1I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever : with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations . 2For I have said , Mercy shall be built up for ever : thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens . 3I have made a covenant with my chosen , I have sworn unto David my servant , 4Thy seed will I establish for ever , and build up thy throne to all generations . Selah .
God’s Covenant with David
5And the heavens shall praise thy wonders , O LORD : thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints . 6For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD ? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD ? 7God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints , and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. 8O LORD God of hosts , who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? 9Thou rulest the raging of the sea : when the waves thereof arise , thou stillest them. 10Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces , as one that is slain ; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm . 11The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. 12The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name .
Creation and Sovereignty
13Thou hast a mighty arm : strong is thy hand , and high is thy right hand . 14Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne : mercy and truth shall go before thy face . 15Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound : they shall walk , O LORD , in the light of thy countenance . 16In thy name shall they rejoice all the day : and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted . 17For thou art the glory of their strength : and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted .
Divine Discipline and Anguish
18For the LORD is our defence ; and the Holy One of Israel is our king . 19Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one , and saidst , I have laid help upon one that is mighty ; I have exalted one chosen out of the people . 20I have found David my servant ; with my holy oil have I anointed him: 21With whom my hand shall be established : mine arm also shall strengthen him. 22The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23And I will beat down his foes before his face , and plague them that hate him. 24But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted . 25I will set his hand also in the sea , and his right hand in the rivers . 26He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father , my God , and the rock of my salvation .
Recalling God’s Promises Amidst Pain
27Also I will make him my firstborn , higher than the kings of the earth . 28My mercy will I keep for him for evermore , and my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29His seed also will I make to endure for ever , and his throne as the days of heaven . 30If his children forsake my law , and walk not in my judgments ; 31If they break my statutes , and keep not my commandments ; 32Then will I visit their transgression with the rod , and their iniquity with stripes . 33Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail . 34My covenant will I not break , nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips .
A Cry for Help
35Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David . 36His seed shall endure for ever , and his throne as the sun before me. 37It shall be established for ever as the moon , and as a faithful witness in heaven . Selah . 38But thou hast cast off and abhorred , thou hast been wroth with thine anointed . 39Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant : thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground . 40Thou hast broken down all his hedges ; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin . 41All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours . 42Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries ; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice . 43Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword , and hast not made him to stand in the battle . 44Thou hast made his glory to cease , and cast his throne down to the ground . 45The days of his youth hast thou shortened : thou hast covered him with shame . Selah . 46How long, LORD ? wilt thou hide thyself for ever ? shall thy wrath burn like fire ? 47Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain ? 48What man is he that liveth , and shall not see death ? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave ? Selah . 49Lord , where are thy former lovingkindnesses , which thou swarest unto David in thy truth ? 50Remember , Lord , the reproach of thy servants ; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people ; 51Wherewith thine enemies have reproached , O LORD ; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed . 52Blessed be the LORD for evermore . Amen , and Amen .