1 A n instruction, by Ethan the Ezrahite. Of the kind acts of Jehovah, to the age I sing, To all generations I make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth,

2 F or I said, `To the age is kindness built, The heavens! Thou dost establish Thy faithfulness in them.'

3 I have made a covenant for My chosen, I have sworn to David My servant:

4 ` Even to the age do I establish thy seed, And have built to generation and generation thy throne. Selah.

5 a nd the heavens confess Thy wonders, O Jehovah, Thy faithfulness also in an assembly of holy ones.

6 F or who in the sky, Compareth himself to Jehovah? Is like to Jehovah among sons of the mighty?

7 G od is very terrible, In the secret counsel of His holy ones, And fearful over all surrounding Him.

8 O Jehovah, God of Hosts, Who like Thee -- a strong Jah? And Thy faithfulness round about Thee.

9 T hou ruler over the pride of the sea, In the lifting up of its billows Thou dost restrain them.

10 T hou hast bruised Rahab, as one wounded. With the arm of Thy strength Thou hast scattered Thine enemies.

11 T hine the heavens -- the earth also Thine, The habitable world and its fulness, Thou hast founded them.

12 N orth and south Thou hast appointed them, Tabor and Hermon in Thy name do sing.

13 T hou hast an arm with might, Strong is Thy hand -- high Thy right hand.

14 R ighteousness and judgment the fixed place of Thy throne, Kindness and truth go before Thy face.

15 O the happiness of the people knowing the shout, O Jehovah, in the light of Thy face they walk habitually.

16 I n Thy name they rejoice all the day, And in Thy righteousness they are exalted,

17 F or the beauty of their strength Thou, And in Thy good will is our horn exalted,

18 F or of Jehovah our shield, And of the Holy One of Israel our king.

19 T hen Thou hast spoken in vision, To Thy saint, yea, Thou sayest, I have placed help upon a mighty one, Exalted a chosen one out of the people,

20 I have found David My servant, With My holy oil I have anointed him.

21 W ith whom My hand is established, My arm also doth strengthen him.

22 A n enemy exacteth not upon him, And a son of perverseness afflicteth him not.

23 A nd I have beaten down before him his adversaries, And those hating him I plague,

24 A nd My faithfulness and kindness with him, And in My name is his horn exalted.

25 A nd I have set on the sea his hand, And on the rivers his right hand.

26 H e proclaimeth me: `Thou my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.'

27 I also first-born do appoint him, Highest of the kings of the earth.

28 T o the age I keep for him My kindness, And My covenant stedfast with him.

29 A nd I have set his seed for ever, And his throne as the days of the heavens.

30 I f his sons forsake My law, And in My judgments do not walk;

31 I f My statutes they pollute, And My commands do not keep,

32 I have looked after with a rod their transgression, And with strokes their iniquity,

33 A nd My kindness I break not from him, Nor do I deal falsely in My faithfulness.

34 I profane not My covenant, And that which is going forth from My lips I change not.

35 O nce I have sworn by My holiness, I lie not to David,

36 H is seed is to the age, And his throne as the sun before Me,

37 A s the moon it is established -- to the age, And the witness in the sky is stedfast. Selah.

38 A nd Thou, Thou hast cast off, and dost reject, Thou hast shown Thyself wroth With Thine anointed,

39 H ast rejected the covenant of Thy servant, Thou hast polluted to the earth his crown,

40 T hou hast broken down all his hedges, Thou hast made his fenced places a ruin.

41 S poiled him have all passing by the way, He hath been a reproach to his neighbours,

42 T hou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries, Thou hast caused all his enemies to rejoice.

43 A lso -- Thou turnest back the sharpness of his sword, And hast not established him in battle,

44 H ast caused to cease from his brightness, And his throne to the earth hast cast down.

45 T hou hast shortened the days of his youth, Hast covered him over shame. Selah.

46 T ill when, O Jehovah, art Thou hidden? For ever doth Thy fury burn as fire?

47 R emember, I pray Thee, what life-time? Wherefore in vain hast Thou created All the sons of men?

48 W ho the man that liveth, and doth not see death? He delivereth his soul from the hand of Sheol. Selah.

49 W here Thy former kindnesses, O Lord. Thou hast sworn to David in Thy faithfulness,

50 R emember, O Lord, the reproach of Thy servants, I have borne in my bosom all the strivings of the peoples,

51 W herewith Thine enemies reproached, O Jehovah, Wherewith they have reproached The steps of Thine anointed.

52 B lessed Jehovah to the age. Amen, and amen!