Psalm 89

My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the Lord; * with my mouth will I ever be proclaiming your faithfulness, from one generation to another.

For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up for ever; * your faithfulness shall be established in the heavens.”

I have made a covenant with my chosen one; * I have sworn to David my servant:

“Your seed will I establish for ever, * and set up your throne from one generation to another.”

O Lord, the heavens will praise your wondrous works * and your faithfulness in the assembly of the saints.

For who in the clouds can be compared unto the Lord? * And who among the gods is like unto the Lord?

God is greatly to be feared in the council of the saints, * and to be held in reverence by all those who are round about him.

O Lord God of hosts, who is like you? * Your faithfulness, most mighty Lord, is round about you.

You rule the raging of the sea; * you still the waves when they arise.

You have subdued Rahab of the deep, and destroyed her; * you have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; * you laid the foundation of the world, and all that is in it.

You have made the north and the south; * Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in your Name.

You have a mighty arm; * strong is your hand, and high is your right hand.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; * mercy and truth shall go before your face.

Blessed are the people, O Lord, who rejoice in you; * they shall walk in the light of your countenance.

Their delight shall be in your Name all the day long, * and in your righteousness shall they make their boast.

For you are the glory of their strength, * and by your favor you shall lift up our might.

For the Lord is our defense; * the Holy One of Israel is our King.

You spoke in a vision to your saints, and said, * “I have set the crown upon one who 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.

My hand shall hold him fast, * and my arm shall strengthen him.

The enemy shall not be able to do him violence; * the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.

I will smite his foes before his face * and strike down those who hate him.

My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, * and in my Name shall his horn be exalted.

I will give him dominion over the sea, * and with his right hand shall he rule the rivers.

He shall say to me, “You are my Father, * my God, and the rock of my salvation.”

And I will make him my firstborn, * higher than the kings of the earth.

My mercy will I keep for him for ever, * and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

His seed will I make to endure for ever * and his throne as the days of heaven.

But if his children forsake my law, * and do not walk in my judgments,

If they break my statutes and do not keep my commandments, * I will punish their offenses with the rod, and their sin with scourges.

Nevertheless, my loving-kindness I will not utterly take from him, * nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

My covenant I will not break, * nor alter the word that has gone out of my lips.

I have sworn once by my holiness * that I will not fail David.

His seed shall endure for ever * and his throne as the sun before me.

It shall endure for evermore as the moon, * and as the faithful witness in the heavens.

But you have rejected and forsaken your Anointed; * you are full of wrath against him.

You have broken the covenant with your servant; * you have defiled his crown and cast it to the ground.

You have overthrown all his walls * and broken down his strongholds.

All those who go by plunder him, * and he has become a reproach to his neighbors.

You have exalted the right hand of his enemies, * and made all his adversaries rejoice.

You have turned back the edge of his sword * and have not given him victory in the battle.

You have taken away his glory * and cast his throne down to the ground.

The days of his youth you have shortened * and covered him with dishonor.

Lord, how long will you utterly hide yourself? * How long shall your wrath burn like fire?

O remember how short my time is; * why have you made all people for nought?

What man is there who lives and shall not see death, * and shall deliver his soul from the power of the Grave?

Lord, where are your loving-kindnesses of old, * which you swore to David in your faithfulness?

Remember, Lord, how your servants are reproached, * and how I bear in my bosom the rebukes of many people;

Remember how your enemies have reproached you, O Lord, * how they have called after your Anointed King with cries of scorn.

Praised be the Lord for evermore. * Amen and Amen.

© Anglican Church in North America. Used by permission.