A contemplation of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1I will sing of Yahweh’s covenant faithfulness forever. From generation to generation I will make your fidelity known with my mouth.
2For I have said, “Covenant faithfulness will be built up forever. As for the heavens, you will establish your faithfulness in them.”
3“I have cut a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant,
4‘I will establish your seed forever, and build your throne to all generations.’” Selah.
5The heavens praise your wonder, O Yahweh, yea, your fidelity in the assembly of the holy ones.
6For who in the clouds is equal to Yahweh? Who among the sons of God is like Yahweh,
7a God who is feared in the council of the holy ones, great and awesome above all those who are around him?
8O Yahweh, God of Armies, who is like you, O mighty Yah? Even your fidelity is all around you.
9You yourself rule the surging of the sea. When its waves rise up, you yourself calm them.
10You yourself crushed Rahab like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your strong arm.
11The heavens are yours. Yes, the earth is yours; the world and its fullness. You yourself have founded them.
12The north and the south, you yourself created them. Tabor and Hermon shout for joy in your name.
13You have a mighty arm; your hand is strong; your right hand reaches high.
14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Covenant faithfulness and truth meet in your presence.
15Blessed are the people who know your joyful shout; they walk in the light of your face, O Yahweh.
16In your name they rejoice all day long. In your righteousness they are exalted.
17For you are the splendor of their strength. Yes, by your favor you will lift up our horn.
18For our shield belongs to Yahweh, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.
19Once you spoke in vision to your faithful people and you said, “I have bestowed help upon one who is mighty. I have exalted one who is chosen from the people.
20I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil
21with him my hand will be established; yea, my arm will strengthen him.
22No enemy will get the better of him, nor will a son of wickedness afflict him.
23And I will crush his adversaries before him and strike those who hate him.
24Yes, my fidelity and my covenant faithfulness will be with him. And in my name his horn will be exalted.
25I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers.
26He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!’
27Yes, I will set him as firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
28I will keep my covenant faithfulness for him forevermore. Yes, my covenant will be confirmed to him.
29So I will establish his seed forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
30If his children forsake my law, and do not walk in my ordinances,
31if they violate my statutes, and do not keep my commandments,
32then I will visit their transgression with a rod, and their guilt with plagues.
33But I will not break off my covenant faithfulness from him, nor will I betray my fidelity.
34I will not profane my covenant, nor alter the pronouncement of my lips.
35One thing I have sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David.
36His seed will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me.
37It will be established forever like the moon, and the witness in the sky can be trusted.” Selah.
38But you, you have rejected and refused; you have become enraged with your anointed.
39You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown to the ground.
40You have broken through all his walls. You have laid his strongholds in ruin.
41All who pass along the road plunder him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors.
42You have exalted the right hand of his foes. You have made all of his enemies rejoice.
43Yea, you turn back the edge of his sword, and have not supported him in the battle.
44You have brought an end to his splendor and cast his throne down to the ground.
45You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah.
46How long, O Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your rage burn like fire?
47Remember how short my lifespan is! For what futility have you created all the children of men?
48What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.
49Where is your former covenant faithfulness, O Lord, which you swore to David in your fidelity?
50Remember, O Lord, the reproach against your servants, which I bear in my bosom from all the many peoples,
51with which your enemies have reproached, O Yahweh, with which they have reproached the heels of your anointed one.
52Blessed be Yahweh forevermore. Amen and Amen.
REV Bible
