A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite.
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1I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever.
- With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
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2I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever.
- You established the heavens.
- Your faithfulness is in them.”
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3“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
- I have sworn to David, my servant,
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4‘I will establish your seed forever,
- and build up your throne to all generations.’”
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5The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh;
- your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
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6For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh?
- Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like Yahweh,
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7a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones,
- to be feared above all those who are around him?
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8Yahweh, God of Armies, who is a mighty one, like you?
- Yah, your faithfulness is around you.
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9You rule the pride of the sea.
- When its waves rise up, you calm them.
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10You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain.
- You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
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11The heavens are yours.
- The earth also is yours;
- the world and its fullness.
- You have founded them.
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12The north and the south, you have created them.
- Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.
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13You have a mighty arm.
- Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted.
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14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.
- Loving kindness and truth go before your face.
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15Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you.
- They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh.
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16In your name they rejoice all day.
- In your righteousness, they are exalted.
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17For you are the glory of their strength.
- In your favor, our horn will be exalted.
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18For our shield belongs to Yahweh;
- our king to the Holy One of Israel.
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19Then you spoke in vision to your saints,
- and said, “I have bestowed strength on the warrior.
- I have exalted a young man from the people.
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20I have found David, my servant.
- I have anointed him with my holy oil,
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21with whom my hand shall be established.
- My arm will also strengthen him.
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22No enemy will tax him.
- No wicked man will oppress him.
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23I will beat down his adversaries before him,
- and strike those who hate him.
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24But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him.
- In my name, his horn will be exalted.
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25I will set his hand also on the sea,
- and his right hand on the rivers.
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26He will call to me, ‘You are my Father,
- my God, and the rock of my salvation!’
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27I will also appoint him my firstborn,
- the highest of the kings of the earth.
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28I will keep my loving kindness for him forevermore.
- My covenant will stand firm with him.
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29I will also make his seed endure forever,
- and his throne as the days of heaven.
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30If his children forsake my law,
- and don’t walk in my ordinances;
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31if they break my statutes,
- and don’t keep my commandments;
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32then I will punish their sin with the rod,
- and their iniquity with stripes.
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33But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him,
- nor allow my faithfulness to fail.
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34I will not break my covenant,
- nor alter what my lips have uttered.
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35Once have I sworn by my holiness,
- I will not lie to David.
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36His seed will endure forever,
- his throne like the sun before me.
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37It will be established forever like the moon,
- the faithful witness in the sky.”
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38But you have rejected and spurned.
- You have been angry with your anointed.
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39You have renounced the covenant of your servant.
- You have defiled his crown in the dust.
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40You have broken down all his hedges.
- You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
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41All who pass by the way rob him.
- He has become a reproach to his neighbors.
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42You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries.
- You have made all of his enemies rejoice.
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43Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword,
- and haven’t supported him in battle.
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44You have ended his splendor,
- and thrown his throne down to the ground.
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45You have shortened the days of his youth.
- You have covered him with shame.
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46How long, Yahweh?
- Will you hide yourself forever?
- Will your wrath burn like fire?
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47Remember how short my time is!
- For what vanity have you created all the children of men!
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48What man is he who shall live and not see death,
- who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?
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49Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses,
- which you swore to David in your faithfulness?
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50Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants,
- how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples,
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51With which your enemies have mocked, Yahweh,
- with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one.
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52Blessed be Yahweh forevermore.
BOOK IV