A maskil[501] from Ethan the Ezrahite.
<1> I will sing forever about the Lord's love.
I will sing about his faithfulness forever and ever!
<2> I really believe your love continues forever.
Your loyalty continues forever and ever like the skies!
<3> You said,
"I made an agreement with my chosen king.
I made a promise to my servant, David:
<4> David, I will make your family continue forever.
I will make your kingdom continue forever and ever."
Selah[502]
<5> Lord, the heavens praise you
for the amazing things you do.
The assembly of holy ones
sings about your loyalty.
<6> No one in heaven is equal to the Lord.
None of the "gods" can compare to the Lord.
<7> God meets together with the holy ones.
Those angels are all around him.
They fear and respect God.
They stand in awe of him.
<8> Lord God All-Powerful,
there is no one like you.
We can trust you completely.
<9> You proudly rule the sea.
You can calm its angry waves.
<10> God, you defeated Rahab.[503]
You scattered your enemies
with your own powerful arm.
<11> Everything in heaven and earth belongs to you, God.
You made the world and everything in it.
<12> You created everything north and south.
Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon
sing praises to your name.
<13> You have the power!
Your power is great!
The victory is yours!
<14> Your kingdom is built on truth and justice.
Love and faithfulness are servants
before your throne.
<15> Lord, your loyal followers are happy.
They live in the light of your kindness.
<16> Your name always makes them happy.
They praise your goodness.
<17> You are their amazing strength.
Their power comes from you.
<18> The king, our protector, belongs to the Lord,
who is the Holy One of Israel.
<19> Lord, you once spoke in a vision to your followers:
"I chose a young man from the crowd,
and I made him important.
I made that young soldier strong.
<20> I found my servant David,
and I anointed[504] him as king with my special oil.
<21> I will support him with my right hand,
and my arm will make him strong.
<22> So no enemy will ever get control over him.
The wicked will never defeat him.
<23> I will destroy his enemies before his eyes.
I will defeat those who hate him.
<24> I will always love and support him.
I will always make him strong.
<25> I will put him in charge of the sea.
He will control the rivers.
<26> He will say to me,
'You are my father.
You are my God, my Rock,[505] my Savior.'
<27> And I will make him my firstborn[506] son.
He will be the great king on earth.
<28> My love will protect him forever.
My agreement with him will never end.
<29> I will make his family continue forever.
His kingdom will continue as long as the skies.
<30> If his descendants stop following my law
and stop obeying my commands,
then I will punish them.
<31> If his descendants break my laws
and ignore my commands,
<32> then I will punish them severely for their sins and wrongs.
<33> But I will never take my love from him.
I will never stop being loyal to him.
<34> I will not break my agreement with David.
I will never change what I said.
<35> By my holiness, I made a promise to him,
and I would not lie to David!
<36> His family will continue forever.
His kingdom will last as long as the sun.
<37> It will continue forever, like the moon.
The sky is a witness to the agreement that can be trusted."
Selah
<38> But God, you became angry with your chosen king,[507]
and you left him all alone.
<39> You rejected your agreement.
You threw the king's crown into the dirt.
<40> You pulled down the walls of the king's city.
You destroyed all his fortresses.
<41> Everyone passing by steals from him.
His neighbors laugh at him.
<42> You made all the king's enemies happy
and let his enemies win the war.
<43> You helped them defend themselves.
You did not help your king win the battle.
<44> You did not let him win.
You threw his throne to the ground.
<45> You cut his life short.
You shamed him.
Selah
<46> Lord, how long will this continue?
Will you ignore us forever?
Will your anger burn like a fire forever?
<47> Remember how short my life is.
You created us to live a short life and then die.
<48> No one will live and never die.
No one will escape the grave.
Selah
<49> God, where is the love you showed in the past?
You promised David that you would be
loyal to his family.
<50-51> Master, please remember how people insulted your servant. Lord, I had to listen to all the insults from your enemies.
They insulted your chosen king wherever he went.
<52> Praise the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen[508]!
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.