Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
8,6,8,6
^1God's mercies I will ever sing;
and with my mouth I shall
Thy faithfulness make to be known
to generations all.
^2For mercy shall be built, said I,
for ever to endure;
Thy faithfulness, ev'n in the heav'ns,
thou wilt establish sure.
^3I with my chosen One have made
a cov'nant graciously;
And to my servant, whom I lov'd,
to David sworn have I;
^4That I thy seed establish shall
for ever to remain,
And will to generations all
thy throne build and maintain.
^5The praises of thy wonders, Lord,
the heavens shall express;
And in the congregation
of saints thy faithfulness.
^6For who in heaven with the Lord
may once himself compare?
Who is like God among the sons
of those that mighty are?
^7Great fear in meeting of the saints
is due unto the Lord;
And he of all about him should
with rev'rence be ador'd.
^8O thou that art the Lord of hosts,
what Lord in mightiness
Is like to thee? who compass'd round
art with thy faithfulness.
^9Ev'n in the raging of the sea
thou over it dost reign;
And when the waves thereof do swell,
thou stillest them again.
^10Rahab in pieces thou didst break,
like one that slaughter'd is;
And with thy mighty arm thou hast
dispers'd thine enemies.
^11The heav'ns are thine, thou for thine own
the earth dost also take;
The world, and fulness of the same,
thy pow'r did found and make.
^12The north and south from thee alone
their first beginning had;
Both Tabor mount and Hermon hill
shall in thy name be glad.
^13Thou hast an arm that's full of pow'r,
thy hand is great in might;
And thy right hand exceedingly
exalted is in height.
^14Justice and judgment of thy throne
are made the dwelling-place;
Mercy, accompany'd with truth,
shall go before thy face.
^15O greatly bless'd the people are
the joyful sound that know;
In brightness of thy face, O Lord,
they ever on shall go.
^16They in thy name shall all the day
rejoice exceedingly;
And in thy righteousness shall they
exalted be on high.
^17Because the glory of their strength
doth only stand in thee;
And in thy favour shall our horn
and pow'r exalted be.
^18For God is our defence; and he
to us doth safety bring:
The Holy One of Israel
is our almighty King.
^19In vision to thy Holy One
thou saidst, I help upon
A strong one laid; out of the folk
I rais'd a chosen one;
^20Ev'n David, I have found him out
a servant unto me;
And with my holy oil my King
anointed him to be.
^21With whom my hand shall stablish'd be;
mine arm shall make him strong.
^22On him the foe shall not exact,
nor son of mischief wrong.
^23I will beat down before his face
all his malicious foes;
I will them greatly plague who do
with hatred him oppose.
^24My mercy and my faithfulness
with him yet still shall be;
And in my name his horn and pow'r
men shall exalted see.
^25His hand and pow'r shall reach afar;
I'll set it in the sea;
And his right hand established
shall in the rivers be.
^26Thou art my Father, he shall cry,
thou art my God alone;
And he shall say, Thou art the Rock
of my salvation.
^27I'll make him my first-born, more high
than kings of any land.
^28My love I'll ever keep for him,
my cov'nant fast shall stand.
^29His seed I by my pow'r will make
for ever to endure;
And, as the days of heav'n, his throne
shall stable be, and sure.
^30But if his children shall forsake
my laws, and go astray,
And in my judgments shall not walk,
but wander from my way:
^31If they my laws break, and do not
keep my commandements;
^32I'll visit then their faults with rods,
their sins with chastisements.
^33Yet I'll not take my love from him,
nor false my promise make.
^34My cov'nant I'll not break, nor change
what with my mouth I spake.
^35Once by my holiness I sware,
to David I'll not lie;
^36His seed and throne shall, as the sun,
before me last for aye.
^37It, like the moon, shall ever be
establish'd stedfastly;
And like to that which in the heav'n
doth witness faithfully.
^38But thou, displeased, hast cast off,
thou didst abhor and loathe;
With him that thine anointed is
thou hast been very wroth.
^39Thou hast thy servant's covenant
made void, and quite cast by;
Thou hast profan'd his crown, while it
cast on the ground doth lie.
^40Thou all his hedges hast broke down,
his strong holds down hast torn.
^41He to all passers-by a spoil,
to neighbours is a scorn.
^42Thou hast set up his foes' right hand;
mad'st all his en'mies glad:
^43Turn'd his sword's edge, and him to stand
in battle hast not made.
^44His glory thou hast made to cease,
his throne to ground down cast;
^45Shorten'd his days of youth, and him
with shame thou cover'd hast.
^46How long, Lord, wilt thou hide thyself?
for ever, in thine ire?
And shall thine indignation
burn like unto a fire?
^47Remember, Lord, how short a time
I shall on earth remain:
O wherefore is it so that thou
has made all men in vain?
^48What man is he that liveth here,
and death shall never see?
Or from the power of the grave
what man his soul shall free?
^49Thy former loving-kindnesses,
O Lord, where be they now?
Those which in truth and faithfulness
to David sworn hast thou?
^50Mind, Lord, thy servant's sad reproach;
how I in bosom bear
The scornings of the people all,
who strong and mighty are.
^51Wherewith thy raging enemies
reproach'd, O Lord, think on;
Wherewith they have reproach'd the steps
of thine anointed one.
^52All blessing to the Lord our God
let be ascribed then:
For evermore so let it be.
Amen, yea, and amen.