Psalms

1An instruction, by Ethan the Ezrahite. Of the kind acts of Jehovah, to the age I sing, To all generations I make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth,

2For I said, 'To the age is kindness built, The heavens! Thou dost establish Thy faithfulness in them.'

3I have made a covenant for My chosen, I have sworn to David My servant:

4'Even to the age do I establish thy seed, And have built to generation and generation thy throne. Selah.

5and the heavens confess Thy wonders, O Jehovah, Thy faithfulness also [is] in an assembly of holy ones.

6For who in the sky, Compareth himself to Jehovah? Is like to Jehovah among sons of the mighty?

7God is very terrible, In the secret counsel of His holy ones, And fearful over all surrounding Him.

8O Jehovah, God of Hosts, Who [is] like Thee — a strong Jah? And Thy faithfulness [is] round about Thee.

9Thou [art] ruler over the pride of the sea, In the lifting up of its billows Thou dost restrain them.

10Thou hast bruised Rahab, as one wounded. With the arm of Thy strength Thou hast scattered Thine enemies.

11Thine [are] the heavens — the earth also [is] Thine, The habitable world and its fulness, Thou hast founded them.

12North and south Thou hast appointed them, Tabor and Hermon in Thy name do sing.

13Thou hast an arm with might, Strong is Thy hand — high Thy right hand.

14Righteousness and judgment [Are] the fixed place of Thy throne, Kindness and truth go before Thy face.

15O the happiness of the people knowing the shout, O Jehovah, in the light of Thy face they walk habitually.

16In Thy name they rejoice all the day, And in Thy righteousness they are exalted,

17For the beauty of their strength [art] Thou, And in Thy good will is our horn exalted,

18For of Jehovah [is] our shield, And of the Holy One of Israel our king.

19Then Thou hast spoken in vision, To Thy saint, yea, Thou sayest, I have placed help upon a mighty one, Exalted a chosen one out of the people,

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

21With whom My hand is established, My arm also doth strengthen him.

22An enemy exacteth not upon him, And a son of perverseness afflicteth him not.

23And I have beaten down before him his adversaries, And those hating him I plague,

24And My faithfulness and kindness [are] with him, And in My name is his horn exalted.

25And I have set on the sea his hand, And on the rivers his right hand.

26He proclaimeth me: 'Thou [art] my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.'

27I also first-born do appoint him, Highest of the kings of the earth.

28To the age I keep for him My kindness, And My covenant [is] stedfast with him.

29And I have set his seed for ever, And his throne as the days of the heavens.

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

31If My statutes they pollute, And My commands do not keep,

32I have looked after with a rod their transgression, And with strokes their iniquity,

33And My kindness I break not from him, Nor do I deal falsely in My faithfulness.

34I profane not My covenant, And that which is going forth from My lips I change not.

35Once I have sworn by My holiness, I lie not to David,

36His seed is to the age, And his throne [is] as the sun before Me,

37As the moon it is established — to the age, And the witness in the sky is stedfast. Selah.

38And Thou, Thou hast cast off, and dost reject, Thou hast shown Thyself wroth With Thine anointed,

39Hast rejected the covenant of Thy servant, Thou hast polluted to the earth his crown,

40Thou hast broken down all his hedges, Thou hast made his fenced places a ruin.

41Spoiled him have all passing by the way, He hath been a reproach to his neighbours,

42Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries, Thou hast caused all his enemies to rejoice.

43Also — Thou turnest back the sharpness of his sword, And hast not established him in battle,

44Hast caused [him] to cease from his brightness, And his throne to the earth hast cast down.

45Thou hast shortened the days of his youth, Hast covered him over [with] shame. Selah.

46Till when, O Jehovah, art Thou hidden? For ever doth Thy fury burn as fire?

47Remember, I pray Thee, what [is] life-time? Wherefore in vain hast Thou created All the sons of men?

48Who [is] the man that liveth, and doth not see death? He delivereth his soul from the hand of Sheol. Selah.

49Where [are] Thy former kindnesses, O Lord. Thou hast sworn to David in Thy faithfulness,

50Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Thy servants, I have borne in my bosom all the strivings of the peoples,

51Wherewith Thine enemies reproached, O Jehovah, Wherewith they have reproached The steps of Thine anointed.

52Blessed [is] Jehovah to the age. Amen, and amen!

A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite.

1I will sing of the loving kindness of the LORD forever.With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

2I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever.You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.”

3“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,I have sworn to David, my servant,

4‘I will establish your offspring forever,and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah.

5The heavens will praise your wonders, LORD,your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.

6For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?Who amongst the sons of the heavenly beings is like the LORD,

7a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones,to be feared above all those who are around him?

8LORD,God of Armies, who is a mighty one, like you?LORD,your faithfulness is around you.

9You rule the pride of the sea.When its waves rise up, you calm them.

10You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain.You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

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

12You have created the north and the south.Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.

13You have a mighty arm.Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted.

14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.Loving kindness and truth go before your face.

15Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you.They walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

16In your name they rejoice all day.In your righteousness, they are exalted.

17For you are the glory of their strength.In your favour, our horn will be exalted.

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

19Then 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.

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

21with whom my hand shall be established.My arm will also strengthen him.

22No enemy will tax him.No wicked man will oppress him.

23I will beat down his adversaries before him,and strike those who hate him.

24But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him.In my name, his horn will be exalted.

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

26He will call to me, ‘You are my Father,my God, and the rock of my salvation!’

27I will also appoint him my firstborn,the highest of the kings of the earth.

28I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more.My covenant will stand firm with him.

29I will also make his offspring endure forever,and his throne as the days of heaven.

30If his children forsake my law,and don’t walk in my ordinances;

31if they break my statutes,and don’t keep my commandments;

32then I will punish their sin with the rod,and their iniquity with stripes.

33But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him,nor allow my faithfulness to fail.

34I will not break my covenant,nor alter what my lips have uttered.

35Once I have sworn by my holiness,I will not lie to David.

36His offspring will endure forever,his throne like the sun before me.

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

38But you have rejected and spurned.You have been angry with your anointed.

39You have renounced the covenant of your servant.You have defiled his crown in the dust.

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

41All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbours.

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

43Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword,and haven’t supported him in battle.

44You have ended his splendour,and thrown his throne down to the ground.

45You have shortened the days of his youth.You have covered him with shame. Selah.

46How long, LORD?Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire?

47Remember how short my time is,for what vanity you have created all the children of men!

48What man is he who shall live and not see death,who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?Selah.

49Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses,which you swore to David in your faithfulness?

50Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants,how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples,

51With which your enemies have mocked, LORD,with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one.

52Blessed be the LORD forever more. Amen, and Amen.