1 [A Psalm] of instruction for Ethan the Israelite. 2 I will sing of thy mercies, O Lord, forever: I will declare thy truth with my mouth to all generations. 3 For thou hast said, Mercy shall be built up forever: Thy truth shall be established in the heavens. 4 I made a covenant with my chosen ones, I swore unto David my servant. 5 I will establish thy seed forever, And build up thy throne to all generations. Pause. 6 The heavens shall declare thy wonders, O Lord; And thy truth in the assembly of the saints. 7 For who in the heavens shall be compared to the Lord? And who shall be likened to the Lord among the sons of God? 8 God is glorified in the council of the saints; Great and terrible toward all that are round about him. 9 O Lord God of hosts, who is like to thee? Thou art mighty, O Lord, and thy truth is round about thee. 10 Thou rulest the power of the sea; And thou calmest the tumult of its waves. 11 Thou hast brought down the proud as one that is slain; And with the arm of thy power thou hast scattered thine enemies. 12 The heavens are thine, and the earth is thine: Thou hast founded the world, and the fullness of it. 13 Thou hast created the north and the west: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. 14 Thine is the mighty arm: Let thy hand be strengthened, let thy right hand be exalted. 15 Justice and judgment are the establishment of thy throne: Mercy and truth shall go before thy face. 16 Blessed is the people that knows the joyful sound: They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. 17 And in thy name shall they rejoice all the day: And in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. 18 For thou art the boast of their strength; And in thy good pleasure shall our horn be exalted, 19 For [our] help is of the Lord; And of the Holy One of Israel, our king. 20 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. 21 I have found David my servant; I have anointed him by [my] holy mercy. 22 For my hand shall support him; And mine arm shall strengthen him. 23 The enemy shall have no advantage against him; And the son of transgression shall not hurt him again. 24 And I will hew down his foes before him, And put to flight those that hate him. 25 But my truth and my mercy shall be with him; And in my name shall his horn be exalted. 26 And I will set his hand in the sea, And his right hand in the rivers. 27 He shall call upon me, [saying], Thou art my Father, My God, and the helper of my salvation. 28 And I will make him [my] firstborn, Higher than the kings of the earth. 29 I will keep my mercy for him forever, And my covenant [shall be] firm with him. 30 And I will establish his seed forever and ever, And his throne as the days of heaven. 31 If his children should forsake my law, And walk not in my judgments; 32 If they should profane my ordinances, And not keep my commandments; 33 I will visit their transgressions with a rod, And their sins with scourges. 34 But my mercy I will not utterly remove from him, Nor wrong my truth. 35 Neither will I by any means profane my covenant; And I will not make void the things that proceed out of my lips. 36 Once have I sworn by my holiness, that I will not lie to David. 37 His seed shall endure forever, And his throne as the sun before me; 38 And as the moon [that is] established forever, And as the faithful witness in heaven. Pause. 39 But thou hast cast off and set at nought, Thou hast rejected thine anointed. 40 Thou hast overthrown the covenant of thy servant; Thou hast profaned his sanctuary, [casting it] to the ground. 41 Thou hast broken down all his hedges; Thou hast made his strongholds a terror. 42 All that go by the way have spoiled him: He is become a reproach to his neighbors. 43 Thou hast exalted the right hand of his enemies; Thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. 44 Thou hast turned back the help of his sword, And hast not helped him in the battle. 45 Thou hast deprived him of glory: Thou hast broken down his throne to the ground. 46 Thou hast shortened the days of his throne: Thou hast poured shame upon him. Pause. 47 How long, O Lord, wilt thou turn away, forever? Shall thine anger flame out as fire? 48 Remember what my being is: For hast thou created all the sons of men in vain? 49 What man is there who shall live, and not see death? Shall [anyone] deliver his soul from the hand of Hades? Pause. 50 Where are thine ancient mercies, O Lord, Which thou sworest to David in thy truth? 51 Remember, O Lord, the reproach of thy servants, Which I have borne in my bosom, [even the reproach] of many nations; 52 Wherewith thine enemies have reviled, O Lord: Wherewith they have reviled the recompense of thine anointed. 53 Blessed be the Lord forever. So be it, so be it.
Psalms · Updated Brenton English Septuagint
Psalm 88 (89) Updated Brenton English Septuagint
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · Psalm 89 · About the recordings
Notes on this text (2)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
- Same Septuagint text as Brenton, with modernised spelling.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Ethan the Ezrahite
A wise man whom Solomon's wisdom surpassed.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:31; Psalm 89:1
Cross references (53)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info. References use English (Hebrew-based) verse numbers; links open the passage in LXXUP.
- 1 Psalm 101:1; Psalm 89:8; Psalm 119:90; Lamentations 3:23; Psalm 89:33
- 2 Psalm 101:1; Psalm 89:8; Psalm 119:90; Lamentations 3:23; Psalm 89:33
- 3 Psalm 36:5; Nehemiah 9:31; Psalm 103:17; Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:18
- 4 Psalm 132:11; 2 Samuel 7:10–16; 1 Kings 8:16; Hebrews 7:21; Acts 2:30
- 5 Luke 1:32–33; 2 Samuel 7:12–16; Isaiah 9:6–7; Psalm 132:12; Philippians 2:9–11
- 6 Psalm 19:1; Psalm 97:6; Isaiah 44:23; Revelation 7:10–12; 2 Thessalonians 1:7
- 7 Psalm 86:8; Jeremiah 10:6; Psalm 71:19; Exodus 15:11; Psalm 113:5
- 8 Psalm 47:2; Psalm 76:7–11; Hebrews 12:28–29; Jeremiah 10:7; Revelation 15:3–4
- 9 Psalm 71:19; Jeremiah 32:17; 1 Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 40:25–26; Psalm 147:5
- 10 Psalm 65:7; Psalm 107:25–29; Mark 4:41; Mark 4:39; Matthew 8:24–27
- 11 Psalm 87:4; Psalm 68:30; Psalm 144:6; Isaiah 24:1; Exodus 3:19–20
- 12 1 Chronicles 29:11; Genesis 1:1; Psalm 115:16; Psalm 24:1–2; 1 Corinthians 10:26
- 13 Job 26:7; Joshua 12:1; Joshua 19:22; Deuteronomy 3:8–9; Judges 4:6
- 14 Psalm 62:11; Psalm 89:10; Daniel 4:34–35; Matthew 6:13
- 15 Psalm 97:2; Proverbs 16:12; Psalm 45:6–7; Psalm 145:17; Psalm 85:13
- 16 Psalm 44:3; Isaiah 2:5; Psalm 4:6; Job 29:3; Psalm 100:1
- 17 Philippians 4:4; Philippians 3:9; Psalm 29:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Psalm 89:12
- 18 Psalm 75:10; Psalm 92:10; Psalm 148:14; 1 Samuel 2:10; 1 Corinthians 1:30–31
- 19 Psalm 47:9; Psalm 71:22; Isaiah 33:22; Isaiah 1:4; Isaiah 12:6
- 20 1 Samuel 16:18; 1 Kings 11:34; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:6–11; 2 Samuel 7:8–17
- 21 1 Samuel 16:12–13; Isaiah 61:1–3; 1 Samuel 16:1; John 3:34; Acts 13:22
- 22 Isaiah 42:1; Psalm 18:32–39; Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 89:13; Ezekiel 30:24–25
- 23 2 Samuel 7:10; 1 Chronicles 17:9; Matthew 4:1–10; John 17:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3
- 24 2 Samuel 7:9; 2 Samuel 22:40–44; 2 Samuel 3:1; Psalm 18:40; 2 Samuel 7:1
- 25 2 Corinthians 1:20; Psalm 89:16–17; Psalm 91:14; John 17:6; Psalm 89:33
- 26 Psalm 80:11; Psalm 72:8–11; 1 Kings 4:21; Revelation 11:15; Psalm 2:8
- 27 2 Samuel 7:14; 2 Samuel 22:47; Psalm 95:1; Psalm 62:6–7; Matthew 26:42
- 28 Colossians 1:15; Colossians 1:18; Romans 8:29; Revelation 19:16; Psalm 2:7
- 29 Isaiah 55:3; Acts 13:32–34; Jeremiah 33:20–21; Isaiah 54:10; 2 Samuel 7:15–16
- 30 Psalm 89:4; Deuteronomy 11:21; Isaiah 9:7; Psalm 89:36; Daniel 2:44
- 31 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 119:53; Proverbs 28:4; Psalm 132:12
- 32 Psalm 55:20
- 33 2 Samuel 7:14; Proverbs 3:11–12; Hebrews 12:6–11; 1 Kings 11:39; 1 Kings 11:14
- 34 Isaiah 54:8–10; 2 Samuel 7:15; Lamentations 3:31–32; Hebrews 6:18; Jeremiah 33:20–26
- 35 Numbers 23:19; Matthew 24:35; James 1:17; Malachi 3:6; Romans 11:29
- 36 Psalm 132:11; Hebrews 6:13; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:17; Amos 4:2
- 37 Psalm 72:5; Psalm 89:29; Isaiah 59:21; Psalm 72:17; Luke 1:33
- 38 Jeremiah 31:35–36; Psalm 104:19; Genesis 1:14–18; Genesis 9:13–16; Isaiah 54:9–10
- 39 1 Chronicles 28:9; Deuteronomy 32:19; Psalm 89:51; Psalm 106:40; Zechariah 13:7
- 40 Lamentations 5:16; Psalm 74:7; Isaiah 43:28; Psalm 89:34–36; John 13:7
- 41 Psalm 80:12; Lamentations 2:2; Lamentations 2:5; Isaiah 5:5–6; Job 1:10
- 42 Psalm 79:4; Jeremiah 50:17; Jeremiah 24:9; Deuteronomy 28:37; Daniel 9:16
- 43 Revelation 11:10; Psalm 80:6; Leviticus 26:17; John 16:20; Deuteronomy 28:25
- 44 2 Chronicles 25:8; Leviticus 26:36–37; Numbers 14:42; Numbers 14:45; Joshua 7:8–12
- 45 1 Kings 12:16–20; 1 Samuel 4:21–22; 1 Kings 14:25–28; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–10; Daniel 7:20–25
- 46 Psalm 109:29; Psalm 44:15; Micah 7:10; Psalm 102:23; Psalm 89:28–29
- 47 Psalm 79:5; Psalm 78:63; Psalm 90:13; Isaiah 45:15; Isaiah 8:17
- 48 Job 14:1; Job 7:7; Job 10:9; Job 9:25–26; James 4:14
- 49 Ecclesiastes 9:5; Psalm 49:15; Hebrews 11:5; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Psalm 49:7–9
- 50 2 Samuel 7:15; Hebrews 7:21; Isaiah 55:3; Psalm 54:5; Isaiah 63:7–15
- 51 Psalm 74:18; Psalm 74:22; Psalm 69:9; Romans 15:3; Psalm 79:10–12
- 52 1 Peter 4:14–16; Psalm 74:10; Matthew 5:10–12; Hebrews 11:36; Matthew 12:24
- 53 Psalm 41:13; Psalm 72:18–19; 1 Timothy 1:17; Psalm 106:48; Habakkuk 3:17–19
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations). Verse numbers below follow the Hebrew/English numbering: 89.
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The Title of this eighty-seventh Psalm contains a fresh subject for enquiry: the words occurring here, "for Melech to respond," being nowhere else found.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
Their fierce and bloody minds were awed, and bridled, and marvellously tempered by Him who so long before said by His prophet, "I will visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquities with stripes; nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from them." Chapter 8 — Of the Advantages and Disadvantages Which Often Indiscriminately Accrue to… Will some …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Human witness oftentimes there is not; but He who fashioned us, an unerring witness, abides faithful in heaven, and beholds what thou doest.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
In the Old Testament it is said through (en) God we shall do valiantly, and, "My praise shall be continually of (en) thee;" and again, "In thy name will I rejoice." In Paul we read, "In God who created all things," and, "Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father;" and "if now …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)
… Israelite," mention is made of the promises God made to king David, and some things are there added similar to those found in the Book of Samuel, such as this, "I have sworn to David my servant that I will prepare his seed for ever." And again, "Then thou spakest in vision to thy sons, and saidst, I have laid …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)