Psalms 89
Psalm 89
Perplexity about God’s Promises
A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1I will sing about the Lord’s faithful love forever; I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations with my mouth.23For I will declare, “Faithful love is built up forever; you establish your faithfulness in the heavens.”4
5The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn an oath to David my servant:6
7‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’”Selah8
9Lord, the heavens praise your wonders — your faithfulness also — in the assembly of the holy ones.10
11For who in the skies can compare with the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord?12
13God is greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, more awe-inspiring than all who surround him.14
15Lord God of Armies, who is strong like you, Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds you.16
17You rule the raging sea; when its waves surge, you still them.18
19You crushed Rahab like one who is slain; you scattered your enemies with your powerful arm.20
21The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours. The world and everything in it — you founded them.22
23North and south — you created them. Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at your name.24
25You have a mighty arm; your hand is powerful; your right hand is lifted high.26
27Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; faithful love and truth go before you.28
29Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; Lord, they walk in the light from your face.30
31They rejoice in your name all day long, and they are exalted by your righteousness.32
33For you are their magnificent strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.34
35Surely our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.36
37You once spoke in a vision to your faithful ones and said, “I have granted help to a warrior; I have exalted one chosen from the people.38
39I have found David my servant; I have anointed him with my sacred oil.40
41My hand will always be with him, and my arm will strengthen him.42
43The enemy will not oppress him; the wicked will not afflict him.44
45I will crush his foes before him and strike those who hate him.46
47My faithfulness and love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted.48
49I will extend his power to the sea and his right hand to the rivers.50
51He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the rock of my salvation.’52
53I will also make him my firstborn, greatest of the kings of the earth.54
55I will always preserve my faithful love for him, and my covenant with him will endure.56
57I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as heaven lasts.58
59If his sons abandon my instruction and do not live by my ordinances,60
61if they dishonor my statutes and do not keep my commands,62
63then I will call their rebellion to account with the rod, their iniquity with blows.64
65But I will not withdraw my faithful love from him or betray my faithfulness.66
67I will not violate my covenant or change what my lips have said.68
69Once and for all I have sworn an oath by my holiness; I will not lie to David.70
71His offspring will continue forever, his throne like the sun before me,72
73like the moon, established forever, a faithful witness in the sky.”Selah74
75But you have spurned and rejected him; you have become enraged with your anointed.76
77You have repudiated the covenant with your servant; you have completely dishonored his crown.78
79You have broken down all his walls; you have reduced his fortified cities to ruins.80
81All who pass by plunder him; he has become an object of ridicule to his neighbors.82
83You have lifted high the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice.84
85You have also turned back his sharp sword and have not let him stand in battle.86
87You have made his splendor cease and have overturned his throne.88
89You have shortened the days of his youth; you have covered him with shame.Selah90
91How long, Lord? Will you hide forever? Will your anger keep burning like fire?92
93Remember how short my life is. Have you created everyone for nothing?94
95What courageous person can live and never see death? Who can save himself from the power of Sheol?Selah96
97Lord, where are the former acts of your faithful love that you swore to David in your faithfulness?98
99Remember, Lord, the ridicule against your servants — in my heart I carry abuse from all the peoples —100
101how your enemies have ridiculed, Lord, how they have ridiculed every step of your anointed.102
103Blessed be the Lord forever. Amen and amen.104