[87:1] His foundation is in the holy mountains. [87:2] Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. [87:3] Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah. [87:4] I will record [Rahab] and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia: "This one was born there." [87:5] Yes, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one was born in her;" the Most High himself will establish her. [87:6] Yahweh will count, when he writes up the peoples, "This one was born there." Selah. [87:7] Those who sing as well as those who dance say, "All my springs are in you."
Psalm 88
A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "The Suffering of Affliction." A contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite.
[88:1] Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you. [88:2] Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry. [88:3] For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol. [88:4] I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help, [88:5] set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand. [88:6] You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. [88:7] Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. Selah. [88:8] You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can't escape. [88:9] My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, Yahweh. I have spread out my hands to you. [88:10] Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Selah. [88:11] Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction? [88:12] Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? [88:13] But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you. [88:14] Yahweh, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me? [88:15] I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted. [88:16] Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off. [88:17] They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me. [88:18] You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
Psalm 89
A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite.
[89:1] I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. [89:2] I indeed declare, "Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them." [89:3] "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant, [89:4] 'I will establish your seed forever, and build up your throne to all generations.'" Selah. [89:5] The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh; your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. [89:6] For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like Yahweh, [89:7] a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him? [89:8] Yahweh, God of Armies, who is a mighty one, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you. [89:9] You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them. [89:10] You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. [89:11] The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours; the world and its fullness. You have founded them. [89:12] The north and the south, you have created them. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name. [89:13] You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted. [89:14] Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face. [89:15] Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh. [89:16] In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted. [89:17] For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted. [89:18] For our shield belongs to Yahweh; our king to the Holy One of Israel. [89:19] Then 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. [89:20] I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil, [89:21] with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him. [89:22] No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him. [89:23] I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him. [89:24] But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted. [89:25] I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers. [89:26] He will call to me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!' [89:27] I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. [89:28] I will keep my loving kindness for him forevermore. My covenant will stand firm with him. [89:29] I will also make his seed endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. [89:30] If his children forsake my law, and don't walk in my ordinances; [89:31] if they break my statutes, and don't keep my commandments; [89:32] then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. [89:33] But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail. [89:34] I will not break my covenant, nor alter what my lips have uttered. [89:35] Once have I sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David. [89:36] His seed will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me. [89:37] It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky." Selah. [89:38] But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed. [89:39] You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust. [89:40] You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin. [89:41] All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors. [89:42] You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice. [89:43] Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven't supported him in battle. [89:44] You have ended his splendor, and thrown his throne down to the ground. [89:45] You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah. [89:46] How long, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire? [89:47] Remember how short my time is! For what vanity have you created all the children of men! [89:48] What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah. [89:49] Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness? [89:50] Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples, [89:51] With which your enemies have mocked, Yahweh, with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one. [89:52] Blessed be Yahweh forevermore. Amen, and Amen.
BOOK IV
Psalm 90
A Prayer by Moses, the man of God.