# Psalm 89

Psalm 89 is the 89th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 88. In Latin, it is known as "Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo". It is described as a maschil or "contemplation".
The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic liturgies. It has been set to music, for example by Baroque composer Heinrich Schütz in German.

## Text
### Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).
| Verse | Hebrew | English translation (JPS 1917) |
| 1 | מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְאֵיתָ֥ן הָאֶזְרָחִֽי׃‎ | Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. |
| 2 | חַֽסְדֵ֣י יְ֭הֹוָה עוֹלָ֣ם אָשִׁ֑ירָה לְדֹ֥ר וָדֹ֓ר ׀ אוֹדִ֖יעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בְּפִֽי׃‎ | I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever; To all generations will I make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth. |
| 3 | כִּֽי־אָמַ֗רְתִּי ע֭וֹלָם חֶ֣סֶד יִבָּנֶ֑ה שָׁמַ֓יִם ׀ תָּכִ֖ן אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בָהֶֽם׃‎ | For I have said: 'For ever is mercy built; In the very heavens Thou dost establish Thy faithfulness. |
| 4 | כָּרַ֣תִּי בְ֭רִית לִבְחִירִ֑י נִ֝שְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי לְדָוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃‎ | I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn unto David My servant: |
| 5 | עַד־ע֭וֹלָם אָכִ֣ין זַרְעֶ֑ךָ וּבָנִ֨יתִי לְדֹר־וָד֖וֹר כִּסְאֲךָ֣ סֶֽלָה׃‎ | For ever will I establish thy seed, And build up thy throne to all generations.' Selah |
| 6 | וְי֘וֹד֤וּ שָׁמַ֣יִם פִּלְאֲךָ֣ יְהֹוָ֑ה אַף־אֱ֝מ֥וּנָתְךָ֗ בִּקְהַ֥ל קְדֹשִֽׁים׃‎ | So shall the heavens praise Thy wonders, O LORD, Thy faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. |
| 7 | כִּ֤י מִ֣י בַ֭שַּׁחַק יַעֲרֹ֣ךְ לַיהֹוָ֑ה יִדְמֶ֥ה לַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה בִּבְנֵ֥י אֵלִֽים׃‎ | For who in the skies can be compared unto the LORD, Who among the sons of might can be likened unto the LORD, |
| 8 | אֵ֣ל נַ֭עֲרָץ בְּסוֹד־קְדֹשִׁ֣ים רַבָּ֑ה וְ֝נוֹרָ֗א עַל־כׇּל־סְבִיבָֽיו׃‎ | A God dreaded in the great council of the holy ones, And feared of all them that are about Him? |
| 9 | יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י צְבָא֗וֹת מִֽי־כָמ֖וֹךָֽ חֲסִ֥ין ׀ יָ֑הּ וֶ֝אֱמ֥וּנָתְךָ֗ סְבִיבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃‎ | O LORD God of hosts, Who is a mighty one, like unto Thee, O LORD? And Thy faithfulness is round about Thee. |
| 10 | אַתָּ֣ה מ֭וֹשֵׁל בְּגֵא֣וּת הַיָּ֑ם בְּשׂ֥וֹא גַ֝לָּ֗יו אַתָּ֥ה תְשַׁבְּחֵֽם׃‎ | Thou rulest the proud swelling of the sea; When the waves thereof arise, Thou stillest them. |
| 11 | אַתָּ֤ה דִכִּ֣אתָ כֶחָלָ֣ל רָ֑הַב בִּזְר֥וֹעַ עֻ֝זְּךָ֗ פִּזַּ֥רְתָּ אוֹיְבֶֽיךָ׃‎ | Thou didst crush Rahab, as one that is slain; Thou didst scattered Thine enemies with the arm of Thy strength. |
| 12 | לְךָ֣ שָׁ֭מַיִם אַף־לְךָ֥ אָ֑רֶץ תֵּבֵ֥ל וּ֝מְלֹאָ֗הּ אַתָּ֥ה יְסַדְתָּֽם׃‎ | Thine are the heavens, Thine also the earth; The world and the fulness thereof, Thou hast founded them. |
| 13 | צָפ֣וֹן וְ֭יָמִין אַתָּ֣ה בְרָאתָ֑ם תָּב֥וֹר וְ֝חֶרְמ֗וֹן בְּשִׁמְךָ֥ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃‎ | The north and the south, Thou hast created them; Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Thy name. |
| 14 | לְךָ֣ זְ֭רוֹעַ עִם־גְּבוּרָ֑ה תָּעֹ֥ז יָ֝דְךָ֗ תָּר֥וּם יְמִינֶֽךָ׃‎ | Thine is an arm with might; Strong is Thy hand, and exalted is Thy right hand. |
| 15 | צֶ֣דֶק וּ֭מִשְׁפָּט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֶ֑ךָ חֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת יְֽקַדְּמ֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃‎ | Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Thy throne; Mercy and truth go before Thee. |
| 16 | אַשְׁרֵ֣י הָ֭עָם יֹדְעֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה בְּֽאוֹר־פָּנֶ֥יךָ יְהַלֵּכֽוּן׃‎ | Happy is the people that know the joyful shout; They walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance. |
| 17 | בְּ֭שִׁמְךָ יְגִיל֣וּן כׇּל־הַיּ֑וֹם וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ יָרֽוּמוּ׃‎ | In Thy name do they rejoice all the day; And through Thy righteousness are they exalted. |
| 18 | כִּי־תִפְאֶ֣רֶת עֻזָּ֣מוֹ אָ֑תָּה וּ֝בִרְצוֹנְךָ֗ (תרים) [תָּר֥וּם] קַרְנֵֽינוּ׃‎ | For Thou art the glory of their strength; And in Thy favour our horn is exalted. |
| 19 | כִּ֣י לַ֭יהֹוָה מָגִנֵּ֑נוּ וְלִקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מַלְכֵּֽנוּ׃‎ | For of the LORD is our shield; And the Holy One of Israel is our king. |
| 20 | אָ֤ז דִּבַּ֥רְתָּֽ־בְחָז֡וֹן לַחֲסִידֶ֗יךָ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר שִׁוִּ֣יתִי עֵ֭זֶר עַל־גִּבּ֑וֹר הֲרִימ֖וֹתִי בָח֣וּר מֵעָֽם׃‎ | Then Thou spokest in vision to Thy godly ones, And saidst: 'I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. |
| 21 | מָ֭צָאתִי דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֑י בְּשֶׁ֖מֶן קׇדְשִׁ֣י מְשַׁחְתִּֽיו׃‎ | I have found David My servant; With My holy oil have I anointed him; |
| 22 | אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָ֭דִי תִּכּ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ אַף־זְרוֹעִ֥י תְאַמְּצֶֽנּוּ׃‎ | With whom My hand shall be established; Mine arm also shall strengthen him. |
| 23 | לֹא־יַשִּׁ֣יא אוֹיֵ֣ב בּ֑וֹ וּבֶן־עַ֝וְלָ֗ה לֹ֣א יְעַנֶּֽנּוּ׃‎ | The enemy shall not exact from him; Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. |
| 24 | וְכַתּוֹתִ֣י מִפָּנָ֣יו צָרָ֑יו וּמְשַׂנְאָ֥יו אֶגּֽוֹף׃‎ | And I will beat to pieces his adversaries before him, And smite them that hate him. |
| 25 | וֶ֥אֱֽמוּנָתִ֣י וְחַסְדִּ֣י עִמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בִשְׁמִ֗י תָּר֥וּם קַרְנֽוֹ׃‎ | But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him; And through My name shall his horn be exalted. |
| 26 | וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י בַיָּ֣ם יָד֑וֹ וּֽבַנְּהָר֥וֹת יְמִינֽוֹ׃‎ | I will set his hand also on the sea, And his right hand on the rivers. |
| 27 | ה֣וּא יִ֭קְרָאֵנִי אָ֣בִי אָ֑תָּה אֵ֝לִ֗י וְצ֣וּר יְשׁוּעָתִֽי׃‎ | He shall call unto Me: Thou art my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation. . |
| 28 | אַף־אָ֭נִי בְּכ֣וֹר אֶתְּנֵ֑הוּ עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן לְמַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃‎ | I also will appoint him first-born, The highest of the kings of the earth. |
| 29 | לְ֭עוֹלָם (אשמור) [אֶשְׁמׇר־]ל֣וֹ חַסְדִּ֑י וּ֝בְרִיתִ֗י נֶאֱמֶ֥נֶת לֽוֹ׃‎ | For ever will I keep for him My mercy, And My covenant shall stand fast with him. |
| 30 | וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י לָעַ֣ד זַרְע֑וֹ וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ כִּימֵ֥י שָׁמָֽיִם׃‎ | His seed also will I make to endure for ever, And his throne as the days of heaven. |
| 31 | אִם־יַעַזְב֣וּ בָ֭נָיו תּוֹרָתִ֑י וּ֝בְמִשְׁפָּטַ֗י לֹ֣א יֵלֵכֽוּן׃‎ | If his children forsake My law, And walk not in Mine ordinances; : |
| 32 | אִם־חֻקֹּתַ֥י יְחַלֵּ֑לוּ וּ֝מִצְוֺתַ֗י לֹ֣א יִשְׁמֹֽרוּ׃‎ | If they profane My statutes, And keep not My commandments; |
| 33 | וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י בְשֵׁ֣בֶט פִּשְׁעָ֑ם וּבִנְגָעִ֥ים עֲוֺנָֽם׃‎ | Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with strokes. |
| 34 | וְ֭חַסְדִּי לֹא־אָפִ֣יר מֵעִמּ֑וֹ וְלֹא־אֲ֝שַׁקֵּ֗ר בֶּאֱמוּנָתִֽי׃‎ | But My mercy will I not break off from him, Nor will I be false to My faithfulness. |
| 35 | לֹֽא־אֲחַלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתִ֑י וּמוֹצָ֥א שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י לֹ֣א אֲשַׁנֶּֽה׃‎ | My covenant will I not profane, Nor alter that which is gone out of My lips. |
| 36 | אַ֭חַת נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי בְקׇדְשִׁ֑י אִֽם־לְדָוִ֥ד אֲכַזֵּֽב׃‎ | Once have I sworn by My holiness: Surely I will not be false unto David; |
| 37 | זַ֭רְעוֹ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִהְיֶ֑ה וְכִסְא֖וֹ כַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ נֶגְדִּֽי׃‎ | His seed shall endure for ever, And his throne as the sun before Me. |
| 38 | כְּ֭יָרֵחַ יִכּ֣וֹן עוֹלָ֑ם וְעֵ֥ד בַּ֝שַּׁ֗חַק נֶאֱמָ֥ן סֶֽלָה׃‎ | It shall be established for ever as the moon; And be stedfast as the witness in sky.' Selah |
| 39 | וְאַתָּ֣ה זָ֭נַחְתָּ וַתִּמְאָ֑ס הִ֝תְעַבַּ֗רְתָּ עִם־מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃‎ | But Thou hast cast off and rejected, Thou hast been wroth with Thine anointed. |
| 40 | נֵ֭אַרְתָּה בְּרִ֣ית עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ חִלַּ֖לְתָּ לָאָ֣רֶץ נִזְרֽוֹ׃‎ | Thou hast abhorred the covenant of Thy servant; Thou hast profaned his crown even to the ground. |
| 41 | פָּרַ֥צְתָּ כׇל־גְּדֵרֹתָ֑יו שַׂ֖מְתָּ מִבְצָרָ֣יו מְחִתָּֽה׃‎ | Thou hast broken down all his fences; Thou hast brought his strongholds to ruin. |
| 42 | שַׁ֭סֻּהוּ כׇּל־עֹ֣בְרֵי דָ֑רֶךְ הָיָ֥ה חֶ֝רְפָּ֗ה לִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃‎ | All that pass by the way spoil him; He is become a taunt to his neighbours. |
| 43 | הֲ֭רִימוֹתָ יְמִ֣ין צָרָ֑יו הִ֝שְׂמַ֗חְתָּ כׇּל־אוֹיְבָֽיו׃‎ | Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries; Thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. |
| 44 | אַף־תָּ֭שִׁיב צ֣וּר חַרְבּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א הֲ֝קֵימֹת֗וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃‎ | Yea, Thou turnest back the edge of his sword, And hast not made him to stand in the battle. |
| 45 | הִשְׁבַּ֥תָּ מִטְּהָר֑וֹ וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ לָאָ֥רֶץ מִגַּֽרְתָּה׃‎ | Thou hast made his brightness to cease, And cast his throne down to the ground. |
| 46 | הִ֭קְצַרְתָּ יְמֵ֣י עֲלוּמָ֑יו הֶ֥עֱטִ֨יתָ עָלָ֖יו בּוּשָׁ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃‎ | The days of his youth hast Thou shortened; Thou hast covered him with shame. Selah |
| 47 | עַד־מָ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה תִּסָּתֵ֣ר לָנֶ֑צַח תִּבְעַ֖ר כְּמוֹ־אֵ֣שׁ חֲמָתֶֽךָ׃‎ | How long, O LORD, wilt Thou hide Thyself for ever? How long shall Thy wrath burn like fire? |
| 48 | זְכׇר־אֲנִ֥י מֶה־חָ֑לֶד עַל־מַה־שָּׁ֝֗וְא בָּרָ֥אתָ כׇל־בְּנֵֽי־אָדָֽם׃‎ | O remember how short my time is; For what vanity hast Thou created all the children of men! |
| 49 | מִ֤י גֶ֣בֶר יִֽ֭חְיֶה וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֶה־מָּ֑וֶת יְמַלֵּ֨ט נַפְשׁ֖וֹ מִיַּד־שְׁא֣וֹל סֶֽלָה׃‎ | What man is he that liveth and shall not see death, That shall deliver his soul from the power of the grave? Selah |
| 50 | אַיֵּ֤ה ׀ חֲסָדֶ֖יךָ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֥ים ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ לְ֝דָוִ֗ד בֶּאֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃‎ | Where are Thy former mercies, O Lord, Which Thou didst swear unto David in Thy faithfulness? |
| 51 | זְכֹ֣ר אֲ֭דֹנָי חֶרְפַּ֣ת עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ שְׂאֵתִ֥י בְ֝חֵיקִ֗י כׇּל־רַבִּ֥ים עַמִּֽים׃‎ | Remember, Lord, the taunt of Thy servants; How I do bear in my bosom [the taunt of] so many peoples; |
| 52 | אֲשֶׁ֤ר חֵרְפ֖וּ אוֹיְבֶ֥יךָ ׀ יְהֹוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר חֵ֝רְפ֗וּ עִקְּב֥וֹת מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃‎ | Wherewith Thine enemies have taunted, O LORD, Wherewith they have taunted the footsteps of Thine anointed. |
| 53 | בָּר֖וּךְ יְהֹוָ֥ה לְעוֹלָ֗ם אָ֘מֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃‎ | Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen. |

### King James Version

* I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
* For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very 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 to all generations. Selah.
* And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
* For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?
* 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.
* O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
* Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
* Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.
* 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 south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
* Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
* Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
* Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
* 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 the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
* 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.
* I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
* With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.
* The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
* And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.
* But my faithfulness 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, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock 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 make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
* If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
* If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
* Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
* Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
* My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone 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.
* It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
* But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.
* Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
* Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.
* All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.
* Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.
* Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.
* Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.
* The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.
* How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?
* Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
* What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
* Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?
* Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;
* Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.
* Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

## Analysis

The superscription of the psalm states that it was written by Ethan the Ezrahite, who, along with Heman the Ezrahite (to whom Psalm 88 is attributed), was a wise man from the time of, or prior to, King Solomon. 1 Kings 4:31 states that Solomon "was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations" (ESV).
In 2 Samuel 7:12–17, God promises King David that there will always be a king from his line to rule over Israel. Some scholars claim that this psalm was written after the deportation of the Jews to Babylon. However, this claim is inconsistent with the dating of Ethan to the time of Solomon. More likely is that it was written on behalf of the king (David or Solomon) during a time of trouble. The author expresses his belief that the promises outlined in 2 Samuel 7:12–17 will be fulfilled.
Charles Spurgeon called this psalm a Covenant Psalm and described it as "the utterance of a believer". It begins with words of praise for Yahweh's goodness and covenant faithfulness. For the first 37 verses, the psalm recounts the promises made to King David and the covenant established by God with him; from verse 38 to 51, the psalmist laments what seems to him like God's lack of remembrance of his covenant promises.

## Verse 52

    Blessed be the LORD forevermore!
    Amen and Amen.
This closing verse is the benediction or doxology by which the third book of the psalter is brought to a close, "[not] part of the original psalm, [but] entirely in harmony with the spirit of it".

## Uses
### Judaism

* This psalm is recited during Selichot in some traditions.
* Verse 53 is the first verse of Baruch Hashem L'Olam in Pesukei Dezimra and Baruch Hashem L'Olam after the Shema in weekday Maariv.
* Verses 16–18 are recited following the Shofar blowing on Rosh Hashanah.

### New Testament

In the New Testament, part of verse 10 is quoted in Luke 1:51, and verse 20 is quoted in Acts 13:22.

### Eastern Orthodox Church

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Psalm 88 (Psalm 89 in the Masoretic Text) is part of the twelfth Kathisma division of the Psalter, read at Vespers on Wednesday evenings, as well as on Tuesdays and Thursdays during Lent, at Matins and the Ninth Hour, respectively.

### Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read in the evening of the 17th day of the month, as well as at Evensong on Christmas Day.

## Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 90 in a metred version in German as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628. It is split in two parts, "Ich will von Gnade singen" and "Ach Gott, warum verstößt du nun", SWV 186 and 1878. Alan Hovhaness set the text to music in his Op. 27, a choral work O Lord God of Hosts.
Menachem Creditor composed Olam Chesed Yibaneh/A World of Love (2001), with three words from Psalm 89:3. Haaretz called it the anthem of Jewish resistance to the Unite the Right rally.