Maschil of Ethan, the Ezrahite, during the Babylonian captivity.

1I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. 2For I have said, “Mercy shall endure forever; Your faithfulness shall You establish in the very heavens.”

3The LORD said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David, My servant: 4I will establish your line of descendants forever, and build up your throne to all generations.” Selah.

5The heavens shall praise Your wonders, O LORD; the congregation of the saints shall also praise Your faithfulness. 6For who in the heaven can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings can be compared to the LORD? 7God is greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and to be held in reverence and awe by all who are about Him. 8O LORD God of hosts, who is a mighty LORD like You? And Your faithfulness surrounds You. 9You rule over the raging sea; when its waves arise, You still them. 10You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; You have scattered Your enemies with Your strong arm. 11The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; as for the world and all that is in it, You created them. 12You have created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Your name. 13You have a mighty arm; Your hand is strong; Your right hand is exalted. 14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before You. 15Blessed are those who have learned to praise You; they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. 16They shall rejoice in Your name all the day, and they shall be exalted in Your righteousness. 17For You are their glory and their strength; and by Your favor You shall exalt our horn. 18For the LORD is our defense; and the Holy One of Israel is our King.

19You once spoke in a vision to Your holy one (Nathan (1Chron.17:7:14)), and said, “I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have raised up a young man from among My people. 20I have found David, My servant; and I have anointed him with My holy oil. 21My hand shall sustain him; and My arm also shall strengthen him. 22The enemy shall not defeat him, nor will the wicked oppress him.

23And I will crush his foes before his face, and destroy those who hate him. 24But My faithful love and My mercy shall be with him; and in My name shall he grow in authority. 25I will extend his rule over the sea, and over the rivers. 26He shall call out to Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’ 27Also I will appoint him My first-born, higher than the mightiest kings of the earth. 28My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and My covenant with him shall stand firm. 29His seed also will I will establish his line forever, and his throne as endless as the days of heaven. 30If his children forsake My law, and do not obey My ordinances; 31If they break My laws, and fail to keep My commandments; 32Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33But I will not take My loving devotion from them, nor let My promise fail. 34I will not break My covenant, nor alter anything that I have said. 35Once have I sworn by My holiness that I will not lie to David. 36His offspring shall indeed endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me. 37It shall be established forever as the moon, as a faithful witness in heaven.” Selah.

38But You have rejected and spurned him; You have been angry with Your anointed king. 39You have renounced the covenant with Your servant; You have profaned his crown by throwing it in the dirt. 40You have broken down all his protective walls; You have destroyed all his strongholds. 41All that pass by have plundered him; he is scorned by his neighbors. 42You have strengthened the hand of his adversaries; You have caused all his enemies to rejoice. 43You have also blunted the edge of his sword, and have not supported him in battle. 44You have ended his splendor, and thrown his throne in the dirt. 45You have made him old before his time; You have put him to shame. Selah. 46How long, LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire? 47Remember how short my life is! How vain and futile is the life of all men! 48What man is there that shall not see death? Can he escape the power of the grave? Selah. 49LORD, where are Your former loving-kindnesses, which You promised to David in Your truth? 50Remember, LORD, how Your servants have been taunted, and scorned by many people, 51With insults that Your enemies, O LORD; have used to mock Your anointed king, wherever he goes.

52May the LORD be blessed and praised for evermore. Amen, and Amen.