Psalms 89
1 A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
2 I will sing of the LORD’s steadfast love forever; from generation to generation I will proclaim your faithfulness with my mouth.
3 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
4 “I made a covenant with my chosen one; I swore to David, my servant:
5 ‘I will establish your descendants forever and build your throne from generation to generation.’” Selah.
6 The heavens praise your wonder, LORD, and your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
7 For who in the clouds compares with the LORD? Who among the sons of the gods is like the LORD?
8 God is feared in the great council of the holy ones, and awe-inspiring above all who surround him.
9 LORD, God of Armies, who is like you, mighty LORD? Your faithfulness surrounds you.
10 You rule the sea’s raging; when its waves rise, you calm them.
11 You crushed Rahab like a corpse; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
12 The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours too; you founded the world and everything in it.
13 You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.
14 Mighty is your arm; your hand is strong, your right hand lifted high.
15 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
16 Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; LORD, they walk in the light of your face.
17 They rejoice in your name all day long, and are lifted high by your righteousness.
18 For you are the glory of their strength, and by your favor our strength is lifted up.
19 For our shield belongs to the LORD, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.
20 Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful ones and said, “I have given help to a warrior; I have raised up a chosen one from among the people.
21 I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him.
22 My hand will be firm with him; my arm will also strengthen him.
23 No enemy will surprise him, and no son of injustice will oppress him.
24 I will crush his adversaries before him and strike down those who hate him.
25 My faithfulness and steadfast love will be with him, and his strength will rise in my name.
26 I will set his hand over the sea, and his right hand over the rivers.
27 He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.’”
28 “I will also make him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
29 I will keep my steadfast love for him forever; my covenant with him will stand firm.
30 I will make his descendants endure forever, and his throne last as long as the days of heaven.
31 His children may abandon my law and fail to walk according to my rules.
32 They may profane my decrees and fail to keep my commandments.
33 Then I will punish their rebellion with a rod, and their guilt with blows.
34 But I will not take my steadfast love from him; I will not betray my faithfulness.
35 I will not profane my covenant; I will not change what has left my lips.
36 Once I swore by my holiness: I will not lie to David.
37 His descendants will endure forever, and his throne will be like the sun before me.
38 Like the moon, it will be established forever; a faithful witness in the heavens.” Selah.
39 But you have rejected and despised him; you have been furious with your anointed one.
40 You have repudiated your servant’s covenant; you have profaned his crown on the ground.
41 You have broken down all his walls; you have laid his strongholds in ruins.
42 All who pass along the road have plundered him; he has become a disgrace to his neighbors.
43 You have raised the right hand of his adversaries; you have made all his enemies rejoice.
44 You have also blunted the edge of his sword; you have not sustained him in battle.
45 You have ended his splendor and cast his throne to the ground.
46 You have cut short the days of his youth; you have clothed him with shame. Selah.
47 How long, LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your anger burn like fire?
48 Remember me: how long does life last? Why did you create all human beings in vain?
49 What man lives without seeing death? Who can rescue his own life from the hand of Sheol? Selah.
50 Where are your former acts of steadfast love, Lord? You swore them to David by your faithfulness.
51 Remember, Lord, the shame of your servants; I carry in my heart the taunts of many peoples.
52 With it your enemies have mocked, LORD; they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one.
53 Blessed be the LORD forever. Amen and amen.
Read and listen to this chapter in the Shalem app, free: narration, chapter video and reading progress. Get the app