1 A Contemplation of Ethan the Ezrahite. 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. |