Psalm
89 Wednesday and
Thursday Readings 3 (Wed: + “And yet you spurned…”)
Your love, Yahweh, forever shall I sing; * age after age I
shall proclaim your fidelity.
With my mouth I do say: * “Eternal One, your love created
the heavens, * but firmer than these you made your fidelity.”
“I have made a covenant with my chosen; * I have sworn to
David my servant:
'I will establish your line forever, * and build up your
throne for all generations.’”
In the heavens they praise
your promise, Yahweh, * and your fidelity in the assembly of holy ones.
For who in the skies can
compare with Yahweh? * Who resembles Yahweh among the gods?
An El too dreadful for the council of holy ones, * too great and
awesome for all around him:
Yahweh God of armies, who is like you? * Mighty Yah, your
faithful surround you.
You rule on the back of the sea; * when its waves surge, you
check them.
You crushed Rahab like a carcass; * with your strong arm you
scattered your foes.
Yours are the heavens and yours is the earth; * the world
and all it holds you founded.
You created Mounts Zaphon and Amanus; * Tabor and Hermon
sing with joy in your presence.
You have a mighty arm, O
Warrior! * Your left hand is triumphant; * your right hand raised in victory!
Justice and right are the foundation of your throne; * love
and truth stand before you.
Happy the people who know your radiance, * who walk, Yahweh, in
the light of your face.
They rejoice in your presence all day, * and over your generosity
are jubilant.
Yes, you are our glorious
triumph, * and by your favor you give us victory.
Truly Yahweh is our
Sovereign; * the Holy One of Israel is our King!
Once you spoke in a vision; * yes, to your worshiper you said:
“A boy I made king in preference to a warrior; * I exalted a
youth above a hero.
I found David my servant; * with my holy oil I anointed him.
My hand shall supply his power, * and my arm shall keep him
strong.
No enemy shall rise against him, * nor son of iniquity
overcome him.
I will hammer his adversaries before him, * and strike
down those who hate him.
My fidelity and love shall be with him; * and through
my Name he shall be victorious.
I will put his left hand on the Mediterranean, * and
his right hand on the Euphrates.
He shall cry to me: * ‘You are my father, my God,
* the Mountain of my salvation.’
And I will make him my firstborn, * the highest of
earthly kings.
My love for him I will keep eternal,
* and for him my covenant shall endure.
I will put his offspring on his seat; * and his throne
will be like heaven's days.
Should his children forsake my law, * refuse to follow my
decrees,
should they violate my statutes, * and not keep my
commandments,
I will punish their rebellion with the rod, * and their
malice with lashes.
But I will never banish from him my love, * or be false to my
fidelity.
I will not violate my covenant, * nor alter my given word.
Once for all I have sworn on my holiness; * I cannot lie to
David.
His dynasty shall last to eternity, * his throne as the sun
before me.
Like the moon will his descendants live on, * and his seat will
be stabler than the sky.”
+
And yet you spurned in your
anger; * you raged at your anointed.
You rescinded the covenant
with your servant; * you utterly desecrated his crown.
You breached all his walls, * reduced his fortifications to
rubble.
All who pass by despoil him;
* he has become the taunt of his neighbors.
You exalted the right hand of his adversaries, * raised high
both hands of his enemies.
In your anger you turned back his blade, * and did not
sustain his sword.
Among his troops you made his splendor cease, * and hurled
his throne on the ground.
You cut short the days of his youth, * robed his young
manhood with sterility.
How long, Yahweh, will you turn away? * Conqueror! * How long
must your rage burn like fire?
Remember my sorrow, * the few days of my life; * For what
void did you create all mankind?
What man alive will not see death? * will rescue himself from the
hand of Sheol?
Where are those former acts of kindness, * Lord, * which you promised
on your fidelity to David?
Remember, Lord, the insults
to your servant, * how in my chest I bear all the shafts of the nations,
that your enemies, Yahweh,
insult me, * insultingly malign your anointed.
Praised be Yahweh forever! *
Amen, Amen!