(A special psalm by Ethan the Ezrahite.)89 Title: 1 K 4.31.

The LORD's agreement with David

1Our LORD, I will sing

of your love for ever.

Everyone yet to be born

will hear me praise

your faithfulness.

2I will tell them, “God's love

can always be trusted,

and his faithfulness lasts

as long as the heavens.”

3You said, “David, my servant,

is my chosen one,

and this is the agreement

I made with him:

4David, one of your descendants89.4: 2 S 7.12-16; 1 Ch 17.11-14; Ps 132.11; Ac 2.30.

will always be king.”

5Our LORD, let the heavens

now praise your miracles,

and let all your angels

praise your faithfulness.

6None who live in the heavens

can compare with you.

7You are the most fearsome

of all who live in heaven;

all the others fear

and greatly honour you.

8You are LORD God All-Powerful!

No one is as loving

and faithful as you are.

9You rule the roaring sea

and calm its waves.

10You crushed the monster Rahab,89.10 Rahab: Many people in the ancient world thought that the world was controlled by this sea monster that the Lord destroyed at the time of creation (see Isaiah 51.9).

and with your powerful arm

you scattered your enemies.

11The heavens and the earth

belong to you.

And so does the world

with all its people

because you created them

12and everything else.89.12 and everything else: The Hebrew text has “Zaphon and Yamin”, which may either be the names of mountains or refer to the directions “north and south”, with the meaning “everything from north to south”.

Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon

gladly praise you.

13You are strong and mighty!

14Your kingdom is ruled

by justice and fairness

with love and faithfulness

leading the way.

15Our LORD, you bless those

who join in the festival

and walk in the brightness

of your presence.

16We are happy all day

because of you,

and your saving power

brings honour to us.

17Your own glorious power

makes us strong,

and because of your kindness,

our strength increases.

18Our LORD and our King,

the Holy One of Israel,

you are truly our shield.

19In a vision, you once said

to your faithful followers:

“I have helped a mighty hero.

I chose him from my people

and made him famous.

20David, my servant, is the one89.20: a 1 S 13.14; Ac 13.22; b 1 S 16.12.

I chose to be king,

21and I will always be there

to help and strengthen him.

22“No enemy will outsmart David,

and he won't be defeated

by any hateful people.

23I will strike down and crush

his troublesome enemies.

24He will always be able

to depend on my love,

and I will make him strong

with my own power.

25I will let him rule the lands

across the rivers and seas.

26He will say to me,

‘You are my Father

and my God,

as well as the mighty rock89.26 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.

where I am safe.’

27“I have chosen David89.27: Rev 1.5.

as my firstborn son,

and he will be the ruler

of all kings on earth.

28My love for him will last,

and my agreement with him

will never be broken.

29“One of David's descendants

will always be king,

and his family will rule

until the sky disappears.

30Suppose some of his children

should reject my Law

and refuse my instructions.

31Or suppose they should disobey

all of my teachings.

32Then I will correct

and punish them

because of their sins.

33But I will always love David

and faithfully keep all

of my promises to him.

34“I won't break my agreement

or go back on my word.

35I have sworn once and for all

by my own holy name,

and I won't lie to David.

36His family will always rule.

I will let his kingdom last

as long as the sun 37and moon

appear in the sky.”

38You are now angry, God,

and you have turned your back

on your chosen king.

39You broke off your agreement

with your servant, the king,

and you completely destroyed

his kingdom.

40The walls of his city

have been broken through,

and every fortress

now lies in ruin.

41All who pass by

take what they want,

and nations everywhere

joke about the king.

42You made his enemies powerful

and let them celebrate.

43But you forced him to retreat

because you did not fight

on his side.

44You took his crown89.44 You took…crown: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

and threw his throne

to the ground.

45You made an old man of him

and put him to shame.

46How much longer, LORD?

Will you hide for ever?

How long will your anger

keep burning like fire?

47Remember, life is short!89.47 Remember…short: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

Why did you empty our lives

of all meaning?

48No one can escape the power

of death and the grave.

49Our Lord, where is the love

you have always shown

and that you promised

so faithfully to David?

50Remember your servant, Lord!

People make jokes about me,

and I suffer many insults.

51I am your chosen one,

but your enemies chase

and make fun of me.

52Our LORD, we praise you

for ever. Amen and amen.