1 PSALM 89 The L ’ Covenant with David, and Israel’s Afflictions. A skillful song, a didactic reflective poem, of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the goodnessandlovingkindness of the Lforever;With my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness from generation to generation.
2 For I have said, “Goodnessandlovingkindness will be built up forever;In the heavens [unchangeable and majestic] You will establish Your faithfulness.”
3 [God has said] “I have made a covenant with My chosen one;I have sworn to David My servant,
4 I will establish your seed foreverAnd I will build up your throne for all generations.” Selah.
5 The heavens (angels) praise Your wonders, O L,Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the L?Who among the divine beings is like the L,
7 A God greatly fearedandreverently worshiped in the council of the holy [angelic] ones,And awesome above all those who are around Him?
8 O LGod of hosts, who is like You, O mighty L?Your faithfulness surrounds You [as an intrinsic, unchangeable part of Your very being].
9 You rule the swelling of the sea;When its waves rise, You still them.
10 You have crushed Rahab (Egypt) like 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 that is in it, You have foundedandestablished them.
12 The north and the south, You have created them;Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon shout for joy at Your name.
13 You have a strong arm;Mighty is Your hand, Your right hand is exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;Lovingkindness and truth go before You.
15 Blessedandhappy are the people who know the joyful sound [of the trumpet’s blast]!They walk, O L, in the lightandfavor of Your countenance!
16 In Your name they rejoice all the day,And in Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of their strength [their proud adornment],And by Your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the L,And our king to the Holy One of Israel.
19 Once You spoke in a vision to Your godly ones,And said, “I have given help to one who is mighty [giving him the power to be a champion for Israel];I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found David My servant;With My holy oil I have anointed him,
21 With whom My hand shall be establishedandsteadfast;My arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy will not outwit him,Nor will the wicked man afflictorhumiliate him.
23 I will crush his adversaries before him,And strike those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and My steadfast lovingkindness shall be with him,And in My name shall his horn be exalted [great power and prosperity shall be conferred upon him].
25 I will alsoI.e. extend his area of influence.set his hand on the [Mediterranean] sea,And his right hand on the rivers [the tributaries of the Euphrates].
26 He will cry to Me, ‘You are my Father,My God, and the rock of my salvation.’
27 I will also make him My firstborn (preeminent),The highest of the kings of the earth.
28 My lovingkindness I will keep for him forevermore,And My covenant will be confirmed to him.
29 His descendants I will establish forever,And his throne [will endure] as the days of heaven.
30 “If his childrenLit forsake.turn away from My lawAnd do not walk in My ordinances,
31 If they break My statutesAnd do not keep My commandments,
32 Then I will punish their transgression with the rod [of discipline],And [correct] their wickedness with stripes.
33 Nevertheless, I will not break off My lovingkindness from him,Nor allow My faithfulness to fail.
34 My covenant I will not violate,Nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.
35 Once [for all] I have sworn by My holiness, [My vow which cannot be violated];I will not lie to David.
36 HisLit seed.descendants shall endure foreverAnd his throne [will continue] as the sun before Me.
37 It shall be established forever like the moon,And the witness in the heavens is ever faithful.” Selah.
38 But [in apparent contradiction of all this] You [the faithful L] have cast off and rejected;You have been full of wrath against Your anointed.
39 You have spurnedandrepudiated the covenant with Your servant;You have profaned his crown [by casting it] in the dust.
40 You have broken down all his [city] walls;You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
41 All who pass along the road rob him;He has become the scorn of his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;You have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 Also, You have turned back the edge of his swordAnd have not made him [strong enough] to stand in battle.
44 You have put an end to his splendorAnd have hurled his throne to the ground.
45 You have shortened the days of his youth;You have covered him with shame. Selah.
46 How long, O L?Will You hide Yourself forever?Will Your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how fleeting my lifetime is;For what vanity, [for what emptiness, for what futility, for what wisp of smoke] You have created all the sons of men!
48 What man can live and not see death?Can he rescue his soul from the [powerful] hand of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead)? Selah.
49 O Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses [so abundant in the days of David and Solomon],Which You swore to David in Your faithfulness?
50 Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants [scorned, insulted, and disgraced];How I bear inLit the fold of my garment.my heart the reproach of all the many peoples,
51 With which Your enemies have taunted, O L,With which they have mocked the footsteps of Your anointed.