Passage

Psalms 89

Book: Psalms · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. ^{Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.} I will sing of the lovingkindness of Jehovah for ever: With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. 2. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever; Thy faithfulness wilt thou establish in the very heavens. 3. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant: 4. Thy seed will I establish for ever, And build up thy throne to all generations. Selah 5. And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Jehovah; Thy faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. 6. For who in the skies can be compared unto Jehovah? Who among the sons of the mighty is like unto Jehovah, 7. A God very terrible in the council of the holy ones, And to be feared above all them that are round about him? 8. O Jehovah God of hosts, Who is a mighty one, like unto thee, O Jehovah? And thy faithfulness is round about thee. 9. Thou rulest the pride of the sea: When the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. 10. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; Thou hast scattered thine enemies with the arm of thy strength. 11. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: The world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. 12. The north and the south, thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon rejoice in thy name. 13. Thou hast a mighty arm; Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. 14. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne: Lovingkindness and truth go before thy face. 15. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: They walk, O Jehovah, in the light of thy countenance. 16. In thy name do they rejoice all the day; And in thy righteousness are they exalted. 17. For thou art the glory of their strength; And in thy favor our horn shall be exalted. 18. For our shield belongeth unto Jehovah; And our king to the Holy One of Israel. 19. Then thou spakest in vision to thy saints, And saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. 20. I have found David my servant; With my holy oil have I anointed him: 21. With whom my hand shall be established; Mine arm also shall strengthen him. 22. The enemy shall not exact from him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23. And I will beat down his adversaries before him, And smite them that hate him. 24. But my faithfulness and my lovingkindness shall be with him; And in my name shall his horn be exalted. 25. I will set his hand also on the sea, And his right hand on the rivers. 26. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation. 27. I also will make him my first-born, The highest of the kings of the earth. 28. My lovingkindness will I keep for him for evermore; And my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, And his throne as the days of heaven. 30. If his children forsake my law, And walk not in mine ordinances; 31. If they break my statutes, And keep not my commandments; 32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes. 33. But my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, Nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. 34. My covenant will I not break, Nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. 35. Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David: 36. His seed shall endure for ever, And his throne as the sun before me. 37. It shall be established for ever as the moon, And as the faithful witness in the sky. [[Selah 38. But thou hast cast off and rejected, Thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. 39. Thou hast abhorred the covenant of thy servant: Thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground. 40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges; Thou hast brought his strongholds to ruin. 41. All that pass by the way rob him: He is become a reproach to his neighbors. 42. Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries; Thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. 43. Yea, thou turnest back the edge of his sword, And hast not made him to stand in the battle. 44. Thou hast made his brightness to cease, And cast his throne down to the ground. 45. The days of his youth hast thou shortened: Thou hast covered him with shame. [[Selah 46. How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? How long shall thy wrath burn like fire? 47. Oh remember how short my time is: For what vanity hast thou created all the children of men! 48. What man is he that shall live and not see death, That shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? [[Selah 49. Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, Which thou swarest unto David in thy faithfulness? 50. Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; How I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty peoples, 51. Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O Jehovah, Wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed. 52. Blessed be Jehovah for evermore. Amen, and Amen." (Psalms 89:1-52, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite. I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 2. I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.” 3. “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant, 4. ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah. 5. The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh; your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. 6. For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like Yahweh, 7. a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him? 8. Yahweh, God of Armies, who is a mighty one, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you. 9. You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them. 10. You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. 11. The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours; the world and its fullness. You have founded them. 12. The north and the south, you have created them. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name. 13. You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted. 14. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face. 15. Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh. 16. In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted. 17. For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted. 18. For our shield belongs to Yahweh; our king to the Holy One of Israel. 19. Then you spoke in vision to your saints, and said, “I have given strength to the warrior. I have exalted a young man from the people. 20. I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil, 21. with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him. 22. No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him. 23. I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him. 24. But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted. 25. I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers. 26. He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!’ 27. I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. 28. I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more. My covenant will stand firm with him. 29. I will also make his offspring endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. 30. If his children forsake my law, and don’t walk in my ordinances; 31. if they break my statutes, and don’t keep my commandments; 32. then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33. But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail. 34. I will not break my covenant, nor alter what my lips have uttered. 35. Once I have sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David. 36. His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me. 37. It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah. 38. But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed. 39. You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust. 40. You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin. 41. All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors. 42. You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice. 43. Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven’t supported him in battle. 44. You have ended his splendor, and thrown his throne down to the ground. 45. You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah. 46. How long, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire? 47. Remember how short my time is! For what vanity have you created all the children of men! 48. What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah. 49. Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness? 50. Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples, 51. With which your enemies have mocked, Yahweh, with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one. 52. Blessed be Yahweh forever more. Amen, and Amen." (Psalms 89:1-52, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. ^{Maschil: or, A Psalm for Ethan the Ezrahite, to give instruction} ^{to all: Heb. to generation and generation} 2. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. 3. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, 4. Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. 5. And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. 6. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? 7. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. 8. O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? 9. Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. 10. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. ^{Rahab: or, Egypt} ^{thy: Heb. the arm of thy strength} 11. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. ^{the fulness: or, all it containeth} 12. The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. 13. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. ^{a: Heb. an arm with might} 14. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. ^{habitation: or, establishment} 15. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. 16. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. 17. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. 18. For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. ^{the LORD: or, our shield is of the LORD, and our king is of the Holy One of Israel} 19. Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. 20. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: 21. With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. 22. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23. And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. 24. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 25. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. 26. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. 27. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. 28. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. 30. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; 31. If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; ^{break: Heb. profane} 32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. ^{will: Heb. I will not make void from him} ^{to fall: Heb. to lie} 34. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. 35. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. ^{that: Heb. if I lie} 36. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. 37. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah. 38. But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. 39. Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground. 40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin. 41. All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours. 42. Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. 43. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle. 44. Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground. ^{glory: Heb. brightness} 45. The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah. 46. How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? 47. Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? 48. What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah. 49. Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth? 50. Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people; 51. Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed. 52. Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen." (Psalms 89:1-52, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. An 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. For 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. and the heavens confess Thy wonders, O Jehovah, Thy faithfulness also [is] in an assembly of holy ones. 6. For who in the sky, Compareth himself to Jehovah? Is like to Jehovah among sons of the mighty? 7. God is very terrible, In the secret counsel of His holy ones, And fearful over all surrounding Him. 8. O Jehovah, God of Hosts, Who [is] like Thee, a strong Jah? And Thy faithfulness [is] round about Thee. 9. Thou [art] ruler over the pride of the sea, In the lifting up of its billows Thou dost restrain them. 10. Thou hast bruised Rahab, as one wounded. With the arm of Thy strength Thou hast scattered Thine enemies. 11. Thine [are] the heavens, the earth also [is] Thine, The habitable world and its fulness, Thou hast founded them. 12. North and south Thou hast appointed them, Tabor and Hermon in Thy name do sing. 13. Thou hast an arm with might, Strong is Thy hand, high Thy right hand. 14. Righteousness and judgment [Are] 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. In Thy name they rejoice all the day, And in Thy righteousness they are exalted, 17. For the beauty of their strength [art] Thou, And in Thy good will is our horn exalted, 18. For of Jehovah [is] our shield, And of the Holy One of Israel our king. 19. Then 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. With whom My hand is established, My arm also doth strengthen him. 22. An enemy exacteth not upon him, And a son of perverseness afflicteth him not. 23. And I have beaten down before him his adversaries, And those hating him I plague, 24. And My faithfulness and kindness [are] with him, And in My name is his horn exalted. 25. And I have set on the sea his hand, And on the rivers his right hand. 26. He proclaimeth me: 'Thou [art] 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. To the age I keep for him My kindness, And My covenant [is] stedfast with him. 29. And I have set his seed for ever, And his throne as the days of the heavens. 30. If his sons forsake My law, And in My judgments do not walk; 31. If 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. And 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. Once I have sworn by My holiness, I lie not to David, 36. His seed is to the age, And his throne [is] as the sun before Me, 37. As the moon it is established, to the age, And the witness in the sky is stedfast. Selah. 38. And Thou, Thou hast cast off, and dost reject, Thou hast shown Thyself wroth With Thine anointed, 39. Hast rejected the covenant of Thy servant, Thou hast polluted to the earth his crown, 40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges, Thou hast made his fenced places a ruin. 41. Spoiled him have all passing by the way, He hath been a reproach to his neighbours, 42. Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries, Thou hast caused all his enemies to rejoice. 43. Also, Thou turnest back the sharpness of his sword, And hast not established him in battle, 44. Hast caused [him] to cease from his brightness, And his throne to the earth hast cast down. 45. Thou hast shortened the days of his youth, Hast covered him over [with] shame. Selah. 46. Till when, O Jehovah, art Thou hidden? For ever doth Thy fury burn as fire? 47. Remember, I pray Thee, what [is] life-time? Wherefore in vain hast Thou created All the sons of men? 48. Who [is] the man that liveth, and doth not see death? He delivereth his soul from the hand of Sheol. Selah. 49. Where [are] Thy former kindnesses, O Lord. Thou hast sworn to David in Thy faithfulness, 50. Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Thy servants, I have borne in my bosom all the strivings of the peoples, 51. Wherewith Thine enemies reproached, O Jehovah, Wherewith they have reproached The steps of Thine anointed. 52. Blessed [is] Jehovah to the age. Amen, and amen!" (Psalms 89:1-52, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.