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¹ Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.² I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever; to all generations will I make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth.³ For I have said: 'For ever is mercy built; in the very heavens Thou dost establish Thy faithfulness.⁴ I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn unto David My servant:

⁵ For ever will I establish thy seed, and build up thy throne to all generations.' Selah⁶ So shall the heavens praise Thy wonders, O LORD, Thy faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.⁷ For who in the skies can be compared unto the LORD, who among the sons of might can be likened unto the LORD,⁸ A God dreaded in the great council of the holy ones, and feared of all them that are about Him?⁹ O LORD God of hosts, who is a mighty one, like unto Thee, O LORD? And Thy faithfulness is round about Thee.¹⁰ Thou rulest the proud swelling of the sea; when the waves thereof arise, Thou stillest them.¹¹ Thou didst crush Rahab, as one that is slain; Thou didst scatter Thine enemies with the arm of Thy strength.¹² Thine are the heavens, Thine also the earth; the world and the fulness thereof, Thou hast founded them.¹³ The north and the south, Thou hast created them; Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Thy name.¹⁴ Thine is an arm with might; strong is Thy hand, and exalted is Thy right hand.

¹⁵ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Thy throne; mercy and truth go before Thee.¹⁶ Happy is the people that know the joyful shout; they walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance.¹⁷ In Thy name do they rejoice all the day; and through Thy righteousness are they exalted.¹⁸ For Thou art the glory of their strength; and in Thy favour our horn is exalted.

¹⁹ For of the LORD is our shield; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.²⁰ Then Thou spokest in vision to Thy godly ones, and saidst: 'I have laid help upon one that is mighty; ²¹ I have found David My servant; with My holy oil have I anointed him;²² With whom My hand shall be established; Mine arm also shall strengthen him.²³ The enemy shall not exact from him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.²⁴ And I will beat to pieces his adversaries before him, and smite them that hate him.²⁵ But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him; and through My name shall his horn be exalted.²⁶ I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers.²⁷ He shall call unto Me: Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.²⁸ I also will appoint him first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth.²⁹ For ever will I keep for him My mercy, and My covenant shall stand fast with him.³⁰ His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.³¹ If his children forsake My law, and walk not in Mine ordinances;³² If they profane My statutes, and keep not My commandments;³³ Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with strokes.³⁴ But My mercy will I not break off from him, nor will I be false to My faithfulness.³⁵ My covenant will I not profane, nor alter that which is gone out of My lips.³⁶ Once have I sworn by My holiness: Surely I will not be false unto David;³⁷ His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before Me.

³⁸ It shall be established for ever as the moon; and be stedfast as the witness in sky.' Selah³⁹ But Thou hast cast off and rejected, Thou hast been wroth with Thine anointed.⁴⁰ Thou hast abhorred the covenant of Thy servant; Thou hast profaned his crown even to the ground.⁴¹ Thou hast broken down all his fences; Thou hast brought his strongholds to ruin.⁴² All that pass by the way spoil him; he is become a taunt to his neighbours.⁴³ Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries; Thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.⁴⁴ Yea, Thou turnest back the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.⁴⁵ Thou hast made his brightness to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.⁴⁶ The days of his youth hast Thou shortened; Thou hast covered him with shame. Selah⁴⁷ How long, O LORD, wilt Thou hide Thyself for ever? How long shall Thy wrath burn like fire?⁴⁸ O remember how short my time is; for what vanity hast Thou created all the children of men!⁴⁹ What man is he that liveth and shall not see death, that shall deliver his soul from the power of the grave? Selah⁵⁰ Where are Thy former mercies, O Lord, which Thou didst swear unto David in Thy faithfulness?⁵¹ Remember, Lord, the taunt of Thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom [the taunt of] so many peoples;⁵² Wherewith Thine enemies have taunted, O LORD, wherewith they have taunted the footsteps of Thine anointed.

⁵³ Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.