1 A maskil of Eitan the Ezrachi: I will
sing about ADONAI's acts of grace forever, with my mouth proclaim your
faithfulness to all generations;
2 because I said, "Grace is built
to last forever; in the heavens themselves you established your
faithfulness."
3 You said, "I made a covenant
with the one I chose, I swore to my servant David,
4 'I will establish your dynasty
forever, build up your throne through all generations.'" (Selah)
5 Let the heavens praise your wonders,
ADONAI, your faithfulness in the assembly of the angels.
6 For who in the skies can be compared
with ADONAI? Which of these gods can rival ADONAI,
7 a God dreaded in the great assembly
of the holy ones and feared by all around him?
8 ADONAI Elohei-Tzva'ot! Who is as
mighty as you, Yah? Your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You control the raging of the sea;
when its waves rear up, you calm them.
10 You crushed Rahav like a carcass;
with your strong arm you scattered your foes.
11 The heavens are yours, and the earth
is yours; you founded the world and everything in it.
12 You created north and south; Tavor
and Hermon take joy in your name.
13 Your arm is mighty, your hand is
strong, your right hand is lifted high.
14 Righteousness and justice are the
foundation of your throne; grace and truth attend you.
15 How happy are the people who know
the joyful shout! They walk in the light of your presence, ADONAI.
16 They rejoice in your name all day
and are lifted up by your righteousness,
17 for you yourself are the strength in
which they glory. Our power grows by pleasing you,
18 for our shield comes from ADONAI
-our king is from the Holy One of Isra'el.
19 There was a time when you spoke in a
vision; you declared to your loyal [prophets], "I have given help to a
warrior, I have raised up someone chosen from the people.
20 I have found David my servant and
anointed him with my holy oil.
21 My hand will always be with him, and
my arm will give him strength.
22 No enemy will outwit him, no wicked
man overcome him.
23 I will crush his foes before him and
strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and grace will be
with him; through my name his power will grow.
25 I will put his hand on the sea and
his right hand on the rivers.
26 He will call to me, 'You are my
father, my God, the Rock of my salvation.'
27 I will give him the position of
firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
28 I will keep my grace for him
forever, and in my covenant be faithful with him.
29 I will establish his dynasty
forever, and his throne as long as the heavens last.
30 "If his descendants abandon my
Torah and fail to live by my rulings,
31 if they profane my regulations and
don't obey my mitzvot,
32 I will punish their disobedience
with the rod and their guilt with lashes.
33 But I won't withdraw my grace from
him or be false to my faithfulness.
34 I will not profane my covenant or
change what my lips have spoken.
35 I have sworn by my holiness once and
for all; I will not lie to David
36 his dynasty will last forever, his
throne like the sun before me.
37 It will be established forever, like
the moon, which remains a faithful witness in the sky." (Selah)
38 But you spurned your anointed one,
rejected and vented your rage on him.
39 You renounced the covenant with your
servant and defiled his crown in the dust.
40 You broke through all his defenses
and left his strongholds in ruins.
41 All who pass by plunder him; he is
an object of scorn to his neighbors.
42 You raised up the right hand of his
foes and made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You drive back his drawn sword and
fail to support him in battle.
44 You brought an end to his splendor
and hurled his throne to the ground.
45 You cut short the days of his youth
and covered him with shame. (Selah)
46 How long, ADONAI? Will you hide
yourself forever? How long will your fury burn like fire?
47 Remember how little time I have! Was
it for no purpose that you created all humanity?
48 Who can live and not see death? Who
can save himself from the power of the grave? (Selah)
49 Where, Adonai, are the acts of grace
you once did, those which, in your faithfulness, you swore to David?
50 Remember, Adonai, the taunts hurled
at your servants, which I carry in my heart [from] so many peoples!
51 Your enemies, ADONAI, have flung
their taunts, flung them in the footsteps of your anointed one.
52 Blessed be ADONAI forever. Amen.
Amen.
