[A Psalm of instruction for Ætham the Israelite.] [1]I will sing of thy mercies, O Lord, for ever: I will declare thy truth with my mouth to all generations. [2]For thou hast said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy truth shall be established in the heavens. [3]I made a covenant with my chosen ones, I sware unto David my servant. [4]I will establish thy seed for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Pause. [5]The heavens shall declare thy wonders, O Lord; and thy truth in the assembly of the saints. [6]For who in the heavens shall be compared to the Lord? and who shall be likened to the Lord among the sons of God? [7]God is glorified in the council of the saints; great and terrible toward all that are round about him. [8]O Lord God of hosts, who is like to thee? thou art mighty, O Lord, and thy truth is round about thee. [9]Thou rulest the power of the sea; and thou calmest the tumult of its waves. [10]Thou has brought down the proud as one that is slain; and with the arm of thy power thou has scattered thine enemies. [11]The heavens are thine, and the earth is thine: thou hast founded the world, and the fullness of it. [12]Thou hast created the north and the west: Thabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. [13]Thine is the mighty arm: let thy hand be strengthened, let thy right hand be exalted. [14]Justice and judgment are the establishment of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. [15]Blessed is the people that knows the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. [16]And in thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. [17]For thou art the boast of their strength; and in thy good pleasure shall our horn be exalted, [18]for our help is of the Lord; and of the Holy One of Israel, our king. [19]Then thou spokest in vision to thy children, and saidst, I have laid help on a mighty one; I have exalted one chosen out of my people. [20]I have found David my servant; I have anointed him by my holy mercy. [21]For my hand shall support him; and mine arm shall strengthen him. [22]The enemy shall have no advantage against him; and the son of transgression shall not hurt him again. [23]And I will hew down his foes before him, and put to flight those that hate him. [24]But my truth and my mercy shall be with him; and in my name shall his horn be exalted. [25]And I will set his hand in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. [26]He shall call upon me, saying, Thou art my Father, my God, and the helper of my salvation. [27]And I will make him my first-born, higher than the kings of the earth. [28]I will keep my mercy for him for ever, and my covenant shall be firm with him. [29]And I will establish his seed for ever and ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. [30]If his children should forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; [31]if they should profane my ordinances, and not keep my commandments; [32]I will visit their transgressions with a rod, and their sins with scourges. [33]But my mercy I will not utterly remove from him, nor wrong my truth. [34]Neither will I by any means profane my covenant; and I will not make void the things that proceed out of my lips. [35]Once have I sworn by my holiness, that I will not lie to David. [36]His see shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me; [37]and as the moon that is established for ever, and as the faithful witness in heaven. Pause. [38]But thou hast cast off and set at nought, thou has rejected thine anointed. [39]Thou hast overthrown the covenant of thy servant; thou has profaned his sanctuary, casting it to the ground. [40]Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast made his strong holds a terror. [41]All that go by the way have spoiled him: he is become a reproach to his neighbours. [42]Thou hast exalted the right hand of his enemies; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. [43]Thou hast turned back the help of his sword, and hast not helped him in the battle. [44]Thou hast deprived him of glory: thou hast broken down his throne to the ground. [45]Thou hast shortened the days of his throne: thou hast poured shame upon him. Pause. [46]How long, O Lord, wilt thou turn away, for ever? shall thine anger flame out as fire? [47]Remember what my being is: for hast thou created all the sons of men in vain? [48]What man is there who shall live, and not see death? shall any one deliver his soul from the hand of Hades? Pause. [49]Where are thine ancient mercies, O Lord, which thou swarest to David in thy truth? [50]Remember, O Lord, the reproach of thy servants, which I have borne in my bosom, even the reproach of many nations; [51]wherewith thine enemies have reviled, O Lord: wherewith they have reviled the recompense of thine anointed. [52]Blessed be the Lord for ever. So be it, so be it.
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Author: Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton (1851)
Source: ecmarsh.com
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