An Instruction of Ethan, the Ezrahite

1 The mercies of Jehovah for ever will I sing: From generation to generation will I celebrate thy truth with my mouth.

2 For I have said, For ever Mercy shall be built up: The heavens thou shalt establish; thy truth [is] in them.

3 "I have made a covenant with my chosen: "I have sworn to David my servant:

4 "For ever will I establish thy seed, "And I will build up from age to age thy throne." Selah.

5 And celebrate shall the heavens thy wondrous work, O Jehovah! Also thy truth in the congregation of the saints.

6 For who in the clouds can be compared to Jehovah? Who is like unto Jehovah among the sons of the gods?

7 God is terrible exceedingly in the assembly of the saints, And to be feared above all who are around him.

8 O Jehovah, God of armies! who is a strong God like thee? And thy truth is round about thee.

9 Thou governest the pride of the sea: When rise up do the waves thereof, thou restrainest them.

10 Thou hast overthrown Egypt as a wounded mail; With the arm of thy strength thou hast scattered thy enemies.

11 Thine are the heavens, thine also is the earth: The world, and the fullness thereof thou hast formed. [356]

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

13 Thou hast an arm of might: Thou wilt strengthen thy hand, Thou wilt exalt thy right hand.

14 Righteousness and judgment are the seat of thy throne: Mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound! O Jehovah! in the brightness of thy countenance they shall walk.

16 In thy name shall they exult daily; And in thy righteousness shall they glory:

17 For the glory of their strength art thou; And in thy favor exalted shall be our horn.

18 For to Jehovah is our buckler; And to the Holy One of Israel is our King.

19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy meek ones, And saidst, "I have laid help upon a Mighty One; "I have exalted one chosen from among the people.

20 "I have found David my servant; "With the oil of my holiness have I anointed him.

21 "Therefore, my hand shall be established with him: "Yea, my arm shall strengthen him.

22 "The enemy shall not exact upon him, "Nor shall the son of iniquity afflict him.

23 "And I will break in pieces before his face his oppressors; "And those who hate him I will smite.

24 "And my truth and my mercy shall be with him: "And in my name exalted shall be his horn.

25 "And I will set in the sea his hand, "And in the rivers his right hand.

26 "He shall cry to me, My Father art thou, "My God, the Rock of my salvation.'

27 "Also I myself my firstborn will make him, "Higher than the kings of the earth.

28 "And for ever will I keep for him my mercy, "And my covenant shall stand firm with him.

29 "And I will establish for ever his seed, "And his throne as the days of heaven.

30 "If forsake shall his children my law, "And in my judgments shall not walk;

31 "If my ordinances they shall profane, "And my statutes they shall not keep;

32 "Then will I visit with my rod their transgressions, "And with stripes their iniquity.

33 "But my mercy will I not withdraw from him; "Nor will I be false in my truth.

34 "I will not profane my covenant, "And that which is gone forth from my lips I will not alter.

35 "Once have I sworn by my holiness, "If to David I lie --

36 "His seed for ever shall endure; "And his throne as the sun before me.

37 "As the moon it shall be established for ever, "And [as] a faithful witness in the heaven." Selah.

38 But thou, even thou, hast abhorred and rejected him; Thou hast been wroth with thy anointed.

39 Thou hast made to cease the covenant of thy servant; Thou hast profaned to the earth his crown.

40 Thou hast broken down all his walls; Thou hast made his fortresses a ruin.

41 Plundered him have all who pass by the way: He hath been a reproach to his neighbors.

42 Thou hast exalted the right hand of his oppressors; Thou hast made glad all his adversaries.

43 Also thou hast blunted the edge of his sword, And hast not made him to stand in battle.

44 Thou hast effaced his splendor, And his throne to the ground thou hast east down.

45 Thou hast shortened the days of his youth; Thou hast covered him with disgrace. Selah.

46 How long, O Jehovah! wilt thou hide thyself for ever? Burn like fire shall thy indignation?

47 Remember how short-lived I am! [357] Wherefore in vain shouldst thou have created all the sons of men?

48 What man shall live, and shall not see death? And shall deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

49 Where are thy former compassions, O Lord? Thou hast sworn to David in thy truth.

50 Remember, O Lord! the reproach of thy servants: I have sustained in my bosom all those [reproaches] of the mighty peoples,

51 With which thy enemies have reproached thee, O Jehovah! With which they have reproached the footsteps of thy Messiah.

52 Blessed be Jehovah for evermore. Amen and Amen!

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Footnotes:

[356] In the French version it is "thou hast founded."

[357] Literally, "of what age I am."