Psalm 88

For instruction: for Ethan the Israelite.

I will sing of Thy mercies, O Lord, for ever; with my mouth will I shew forth Thy truth from generation to generation.
For Thou hast said, Mercy shall be built up for ever; Thy truth shall be established in the heavens.
I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn unto David My servant.
Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne from generation to generation.
The heavens shall declare Thy wonders, O Lord, Thy truth also in the congregation of the saints.
For who in the clouds shall be compared unto the Lord? and who among the sons of God shall be likened unto the Lord? God Who is glorified in the assembly of the saints, great and terrible toward all them that are round about Him.
O Lord God of hosts, who is like unto Thee? Thou art mighty, O Lord, and Thy truth is round about Thee.
Thou art ruler the might of the sea, and Thou stillest the tumult of her waves.
Thou hast humbled the proud, as one that is slain; and Thou hast scattered Thine enemies with the arm of Thy strength.
The heavens are Thine, the earth also is Thine; as for the world and the fulness thereof, Thou hast founded them.
The north and the sea Thou hast created them; Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy name.
Thine is the mighty arm. Let Thine hand be strengthened, let Thy right hand be exalted.
Justice and judgment are the establishment of Thy throne; mercy and truth shall go before Thy face. Blessed is the people that knoweth jubilation.
They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance, and in Thy name shall they rejoice all the day, and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
For Thou art the glory of their strength, and in Thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
For of the Lord is our help, and of the Holy One of Israel, our King.
Then Thou spakest in a vision to Thy sons, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one chosen out of My people.
I have found David My servant, with My holy oil have I anointed him.

For My hand shall be an ally unto him, Mine arm also shall strengthen him. His enemy shall have no advantage over him, nor shall the son of wickedness have power to hurt him more.
And I will cut down his foes before his face, and put to flight them that hate him.
And My truth and My mercy shall be with him, and in My name shall his horn be exalted.
I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.
He shall cry unto Me, and say, Thou art my Father, my God, and the Help of my salvation.
Also I will make him My firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and My covenant shall stand fast with him.
His seed also will I establish for ever and ever, and his throne shall be as the days of heaven.
If his sons forsake My law, and walk not in My judgments; If they profane My statutes, and keep not My commandments; Then will I visit their iniquities with a rod, and their transgressions with stripes.
Nevertheless My mercy will I not utterly take from them, nor wrong them in My truth.
Neither will I profane My covenant, nor make void the things that go out of My lips.
Once have I sworn by My holiness, that I will not lie unto David.
His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before Me, and as the moon that is established for ever, and as a faithful witness in heaven.
But Thou hast cast off and brought to nought; Thou hast been wroth with Thine anointed.
Thou hast destroyed the covenant of Thy servant; Thou hast profaned his sanctuary to the ground.
Thou hast broken down all his hedges; Thou hast made his strong hold a terror.
All that pass by the way have spoiled him; he is become a reproach to his neighbours.
Thou hast set up the right hand of them that afflict him, Thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.
Thou hast turned away the help of his sword, and hast not holpen him in battle.

Thou hast made an end of his purification; Thou hast cast his throne down to the ground.
The days of his time hast Thou shortened; Thou hast covered him with shame.
How long, O Lord, wilt Thou turn away for ever? Shall Thy wrath burn like fire? Remember what my substance is; for hast Thou created all the sons of man in vain? What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul out of the hand of Hades? Where are Thine ancient mercies, O Lord, which Thou swarest unto David in Thy truth? Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Thy servants, which I have endured in my bosom of many nations.
Wherewith Thine enemies have reproached, O Lord, wherewith they have reproached the recompense of Thine anointed.
Blessed be the Lord for evermore. So be it. So be it.