Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 THe mercies of Jehovah sing
for evermore will I:
I’ll with my mouth thy truth make known
to all posterity.
2 For I have said that mercy shall
for ever be up built;
establish in the very heav’ns
thy faithfulness thou wilt.
3 With him that is my chosen one
I made a covenant:
and by an oath have sworn unto
David mine own servant.
4 To perpetuity thy seed
establish-sure I will:
also to generations all
thy throne I’ll build up still. Selah.
5 Also the heav’ns thy wonders Lord,
they shall with praise confess;
in the assembly of the Saints
also thy faithfulness.
6 For who can be compar’d unto
the Lord the heavn’ns within?
‘mong sons of mighty to the Lord
who is’t that’s like to him.
(2)
7 I’th Saints assembly greatly God
is to be had in fear:
and to be reverence’t of all those
that round about him are.
8 Lord God of hosts, what Lord like thee
in power doth abide?
thy faithfulness doth compass thee
also on every side.
9 Over the raging of the sea,
thou dost dominion bare:
when as the waves thereof arise,
by thee they stilled are.
10 Like to one slain, thou broken hast
in pieces Rahab quite:
thou hast disperst thine enemies
ev’n by thine arm of might.
11 The heav’ns together with the earth,
thine are they: thine they be;
the world, with fullness of the same,
founded they were by thee.
12 The North together with the South
thou didst create the same:
Tabor together with Hermon,
rejoice shall in thy Name.
(3)
13 Thou hast a very might arm,
thy hand it is mighty,
and also thy right hand it is
exalted up on high.
14 Justice and judgment of thy throne
are the prepared place:
mercy and truth preventing shall
go forth before thy face.
15 O blessed are the people that
the joyful sound do know,
Lord, in thy countenances light
they up and down shall go:
16 They shall in thy name all the day
rejoice exceedingly:
and in thy righteousness they shall
be lifted up on high.
17 Because that thou are unto them
the glory of their power:
our horn shall be exalted high,
also in thy favour.
18 Because Jehovah is to us
a safe protection;
and he that is our Sovereign,
is Isr’ells Holy-one.
(4)
19 Then didst thou speak in vision,
unto thy Saint, and said,
I upon one that mighty is
salvation have laid:
One from the folk chose, I set up.
20 David my servant I
have found: him I anointed with
mine oil of sanctity.
21 With whom my hand shall stablish’t be;
mine arm him strengthen shall.
22 Also the enemy shall not
exact on him at all:
Nor shall the Son of wickedness
afflict him anymore.
23 Before him I’ll beat down his foes,
and plague his haters sore.
24 My mercy, truth, shall be with him;
and in my name shall be
25 his horn exalted. And I’ll set
his hand upon the sea:
I’th rivers also his right hand.
26 He shall cry me unto,
thou art my Father: and my God,
Rock of my health also.
27 Also I will make him to be
my first begotten one:
higher then those that Princes are,
who dwell the earth upon.
28 My mercy I will keep for him
to times which ever last:
also my covenant with him
it shall stand very fast.
(5)
29 And I will make his seed endure
to perpetuity:
his throne likewise it like unto
the days of heav’n shall be.
30 If that his sons forsake my law,
and from my judgments swerve:
31 If they my statutes break, and my
commands do not observe:
32 Then will I visit with the rod
their bold transgression,
as also their iniquity
with sore stripes them upon.
33 But yet my loving kindness, it
I’ll not take utterly
away from him: nor will suffer
my faithfulness to lie.
34 The covenant I made with him
by me shall not be broke:
neither will I alter the thing
which by my lips is spoke.
35 Once sware I by my holiness,
if I to David lye:
36 His seed assuredly shall last
to perpetuity:
And like the Sun ‘fore me his throne.
37 It like the moon for aye
shall be establish’t, like a true
witness in heav’n: Selah.
(6)
38 But thou hast cast off, and us had
in detestation:
exceedingly thou hast been wroth
with thine anointed one.
39 Thou hast made void the covenant
of thy servant, his crown
thou hast prophan’d unto the ground
by casting of it down.
40 Thou hast broke all his hedges down:
his forts thou ruin’d hast.
41 All those do make a spoil of him
who by the way have past:
He’s a reproach to his neighbors.
42 Of them that him annoy
thou hast advanced their right hand:
and made all’s foes to joy.
43 The sharp edge also of his sword
thou hast turn’d backward quite:
and in the battle thou hast not
made him to stand upright.
44 Thou hast made also for to cease
his glorious renown:
unto the very earth his throne
thou also hast cast down.
45 And of his youthful years the days
thou hast diminished;
with very great confusion
thou hast him covered. Selah.
(7)
46 How long? Jehovah, wilt thou hide
thy self for evermore?
burn like unto consuming fire
shall thy displeasure sore?
47 To thy remembrance do thou call
how short a time have I;
wherefore hast thou created all
men’s sons to vanity?
48 What strong man is there that doth live,
and death shall never see?
from the strong power of the grave
shall he his soul set free?
49 Thy former loving kindnesses
o Lord, where are they now?
which in thy truth and faithfulness
to David thou didst vow.
50 Lord, the reproach of thy servants
unto remembrance call:
how I it bare in my bosom
from mighty people all.
51 Wherewith thy adversaries Lord,
have cast reproach upon,
wherewith they have reproacht the steps
of thine anointed one.
52 O let Jehovah be blessed
to all eternity:
Amen, so let it be, also
Amen, so it shall be.