✧A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite. I will sing of the loving kindness of the LORD forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. ✧2I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.” ✧3“I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant, ✧4‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah. ✧5The heavens will praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. ✧6For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like the LORD, ✧7a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him? ✧8LORD, God of Armies, who is a mighty one, like you? LORD, your faithfulness is around you. ✧9You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them. ✧10You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. ✧11The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours, the world and its fullness. You have founded them. ✧12You have created the north and the south. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name. ✧13You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted. ✧14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face. ✧15Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, LORD. ✧16In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted. ✧17For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted. ✧18For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel. ✧19Then you spoke in vision to your saints, and said, “I have given strength to the warrior. I have exalted a young man from the people. ✧20I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil, ✧21with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him. ✧22No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him. ✧23I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him. ✧24But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. 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!’ ✧27I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. ✧28I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more. My covenant will stand firm with him. ✧29I will also make his offspring endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. ✧30If his children forsake my law, and don’t walk in my ordinances; ✧31if they break my statutes, and don’t keep my commandments; ✧32then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. ✧33But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail. ✧34I will not break my covenant, nor alter what my lips have uttered. ✧35Once I have sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David. ✧36His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me. ✧37It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah. ✧38But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed. ✧39You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust. ✧40You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin. ✧41All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors. ✧42You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice. ✧43Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven’t supported him in battle. ✧44You have ended his splendor, and thrown his throne down to the ground. ✧45You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah. ✧46How long, LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire? ✧47Remember how short my time is, for what vanity you have created all the children of men! ✧48What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah. ✧49Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness? ✧50Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples, ✧51With which your enemies have mocked, LORD, with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one. ✧52Blessed be the LORD forever more. Amen, and Amen.