1Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.2For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.3I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,4Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.5And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.6For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?7God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.8O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?9Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.10Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.11The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.12The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.13Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.14Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.15Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.16In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.17For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.18For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.19Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.20I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:21With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.22The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.23And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.24But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.25I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.26He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.27Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.28My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.29His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.30If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;31If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;32Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.33Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.34My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.35Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.36His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.37It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.38But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.39Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.40Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.41All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.42Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.43Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.44Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.45The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.46How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?47Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?48What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.49Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?50Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;51Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.52Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.
1LORD, I will sing about your great love for ever. For all time to come, I will tell how faithful you are.2I will tell everyone that your love stands firm for ever. I will tell them that you are always faithful, even in heaven itself.3You said, ‘Here is the covenant I have made with my chosen one. Here is the promise I have made to my servant David.4“I will make your family line continue for ever. I will make your kingdom secure for all time to come.” ’5LORD, the heavens praise you for your wonderful deeds. When your holy angels gather together, they praise you for how faithful you are.6Who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who among the angels is like the LORD?7God is highly respected among his holy angels. He’s more wonderful than all those who are around him.8LORD God who rules over all, who is like you? LORD, you are mighty. You are faithful in everything you do.9You rule over the stormy sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them down.10You crushed Egypt and killed her people. With your powerful arm you scattered your enemies.11The heavens belong to you. The earth is yours also. You made the world and everything that is in it.12You created everything from north to south. Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon sing to you with joy.13Your arm is powerful. Your hand is strong. Your right hand is mighty.14Your kingdom is built on what is right and fair. Your faithful love leads the way in front of you.15Blessed are those who have learned to shout praise to you. LORD, they live in the light of your kindness.16All day long they are full of joy because of who you are. They celebrate the fact that you do what is right.17You bring them glory and give them strength. You are pleased to honour our king.18Our king is like a shield that keeps us safe. He belongs to the LORD. He belongs to the Holy One of Israel.19You once spoke to your faithful people in a vision. You said, ‘I have given strength to a soldier. I have raised up a young man from among the people.20I have found my servant David. I have poured my sacred oil on his head.21My powerful hand will keep him going. My mighty arm will give him strength.22No enemy will have the victory over him. No evil person will treat him badly.23I will crush the king’s enemies. I will completely destroy them.24I will love him and be faithful to him. Because of me his power will increase.25I will give him a great kingdom. It will reach from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Euphrates.26He will call out to me, “You are my Father. You are my God. You are my Rock and Saviour.”27I will also make him my eldest son. Among all the kings of the earth, he will be the most important one.28I will continue to love him for ever. I will never break my covenant with him.29I will make his family line continue for ever. His kingdom will last as long as the heavens.30‘What if his sons turn away from my laws and do not follow them?31What if they disobey my orders and fail to keep my commands?32Then I will punish them for their sins. I will strike them with a rod. I will whip them for their evil acts.33But I will not stop loving David. I will always be faithful to him.34I will not break my covenant. I will not go back on my word.35Once and for all, I have made a promise. It is based on my holiness. And I will not lie to David.36His family line will continue for ever. His kingdom will last as long as the sun.37It will last for ever like the moon, that faithful witness in the sky.’38But you have turned your back on your anointed king. You have been very angry with him.39You have broken the covenant you made with him. You have thrown your servant’s crown into the dirt.40You have broken through the walls around his city. You have completely destroyed his secure places.41All those who pass by have carried off what belonged to him. His neighbours make fun of him.42You have made his enemies strong. You have made all of them happy.43You have made his sword useless. You have not helped him in battle.44You have put an end to his glory. You have knocked his throne to the ground.45You have cut short the days of his life. You have covered him with shame.46LORD, how long will you hide yourself? Will it be for ever? How long will your anger burn like fire?47Remember how short my life is. You have created all people for such a useless purpose!48Who can live and not die? Who can escape the power of the grave?49Lord, where is the great love you used to have? You faithfully promised it to David.50Lord, remember how my enemies have made fun of me. I’ve had to put up with mean words from all the nations.51LORD, your enemies have said mean things. They have laughed at everything your anointed king has done.52Give praise to the LORD for ever! Amen and Amen.