Psalm 89

Perplexity about God’s Promises

A * Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. u

1 I will sing about the Lord’s faithful love forever; v

I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations

with my mouth. w

2 For I will declare,

“Faithful love is built up forever;

You establish Your faithfulness in the heavens.” x

3 The Lord said,

“I have made a covenant with My chosen one;

I have sworn an oath to David My servant:

4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever

and build up your throne for all generations.’ ” y * Selah

5 Lord, the heavens praise Your wonders z—

Your faithfulness also—

in the assembly of the holy ones. a

6 For who in the skies can compare with the Lord?

Who among the heavenly beings b is like the Lord? c

7 God is greatly * feared in the council of the holy ones,

more awe-inspiring than d all who surround Him. e

8 Lord God of * Hosts,

who is strong like You, Lord? f

Your faithfulness surrounds You.

9 You rule the raging sea;

when its waves surge, You still them. g

10 You crushed * Rahab like one who is slain; h

You scattered Your enemies with Your powerful arm. i

11 The heavens are Yours; the earth also is Yours.

The world and everything in it—You founded them. j

12 North and south—You created them. k

Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name. l

13 You have a mighty arm;

Your hand is powerful;

Your right hand is lifted high. m

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation

of Your throne; n

faithful love and truth go before You. o

15 Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; p

* Yahweh, they walk in the light of Your presence. q

16 They rejoice in Your name all day long,

and they are exalted by Your righteousness. r

17 For You are their magnificent strength; s

by Your favor our * horn is exalted. t

18 Surely our shield u belongs to the Lord,

our king to the Holy One of Israel. v

19 You once spoke in a vision to Your loyal ones

and said: “I have granted help to a warrior;

I have exalted one chosen w from the people. x

20 I have found David My servant;

I have anointed him with My sacred oil. y

21 My hand will always be with him,

and My arm will strengthen him. z

22 The enemy will not afflict a him;

no wicked man will oppress him. b

23 I will crush his foes before him

and strike those who hate him. c

24 My faithfulness and love will be with him,

and through My name

his horn will be exalted. d

25 I will extend his power to the sea

and his right hand to the rivers. e

26 He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father, f

my God, the rock of my salvation.’ g

27 I will also make him My firstborn,

greatest of the kings of the earth. h

28 I will always preserve My faithful love for him,

and My covenant with him will endure. i

29 I will establish his line forever,

his throne as long as heaven lasts. j k

30 If his sons forsake My instruction

and do not live by My ordinances, l

31 if they dishonor My statutes

and do not keep My commands, m

32 then I will call their rebellion

to account with the rod,

their sin with blows. n

33 But I will not withdraw

My faithful love from him

or betray My faithfulness. o

34 I will not violate My covenant

or change what My lips have said. p

35 Once and for all

I have sworn an oath by My holiness;

I will not lie to David. q

36 His offspring will continue forever,

his throne like the sun before Me, r

37 like the moon, established forever,

a faithful witness in the sky.” s Selah

38 But You have spurned and rejected him;

You have become enraged with Your anointed. t

39 You have repudiated the covenant with Your servant;

You have completely dishonored his crown. u v

40 You have broken down all his walls;

You have reduced his fortified cities to ruins. w

41 All who pass by plunder him; x

he has become an object of ridicule

to his neighbors. y

42 You have lifted high the right hand of his foes;

You have made all his enemies rejoice. z

43 You have also turned back his sharp sword

and have not let him stand in battle. a

44 You have made his splendor b cease

and have overturned his throne. c

45 You have shortened the days of his youth;

You have covered him with shame. d Selah

46 How long, Lord? Will You hide Yourself forever?

Will Your anger keep burning like fire? e

47 Remember how short my life is.

Have You created * everyone for nothing? f

48 What man can live and never see death?

Who can save himself from the power of * Sheol? g Selah

49 Lord, where are the former acts of Your faithful love

that You swore to David in Your faithfulness? h

50 Remember, Lord, the ridicule against Your servants—

in my heart I carry abuse from all the peoples—

51 how Your enemies have ridiculed, Lord,

how they have ridiculed every step of Your anointed. i

52 May the Lord be praised forever.

* Amen and amen. j