Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

8,6,8,6

^1God's mercies I will ever sing;

and with my mouth I shall

Thy faithfulness make to be known

to generations all.

^2For mercy shall be built, said I,

for ever to endure;

Thy faithfulness, ev'n in the heav'ns,

thou wilt establish sure.

^3I with my chosen One have made

a cov'nant graciously;

And to my servant, whom I lov'd,

to David sworn have I;

^4That I thy seed establish shall

for ever to remain,

And will to generations all

thy throne build and maintain.

^5The praises of thy wonders, Lord,

the heavens shall express;

And in the congregation

of saints thy faithfulness.

^6For who in heaven with the Lord

may once himself compare?

Who is like God among the sons

of those that mighty are?

^7Great fear in meeting of the saints

is due unto the Lord;

And he of all about him should

with rev'rence be ador'd.

^8O thou that art the Lord of hosts,

what Lord in mightiness

Is like to thee? who compass'd round

art with thy faithfulness.

^9Ev'n in the raging of the sea

thou over it dost reign;

And when the waves thereof do swell,

thou stillest them again.

^10Rahab in pieces thou didst break,

like one that slaughter'd is;

And with thy mighty arm thou hast

dispers'd thine enemies.

^11The heav'ns are thine, thou for thine own

the earth dost also take;

The world, and fulness of the same,

thy pow'r did found and make.

^12The north and south from thee alone

their first beginning had;

Both Tabor mount and Hermon hill

shall in thy name be glad.

^13Thou hast an arm that's full of pow'r,

thy hand is great in might;

And thy right hand exceedingly

exalted is in height.

^14Justice and judgment of thy throne

are made the dwelling-place;

Mercy, accompany'd with truth,

shall go before thy face.

^15O greatly bless'd the people are

the joyful sound that know;

In brightness of thy face, O Lord,

they ever on shall go.

^16They in thy name shall all the day

rejoice exceedingly;

And in thy righteousness shall they

exalted be on high.

^17Because the glory of their strength

doth only stand in thee;

And in thy favour shall our horn

and pow'r exalted be.

^18For God is our defence; and he

to us doth safety bring:

The Holy One of Israel

is our almighty King.

^19In vision to thy Holy One

thou saidst, I help upon

A strong one laid; out of the folk

I rais'd a chosen one;

^20Ev'n David, I have found him out

a servant unto me;

And with my holy oil my King

anointed him to be.

^21With whom my hand shall stablish'd be;

mine arm shall make him strong.

^22On him the foe shall not exact,

nor son of mischief wrong.

^23I will beat down before his face

all his malicious foes;

I will them greatly plague who do

with hatred him oppose.

^24My mercy and my faithfulness

with him yet still shall be;

And in my name his horn and pow'r

men shall exalted see.

^25His hand and pow'r shall reach afar;

I'll set it in the sea;

And his right hand established

shall in the rivers be.

^26Thou art my Father, he shall cry,

thou art my God alone;

And he shall say, Thou art the Rock

of my salvation.

^27I'll make him my first-born, more high

than kings of any land.

^28My love I'll ever keep for him,

my cov'nant fast shall stand.

^29His seed I by my pow'r will make

for ever to endure;

And, as the days of heav'n, his throne

shall stable be, and sure.

^30But if his children shall forsake

my laws, and go astray,

And in my judgments shall not walk,

but wander from my way:

^31If they my laws break, and do not

keep my commandements;

^32I'll visit then their faults with rods,

their sins with chastisements.

^33Yet I'll not take my love from him,

nor false my promise make.

^34My cov'nant I'll not break, nor change

what with my mouth I spake.

^35Once by my holiness I sware,

to David I'll not lie;

^36His seed and throne shall, as the sun,

before me last for aye.

^37It, like the moon, shall ever be

establish'd stedfastly;

And like to that which in the heav'n

doth witness faithfully.

^38But thou, displeased, hast cast off,

thou didst abhor and loathe;

With him that thine anointed is

thou hast been very wroth.

^39Thou hast thy servant's covenant

made void, and quite cast by;

Thou hast profan'd his crown, while it

cast on the ground doth lie.

^40Thou all his hedges hast broke down,

his strong holds down hast torn.

^41He to all passers-by a spoil,

to neighbours is a scorn.

^42Thou hast set up his foes' right hand;

mad'st all his en'mies glad:

^43Turn'd his sword's edge, and him to stand

in battle hast not made.

^44His glory thou hast made to cease,

his throne to ground down cast;

^45Shorten'd his days of youth, and him

with shame thou cover'd hast.

^46How long, Lord, wilt thou hide thyself?

for ever, in thine ire?

And shall thine indignation

burn like unto a fire?

^47Remember, Lord, how short a time

I shall on earth remain:

O wherefore is it so that thou

has made all men in vain?

^48What man is he that liveth here,

and death shall never see?

Or from the power of the grave

what man his soul shall free?

^49Thy former loving-kindnesses,

O Lord, where be they now?

Those which in truth and faithfulness

to David sworn hast thou?

^50Mind, Lord, thy servant's sad reproach;

how I in bosom bear

The scornings of the people all,

who strong and mighty are.

^51Wherewith thy raging enemies

reproach'd, O Lord, think on;

Wherewith they have reproach'd the steps

of thine anointed one.

^52All blessing to the Lord our God

let be ascribed then:

For evermore so let it be.

Amen, yea, and amen.