.

My mercy and my faithfulness
with him yet still shall be;
And in my name his horn and pow'r
men shall exalted see.

His hand and pow'r shall reach afar;
I'll set it in the sea;
And his right hand established
shall in the rivers be.

Thou art my Father, he shall cry,
thou art my God alone;
And he shall say, Thou art the Rock
of my salvation.

I'll make him my first-born, more high
than kings of any land.
My love I'll ever keep for him,
my cov'nant fast shall stand.

His seed I by my pow'r will make
for ever to endure;
And, as the days of heav'n, his throne
shall stable be, and sure.

But if his children shall forsake
my laws, and go astray,
And in my judgments shall not walk,
but wander from my way:

If they my laws break, and do not
keep my commandments;
I'll visit then their faults with rods,
their sins with chastisements.

Yet I'll not take my love from him,
nor false my promise make.
My cov'nant I'll not break, nor change
what with my mouth I spake.

Once by my holiness I sware,
to David I'll not lie;
His seed and throne shall, as the sun,
before me last for aye.

It, like the moon, shall ever be
established stedfastly;
And like to that which in the heav'n
doth witness faithfully.

But thou, displeased, hast cast off,
thou didst abhor and loathe;
With him that thine anointed is
thou hast been very wroth.

Thou hast thy servant's covenant
made void, and quite cast by;
Thou hast profaned his crown, while it
cast on the ground doth lie.

Thou all his hedges hast broke down,
his strongholds down hast torn.
He to all passers-by a spoil,
to neighbours is a scorn.

Thou hast set up his foes' right hand;
mad'st all his en'mies glad:
Turned his sword's edge, and him to stand
in battle hast not made.

His glory thou hast made to cease,
his throne to ground down cast;
Shortened his days of youth, and him
with shame thou covered hast.

How long, LORD, wilt thou hide thyself?
for ever, in thine ire?
And shall thine indignation
burn like unto a fire?

Remember, Lord, how short a time
I shall on earth remain:
O wherefore is it so that thou
hast made all men in vain?

What man is he that liveth here,
and death shall never see?
Or from the power of the grave
what man his soul shall free?

Thy former loving-kindnesses,
O Lord, where be they now?
Those which in truth and faithfulness
to David sworn hast thou?

Mind, Lord, thy servant's sad reproach;
how I in bosom bear
The scornings of the people all,
who strong and mighty are.

Wherewith thy raging enemies
reproached, O LORD, think on;
Wherewith they have reproached the steps
of thine anointed one.

All blessing to the LORD our God
let be ascribed then:
For evermore so let it be.
Amen, yea, and amen.