A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

1I will sing of thy steadfast love, O LORD,89.1 Gk: Heb the steadfast love of the LORD for ever;

with my mouth I will proclaim thy faithfulness to all generations.

2For thy steadfast love was established for ever,

thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens.

389.3-4: Ps 132.11; Acts 2.30.Thou hast said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,

I have sworn to David my servant:

4‘I will establish your descendants for ever,

and build your throne for all generations.’ ” Selah

5Let the heavens praise thy wonders, O LORD,

thy faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!

6For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?

Who among the heavenly beings89.6 Or sons of gods is like the LORD,

7a God feared in the council of the holy ones,

great and terrible89.7 Gk Syr: Heb greatly terrible above all that are round about him?

8O LORD God of hosts,

who is mighty as thou art, O LORD,

with thy faithfulness round about thee?

9Thou dost rule the raging of the sea;

when its waves rise, thou stillest them.

10Thou didst crush Rahab like a carcass,

thou didst scatter thy enemies with thy mighty arm.

11The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine;

the world and all that is in it, thou hast founded them.

12The north and the south, thou hast created them;

Tabor and Hermon joyously praise thy name.

13Thou hast a mighty arm;

strong is thy hand, high thy right hand.

14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne;

steadfast love and faithfulness go before thee.

15Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,

who walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance,

16who exult in thy name all the day,

and extol89.16 Cn: Heb are exalted in thy righteousness.

17For thou art the glory of their strength;

by thy favour our horn is exalted.

18For our shield belongs to the LORD,

our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19Of old thou didst speak in a vision

to thy faithful one, and say:

“I have set the crown89.19 Cn: Heb help upon one who is mighty,

I have exalted one chosen from the people.

2089.20: Acts 13.22.I have found David, my servant;

with my holy oil I have anointed him;

21so that my hand shall ever abide with him,

my arm also shall strengthen him.

22The enemy shall not outwit him,

the wicked shall not humble him.

23I will crush his foes before him

and strike down those who hate him.

24My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,

and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

25I will set his hand on the sea

and his right hand on the rivers.

26He shall cry to me, ‘Thou art my Father,

my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’

2789.27: Rev 1.5.And I will make him the first-born,

the highest of the kings of the earth.

28My steadfast love I will keep for him for ever,

and my covenant will stand firm for him.

29I will establish his line for ever

and his throne as the days of the heavens.

30If his children forsake my law

and do not walk according to my ordinances,

31if they violate my statutes

and do not keep my commandments,

32then I will punish their transgression with the rod

and their iniquity with scourges;

33but I will not remove from him my steadfast love,

or be false to my faithfulness.

34I will not violate my covenant,

or alter the word that went forth from my lips.

35Once for all I have sworn by my holiness;

I will not lie to David.

36His line shall endure for ever,

his throne as long as the sun before me.

3789.37: Rev 1.5; 3.14.Like the moon it shall be established for ever;

it shall stand firm while the skies endure.”89.37 Cn: Heb the witness in the skies is sure Selah

38But now thou hast cast off and rejected,

thou art full of wrath against thy anointed.

39Thou hast renounced the covenant with thy servant;

thou hast defiled his crown in the dust.

40Thou hast breached all his walls;

thou hast laid his strongholds in ruins.

41All that pass by despoil him;

he has become the scorn of his neighbours.

42Thou hast exalted the right hand of his foes;

thou hast made all his enemies rejoice.

43Yea, thou hast turned back the edge of his sword,

and thou hast not made him stand in battle.

44Thou hast removed the sceptre from his hand,89.44 Cn: Heb removed his cleanness

and cast his throne to the ground.

45Thou hast cut short the days of his youth;

thou hast covered him with shame. Selah

46How long, O LORD? Wilt thou hide thyself for ever?

How long will thy wrath burn like fire?

47Remember, O Lord,89.47 Cn: Heb I what the measure of life is,

for what vanity thou hast created all the sons of men!

48What man can live and never see death?

Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

49Lord, where is thy steadfast love of old,

which by thy faithfulness thou didst swear to David?

50Remember, O Lord, how thy servant is scorned;

how I bear in my bosom the insults89.50 Cn: Heb all of many of the peoples,

51with which thy enemies taunt, O LORD,

with which they mock the footsteps of thy anointed.

52Blessed be the LORD for ever!

Amen and Amen.