Psalms 88
1I will sing of your mercies, O Lord, for ever: I will declare your truth with my mouth to all generations. 1
2For you have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: your truth shall be established in the heavens. 1
3I made a covenant with my chosen ones, I swore to David my servant. 1
4I will + 88:4 Gr. prepare. establish your seed for ever, and build up your throne to all generations. Pause. 1
5The heavens shall declare your wonders, O Lord; and your truth in the assembly of the saints. 1
6For who in the + 88:6 Gr. clouds. heavens shall be compared to the Lord? and who shall be likened to the Lord amongst the sons of God? 1
7God is glorified in the council of the saints; great and terrible towards all that are round about him. 1
8O Lord God of hosts, who is like to you? you are mighty, O Lord, and your truth is round about you. 1
9You rule the power of the sea; and you calm the tumult of its waves. 1
10You have brought down the proud as one that is slain; and with the arm of your power you have scattered your enemies. 1
11The heavens are your, and the earth is your: you have founded the world, and the fullness of it. 1
12You have created the north and the + 88:12 Gr. sea. west: Thabor and Hermon shall rejoice in your name. 1
13Your is the mighty arm: let your hand be strengthened, let your right hand be exalted. 1
14Justice and judgement are the establishment of your throne: mercy and truth shall go before your face. 1
15Blessed is the people that knows the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance. 1
16And in your name shall they rejoice all the day: and in your righteousness shall they be exalted. 1
17For you are the boast of their strength; and in your good pleasure shall our horn be exalted, 1
18for our help is of the Lord; and of the Holy One of Israel, our king. 1
19Then you spoke in vision to your children, and said, I have laid help on a mighty one; I have exalted one chosen out of my people. 1
20+ 88:20 Acts 13:22 I have found David my servant; I have anointed him by my holy + 88:20 Heb. and Alex. oil, see Ps. 91. (92) 10. mercy. 1
21For my hand shall support him; and my arm shall strengthen him. 1
22The enemy shall have no advantage against him; and the son of transgression shall not hurt him again. 1
23And I will hew down his foes before him, and put to flight those that hate him. 1
24But my truth and my mercy shall be with him; and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 1
25And I will set his hand in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. 1
26He shall call upon me, saying, You are my Father, my God, and the helper of my salvation. 1
27And I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. 1
28I will keep my mercy for him for ever, and my covenant shall be firm with him. 1
29And I will establish his seed for ever and ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. 1
30If his children should forsake my law, and walk not in my judgements; 1
31if they should profane my ordinances, and not keep my commandments; 1
32I will visit their transgressions with a rod, and their sins with scourges. 1
33But my mercy I will not utterly remove from him, nor wrong my truth. 1
34Neither will I by any means profane my covenant; and I will not make void the things that proceed out of my lips. 1
35Once have I sworn by my holiness, that I will not lie to David. 1
36His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me; 1
37and as the moon that is established for ever, and as the faithful witness in heaven. Pause. 1
38But you have cast off and set at nothing, you have rejected your anointed. 1
39You have overthrown the covenant of your servant; you have profaned his sanctuary, casting it to the ground. 1
40You have broken down all his hedges; you have made his strong holds a terror. 1
41All that go by the way have spoiled him: he is become a reproach to his neighbours. 1
42You have exalted the right hand of his enemies; you have made all his enemies to rejoice. 1
43You have turned back the help of his sword, and have not helped him in the battle. 1
44You have deprived him of + 88:44 Gr. purification. glory: you have broken down his throne to the ground. 1
45You have shortened the days of his + 88:45 Alex. time. throne: you have poured shame upon him. Pause. 1
46How long, O Lord, will you turn away, for ever? shall your anger flame out as fire? 1
47Remember what my being is: for have you created all the sons of men in vain? 1
48What man is there who shall live, and not see death? shall any one deliver his soul from the hand of Hades? Pause. 1
49Where are your ancient mercies, O Lord, which you swore to David in your truth? 1
50Remember, O Lord, the reproach of your servants, which I have borne in my bosom, even the reproach of many nations; 1
51wherewith your enemies have reviled, O Lord: wherewith they have reviled the recompense of your anointed. 1
52Blessed be the Lord for ever. So be it, so be it.