1I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever. With my mouth I will make your faithfulness known to all generations.
2For I have said, "Mercy will be built up for ever. You will make your faithfulness firm in the heavens themselves."
3"I have made a covenant with my chosen one. I have sworn an oath to David my servant:"
4"I will make your offspring secure for ever, and build up your throne for all generations." Selah.
5The heavens will praise your wonders, LORD, and your faithfulness too, in the gathering of the saints.
6For who in the sky can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty is like the LORD?
7God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints. All who are around him hold him in awe.
8LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like you? Who is like your faithfulness all around you?
9You rule the raging of the sea. When its waves rise, you make them still.
10You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one who is killed. With your strong arm you have scattered your enemies.
11The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours too. As for the world and all that fills it, you founded them.
12The north and the south you created. Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at your name.
13You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is lifted high.
14Justice and judgment are the foundation of your throne. Mercy and truth go before your face.
15Happy are the people who know the joyful sound. They will walk, LORD, in the light of your face.
16In your name they will rejoice all day long, and in your righteousness they will be lifted high.
17For you are the glory of their strength, and by your favour our horn will be lifted high.
18For the LORD is our defence, and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
19Then you spoke in a vision to your holy one, and said, "I have given help to one who is mighty. I have lifted up one chosen from among the people."
20"I have found David my servant. With my holy oil I have anointed him."
21"My hand will stay with him, and my arm will make him strong."
22"The enemy will not get the better of him, and the son of wickedness will not bring him low."
23"I will beat down his foes before his face, and strike down those who hate him."
24"But my faithfulness and my mercy will be with him, and in my name his horn will be lifted high."
25"I will set his hand on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers."
26"He will cry out to me, 'You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.'"
27"I will also make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth."
28"I will keep my mercy for him for ever, and my covenant with him will stand firm."
29"I will also make his offspring last for ever, and his throne as long as the days of heaven."
30"If his children turn away from my law, and do not walk in my judgments;"
31"if they break my statutes, and do not keep my commandments;"
32"then I will punish their wrongdoing with the rod, and their sin with blows."
33"Even so, I will not take my lovingkindness away from him completely, nor let my faithfulness fail."
34"I will not break my covenant, nor change what my lips have spoken."
35"Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness that I will not lie to David."
36"His offspring will last for ever, and his throne as long as the sun before me."
37"It will be made firm for ever like the moon, and like a faithful witness in the sky." Selah.
38But you have cast off and turned away in disgust. You have been angry with your anointed one.
39You have made the covenant with your servant worthless. You have thrown his crown to the ground and treated it as unholy.
40You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
41All who pass by on the road rob him. He is a disgrace to his neighbours.
42You have raised up the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all his enemies glad.
43You have also turned back the edge of his sword, and have not made him stand firm in the battle.
44You have made his glory come to an end, and thrown his throne down to the ground.
45You have cut short the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah.
46How long, LORD? Will you hide yourself for ever? Will your anger burn like fire?
47Remember how short my time is. Why have you made all people for nothing?
48What man is there who lives and will not see death? Can he save his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
49Lord, where are your former acts of lovingkindness, which you swore to David in your truth?
50Remember, Lord, the disgrace of your servants, and how I carry in my heart the insults of all the mighty peoples.
51With these your enemies have insulted you, LORD. With these they have insulted the footsteps of your anointed one.
52Blessed be the LORD for ever. Amen, and Amen.