Maschil 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
.
For I have said, Mercy
shall be built up
for ever
: thy faithfulness
shalt thou establish
in the very heavens
.
I have made a covenant
with my chosen
, I have sworn
unto David
my servant
,
Thy seed will I establish
for
ever
, and build up
thy throne
to all
generations
. Selah
.
And the heavens shall praise
thy wonders
, O LORD
: thy faithfulness
also in the congregation
of the saints
.
For who in the heaven can be compared
unto the LORD
? who among the sons
of the mighty
can be likened
unto the LORD
?
God is greatly
to be feared
in the assembly
of the saints
, and to be had in reverence
of all them that are about
him.
O LORD God
of hosts
, who is a strong
LORD
like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness
round about
thee?
Thou rulest the raging
of the sea
: when the waves
thereof arise
, thou stillest
them.
Thou hast broken Rahab
in pieces
, as one that is slain
; thou hast scattered
thine enemies
with thy strong
arm
.
The heavens are thine, the earth
also is thine: as for the world
and the fulness
thereof, thou hast founded
them.
The north and the south
thou hast created
them: Tabor
and Hermon
shall rejoice
in thy name
.
Thou hast a mighty arm
: strong
is thy hand
, and high
is thy right hand
.
Justice and judgment
are the habitation
of thy throne
: mercy
and truth
shall go
before thy face
.
Blessed is the people
that know
the joyful sound
: they shall walk
, O LORD
, in the light
of thy countenance
.
In thy name shall they rejoice
all the day
: and in thy righteousness
shall they be exalted
.
For thou art the glory of their strength
: and in thy favour
our horn
shall be exalted
.
For the LORD is our defence
; and the Holy One
of Israel
is our king
.
Then 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
.
I have found David
my servant
; with my holy
oil
have I anointed
him:
With whom my hand shall be established
: mine arm
also shall strengthen
him.
The enemy shall not exact
upon him; nor the son
of wickedness
afflict
him.
And I will beat down his foes
before his face
, and plague
them that hate
him.
But my faithfulness and my mercy
shall be with him: and in my name
shall his horn
be exalted
.
I will set his hand
also in the sea
, and his right hand
in the rivers
.
He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father
, my God
, and the rock
of my salvation
.
Also I will make him my firstborn
, higher
than the kings
of the earth
.
My mercy will I keep
for him for evermore
, and my covenant
shall stand fast
with him.
His seed also will I make
to endure for ever
, and his throne
as the days
of heaven
.
If his children forsake
my law
, and walk
not in my judgments
;
If they break my statutes
, and keep
not my commandments
;
Then will I visit their transgression
with the rod
, and their iniquity
with stripes
.
Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take
from him, nor suffer my faithfulness
to fail
.
My covenant will I not break
, nor alter
the thing that is gone out
of my lips
.
Once have I sworn
by my holiness
that I will not lie
unto David
.
His seed shall endure for ever
, and his throne
as the sun
before me.
It shall be established for ever
as the moon
, and as a faithful
witness
in heaven
. Selah
.
But thou hast cast off and abhorred
, thou hast been wroth
with thine anointed
.
Thou hast made void the covenant
of thy servant
: thou hast profaned
his crown
by casting it to the ground
.
Thou hast broken down all his hedges
; thou hast brought
his strong holds
to ruin
.
All that pass by the way
spoil
him: he is a reproach
to his neighbours
.
Thou hast set up the right hand
of his adversaries
; thou hast made all his enemies
to rejoice
.
Thou hast also turned the edge
of his sword
, and hast not made him to stand
in the battle
.
Thou hast made his glory to cease
, and cast
his throne
down
to the ground
.
The days of his youth
hast thou shortened
: thou hast covered
him with shame
. Selah
.
How long, LORD? wilt thou hide
thyself for ever
? shall thy wrath
burn
like fire
?
Remember how short
my time is: wherefore hast thou made
all men
in vain
?
What man is he that liveth
, and shall not see
death
? shall he deliver
his soul
from the hand
of the grave
? Selah
.
Lord, where are thy former
lovingkindnesses
, which thou swarest
unto David
in thy truth
?
Remember, Lord
, the reproach
of thy servants
; how I do bear
in my bosom
the reproach of all the mighty
people
;
Wherewith thine enemies have reproached
, O LORD
; wherewith they have reproached
the footsteps
of thine anointed
.
Blessed be the LORD
for evermore
. Amen
, and Amen
.