1 The psalmist praises God for his covenant
5 For his wonderful power
15 For the care of his church
19 For his favour to the kingdom of David
38 Then complaining of contrary events
46 He expostulates, prays, and blesses God.

A.M. cir 3463. B.C. cir 541. Maschil, or, A Psalm for Ethan, the Ezrahite, to give instructions. This Psalm is generally supposed to have been written during the Babylonian captivity, when, the family of David being dethroned, and the royal family ruined, the Divine promises had apparently failed. 1Ki 4:31 1Ch 2:6

I will Ps 86:12,13 101:1 106:1 136:1

with Ps 40:9,10 71:8,15-19

thy faithfulness Ps 89:5,8,33,49 36:5 92:2 Isa 25:1 La 3:23 Mic 7:20 Tit 1:2

all generations. Heb. generation and generation Ps 89:4 119:90

2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

mercy Ps 36:5 103:17 Ne 1:5 9:17,31 Lu 1:50 Eph 1:6,7

faithfulness Ps 89:5,37 119:89 146:6 Nu 23:19 Mt 24:35 Heb 6:18

3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,

made Ps 89:28,34,39 2Sa 7:10-16 23:5 1Ki 8:16 Isa 55:3 Jer 30:9 33:20,21 Eze 34:23,24 Ho 3:5 Lu 1:32,33

my chosen Ps 89:19 78:70 Isa 42:1 Mt 3:17 12:18-21

sworn Ps 89:35 132:11 2Sa 3:9 Ac 2:30 Heb 7:21

4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.

Ps 89:1,29,36 72:17 132:12 2Sa 7:12-16,29 1Ki 9:5 1Ch 17:10-14 22:10 Isa 9:6,7 Zec 12:8 Lu 1:32,33 20:41-44 Ac 13:32-37 Ro 1:3,4 15:12 Php 2:9-11 Re 22:16

5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

heavens Ps 19:1 50:6 97:6 Isa 44:23 Lu 2:10-15 Eph 3:10 1Pe 1:12 Re 5:11-14 7:10-12

in the congregation Ps 89:7 De 33:2 Da 7:10 2Th 1:7 Heb 12:22,23 Jude 1:14,15 Re 19:1-6

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?

for who Ps 89:8 40:5 71:19 73:25 86:8 113:5 Ex 15:11 Jer 10:6

the sons Ps 29:1 52:1

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.

Ps 76:7-11 Le 10:3 Isa 6:2-7 66:2 Jer 10:7,10 Mt 10:28 Lu 12:4,5 Ac 5:11 Heb 12:28,29 Re 15:3,4

8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

O Lord Ps 84:12 Jos 22:22 Isa 28:22

a strong Ps 89:13 24:8 147:5 1Sa 15:19 Job 9:19 Isa 40:25,26 Jer 32:17 Mt 6:13

like Ps 89:6 35:10 71:19 De 32:31 1Sa 2:2

9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

Ps 29:10 65:7 66:5,6 93:3,4 107:25-29 Job 38:8-11 Na 1:4 Mt 8:24-27 14:32 Mr 4:39,41

10 Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

thou hast Ps 78:43 105:27 Ex 7:1 8:1 9:1 10:1 11:1 12:1 13:1 14:1 15:1

Rahab. or, Egypt
scattered Ps 59:11 68:30 144:6 Isa 24:1

thy strong arm. Heb. the arm of thy strength Ex 3:19,20 De 4:34

11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

Ps 24:1,2 50:12 115:16 Ge 1:1 2:1 1Ch 29:11 Job 41:11 1Co 10:26,28

12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

north Job 26:7

Tabor Jos 19:22 Jud 4:6,12

Hermon Ps 133:3 De 3:8,9 Jos 12:1

rejoice Ps 65:12,13 Isa 35:1,2 49:13 55:12,13

13 Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

a mighty arm heb. an arm with might Ps 89:10 62:11 Da 4:34,35 Mt 6:13

14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

justice Ps 45:6,7 97:2 99:4 145:17 De 32:4 Re 15:3

habitation. or, establishment Pr 16:12

mercy Ps 89:2 85:13 Joh 1:17

15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

know Ps 90:6 98:4-6 100:1 Le 25:9 Nu 10:10 23:21 Isa 52:7,8 Na 1:15 Lu 2:10-14 Ro 10:15,18

in the light Ps 4:6 44:3 Nu 6:26 Job 29:3 Pr 16:15 Isa 2:5 Joh 14:21-23 Ac 2:28 Re 21:23

16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

name Ps 89:12 29:5,7 33:21 44:8 Lu 1:47 Php 4:4

righteousness Ps 40:10 71:15,16 Isa 45:24,25 46:13 Jer 23:6 Ro 1:17 3:21-26 2Co 5:21 Php 3:9

17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

for thou Ps 28:7 1Co 1:30,31 2Co 12:9,10 Php 4:13

our horn Ps 89:24 75:10 92:10 112:9 132:17 148:14 1Sa 2:1,10

18 For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

the Lord is, etc. or, our Shield is of the Lord, and our King is of the Holy One of Israel. Ps 47:9 62:1,2,6 84:11 91:1,2 Ge 15:1 De 33:27-29

Holy Ps 71:22 Isa 1:4 12:6 29:19 30:11 43:3,14

king Ps 44:4 Isa 33:22

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.

then 1Sa 16:1 2Sa 7:8-17 Lu 1:70 2Pe 1:21 3:2

to thy holy Mr 1:24 Re 3:7

I have laid 1Sa 16:18 Isa 9:6 Jer 30:21

exalted Ps 89:3 1Ki 11:34 Php 2:6-11 Heb 2:9-17

20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

1Sa 16:1,12,13 Isa 61:1-3 Joh 3:34

21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.

with Ps 18:32-39 80:15-17 2Sa 7:8-16 Isa 42:1 49:8

mine Ps 89:13 Isa 41:10 Eze 30:24,25 Zec 10:12

22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

enemy 1Ch 17:9 Mt 4:1-10

son Joh 17:12 1Th 2:3

23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

I will 2Sa 3:7 7:1,9 22:40-44

plague Ps 2:1-6 21:8,9 109:3 110:1 132:18 Lu 19:14,27 Joh 15:23

24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

but my Ps 89:2-5,28,33 61:7 Joh 1:17 2Co 1:20

in my Ps 89:16,17 20:1,5 91:14 1Sa 2:1 Joh 17:6,11,26

25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

I will Ps 2:8 72:8-11 80:11 1Ki 4:21 Re 11:15

his hand. That is, his power or authority, as hand frequently signifies: for the accomplishment of these promises, see the parallel texts.

26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

thou 2Sa 7:14 1Ch 22:10 Mt 26:39,42 Lu 23:46 Joh 11:41 20:17 Heb 1:5

God Ps 43:4 Mr 15:34

rock Ps 18:46 62:2,6,7 95:1 2Sa 22:47 Isa 50:7-9

27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

also Ps 2:7 Ro 8:29 Col 1:15,18

higher Ps 2:10-12 72:11 Nu 24:7 2Ch 1:12 9:23,24 Isa 49:7 Re 19:16 21:24

28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

mercy 2Sa 7:15,16 Isa 54:10 55:3 Ac 13:32-34

covenant Ps 89:34 111:5,9 2Sa 23:5 Jer 33:20,21

29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

his seed Ps 89:4,36 132:11 1Ch 17:11,12 Isa 59:21 Jer 33:17-26

throne Ps 45:6 1Ch 22:10 Isa 9:7 Eze 37:24,25 Da 2:44 Lu 1:32,22

days Ps 21:4 De 11:21

30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

if Ps 132:12 2Sa 7:14 1Ch 28:9 2Ch 7:17-22

forsake Ps 119:53 Pr 4:2 28:4 Jer 9:13-16

walk Eze 18:9,17 20:19 Lu 1:6

31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;

break. Heb. profane Ps 55:20

32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

Ex 32:34 2Sa 7:14 1Ki 11:6,14,31,39 Pr 3:11,12 Am 3:2 1Co 11:31,32 Heb 12:6-11

33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

nevertheless 2Sa 7:13,15 1Ki 11:13,32,36 Isa 54:8-10 Jer 33:20-26 La 3:31,32 1Co 15:25

not utterly take. heb. not make void Ps 89:39 1Sa 15:29

fail. Heb. lie Heb 6:18

34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

covenant Le 26:44 Jer 14:21 33:20

nor Nu 23:19 Mal 3:6 Mt 24:35 Ro 11:29 Jas 1:17

35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

once Ps 110:4 132:11 Am 4:2 8:7 Heb 6:13,17

that I will not lie. Heb. If I lie 2Th 2:13 Tit 1:2

36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.

seed Ps 89:4,29 2Sa 7:16 Isa 53:10 59:21 Joh 12:34

and Ps 72:5,17 Isa 9:7 Jer 33:20 Lu 1:33

37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

it shall. That is, as long as the sun and moon shall endure, as long as time shall last, his kingdom shall continue among men. The moon is probably termed a faithful witness, because by her, particularly, time is measured. Her decrease and increase are especially observed by every nation; and by these time is generally estimated, especially among eastern nations:--So many moons is a man old--so many moons since such an event happened; and even their years are reckoned by lunations. Or, the rainbow may be intended; that faithful sign which God has established in the clouds, that the earth shall no more be destroyed by water.

ever Ps 72:7 104:19 Ge 1:14-18 Jer 31:35,36

and as Ge 9:13-16 Isa 54:9,10

38 But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

but Ps 44:9 60:1,10 77:7 1Ch 28:9 Jer 12:1 Ho 9:17

and Ps 78:59 106:40 De 32:19 La 2:7 Zec 11:8

wroth Ps 89:51 84:9 2Sa 1:21 15:26 2Ch 12:1-12 La 4:20 Zec 13:7

39 Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

void Ps 89:34-36 77:10 116:11 Joh 13:7

profaned Ps 89:44 74:7 143:3 Isa 25:12 43:28 La 5:16

40 Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.

broken Ps 80:12 Job 1:10 Isa 5:5,6

brought 2Ch 12:2-5 15:5 La 2:2,5 Re 13:1-7

41 All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.

all Ps 44:10-14 80:13 Isa 10:6 Jer 50:17

he is Ps 74:10 79:4 De 28:37 Ne 5:9 Jer 24:9 29:18 42:18 44:8,12 La 5:1 Eze 5:14,15 Da 9:16

42 Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.

Le 26:17,25 De 28:25,43 La 2:17 Joh 16:20 Re 11:10

43 Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.

turned Eze 30:21-25

not made Le 26:36,37 Nu 14:42,45 Jos 7:4,5,8-12 2Ch 25:8

44 Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.

thou 1Sa 4:21,22 1Ki 12:16-20 14:25-28 La 4:1,2 2Th 2:3-10

glory. Heb. brightness
cast Ps 89:39 Da 7:20-25

45 The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

the Ps 89:28,29 2Ch 10:19 Isa 63:18

thou Ps 44:15 109:29 Mic 7:10

46 How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

how Ps 13:1,2 79:5 85:5 90:13

wilt Ps 10:1 88:14 Job 23:9 Isa 8:17 45:15 Ho 5:15

thy wrath Ps 78:63 Jer 4:4 21:12 2Th 1:8 Heb 12:29

47 Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

remember Ps 39:5,6 119:84 Job 7:7 9:25,26 10:9

wherefore Ps 144:4 Job 14:1 Jas 4:14

48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

what Ps 49:7-9 Job 30:23 Ec 3:19,20 8:8 9:5 12:7 Heb 9:27

see death Joh 8:51 Heb 11:5

shall Ps 49:15 Ac 2:27 2Co 4:14

49 Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?

where Ps 77:9,10 Isa 63:7-15

thou Ps 89:3,4,35 54:5 132:11,12 2Sa 3:9 7:15 Isa 55:3 Heb 7:21

50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;

Ps 44:13-16 69:9,19,20 74:18,22 79:10-12 Ro 15:3

51 Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.

they have Mt 5:10-12 Ac 5:41 1Co 4:12,13 Heb 10:33 11:36

footsteps Ps 56:5,6 57:3 2Sa 16:7,8 Mt 12:24 26:61 Joh 8:48 1Pe 2:20,21 3:16 4:14-16

52 Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

blessed. This verse ends the third book of the Psalter; and is thought to have been added by a later hand, as it is wanting in two MSS., in another written without points, and in three others written separately from the text; though it is found in all the versions. Ps 41:13 72:18,19 106:48 Ne 9:5 Hab 3:17-19 Mt 6:13 1Ti 1:17