Covenant with David’s Seed
Psalm 89
1 A contemplative song of Ethan the Ezrahite.
2 I will sing of the love of Adonai forever.
To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.
3 For I said, “Let your lovingkindness be built up forever!
The heavens—let Your faithfulness be made firm there!”
4 “I have made a covenant with My chosen one.
I have sworn to David My servant:
5 ‘Forever I will establish your seed,
and will build your throne from generation to generation.’”[a] Selah
6 The heavens praise Your wonders, Adonai
—Your faithfulness, too—
in the assembly of the kedoshim.
7 For who in the skies can compare to Adonai?
Who is like Adonai among the sons of gods?
8 God is greatly feared in the council of the holy ones,
and awesome above all around Him.
9 Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot, who is like You, mighty Adonai,
with Your faithfulness all around You?
10 You rule over the swelling of the sea.
When its waves mount up, You still them.
11 You crushed Rahab like a slain one.
You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.
12 The heavens are Yours, also Yours the earth
—the world and its fullness—
You have founded them.
13 You created the north and the south.
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at Your Name.
14 Your arm is mighty,
Your hand is strong,
exalted is Your right hand.[b]
15 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.
Lovingkindness and truth go before You.
16 Blessed are the people who know the joyful shout,[c]
They walk in the light of Your presence, Adonai.
17 They rejoice in Your Name all day,
and by Your righteousness they are exalted.
18 For You are the glory of their strength,
and by Your favor our horn is exalted.
19 For our shield belongs to Adonai,
and our king to the Holy One of Israel.
20 Then You spoke in vision to Your godly ones, and said:
“I have bestowed help on a warrior.
I have exalted one chosen from among the people.
21 I have found David My servant.
With My holy oil I have anointed him.
22 With him My hand will be established.
Surely My arm will strengthen him.
23 No enemy will exact tribute from him,
no son of wickedness will oppress him.
24 I will crush his adversaries before him,
and strike down those who hate him.
25 My faithfulness and My lovingkindness will be with him,
and by My Name his horn will be exalted.
26 I will also set his hand over the sea,
his right hand over the rivers.
27 He will call to Me: ‘You are my Father,[d]
my God and the rock of my salvation.’
28 I also will set him as firstborn—[e]
the highest of the kings of earth.[f][g]
29 I will maintain My love for him forever,
and My covenant with him will be firm.
30 His seed I will establish forever,
and his throne as the days of heaven.
31 If his sons forsake My Torah,
and do not walk in My judgments,
32 if they violate My decrees,
and do not keep My mitzvot,
33 then I will punish their transgression with the rod,
and their iniquity with flogging.
34 But I will not withdraw My lovingkindness from him,
nor will I betray My faithfulness.
35 I will not violate My covenant,
nor alter what My lips have uttered.
36 Once for all I have sworn by My holiness
—surely I will not lie to David—
37 his descendants will endure forever,
and his throne as the sun before Me,
38 and as the moon, established forever,
and a trustworthy witness in the sky.” Selah
39 But You have cast off and spurned,
You have become furious with Your anointed one.
40 You have renounced the covenant of Your servant.
You have defiled his crown even to the ground.
41 You have broken down all his walls.
You reduced his strongholds to ruin.
42 All who pass by have plundered him.
He has become a taunt to his neighbors.
43 You exalted the right hand of his foes
and made all his enemies rejoice.
44 You turned back the edge of his sword
and have not supported him in battle.
45 You brought his splendor to an end,
and cast his throne down to the ground.
46 You cut short the days of his youth.
You covered him with shame. Selah
47 How long, Adonai, will You hide Yourself?
Forever?
Will Your fury keep burning like fire?
48 Remember how short my life span is!
For what futility have You created all the children of men?
49 What man can live and not see death?
Can he deliver himself from the clutches of Sheol? Selah
50 Where is Your former lovingkindness, my Lord,
which You swore to David in Your faithfulness?[h]
51 Remember, my Lord, the mockery against Your servants
that I bear in my heart from so many peoples.
52 How Your enemies have mocked, Adonai,
how they have mocked
the footsteps of Your Anointed One![i]
53 Blessed be Adonai forever.
Amen and Amen.
Footnotes
- Psalm 89:5 cf. Luke 1:33.
- Psalm 89:14 cf. Heb. 1:3.
- Psalm 89:16 Heb. teruah, or shofar blast.
- Psalm 89:27 cf. John 8:54.
- Psalm 89:28 cf. Rev. 1:5.
- Psalm 89:28 cf. Rev. 19:16.
- Psalm 89:28 In most English translation, 89:27-28 are verses 26-27.
- Psalm 89:50 cf. Acts 13:34.
- Psalm 89:52 cf. Matt. 27:29, 41; Luke 23:36.