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Corpus Psalterium · Vol. IV

Psalm LXXXIX (89)

Composite — Covenant Lament Collapse

Paul Whitehorn

0:004:33
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Psalm 89 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.

Heb 1

A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite.

מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְאֵיתָ֥ן הָֽאֶזְרָחִֽי׃

1Heb 2

I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

חַֽסְדֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה עוֹלָ֣ם אָשִׁ֑ירָה לְדֹ֥ר וָדֹ֓ר ׀ אוֹדִ֖יעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בְּפִֽי׃

2Heb 3

I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.”

כִּֽי־אָמַ֗רְתִּי ע֭וֹלָם חֶ֣סֶד יִבָּנֶ֑ה שָׁמַ֓יִם ׀ תָּכִ֖ן אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בָהֶֽם׃

3Heb 4

“I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant,

כָּרַ֣תִּֽי בְ֭רִית לִבְחִירִ֑י נִ֝שְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי לְדָוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃

4Heb 5

‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah.

עַד־ע֭וֹלָם אָכִ֣ין זַרְעֶ֑ךָ וּבָנִ֨יתִי לְדֹר־וָד֖וֹר כִּסְאֲךָ֣ סֶֽלָה׃

5Heb 6

The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.

וְי֘וֹד֤וּ שָׁמַ֣יִם פִּלְאֲךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה אַף־אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בִּקְהַ֥ל קְדֹשִֽׁים׃

6Heb 7

For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like Yahweh,

כִּ֤י מִ֣י בַ֭שַּׁחַק יַעֲרֹ֣ךְ לַיהוָ֑ה יִדְמֶ֥ה לַ֝יהוָ֗ה בִּבְנֵ֥י אֵלִים׃

7Heb 8

a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him?

אֵ֣ל נַ֭עֲרָץ בְּסוֹד־קְדֹשִׁ֣ים רַבָּ֑ה וְ֝נוֹרָ֗א עַל־כָּל־סְבִיבָֽיו׃

8Heb 9

Yahweh, God of Armies, who is a mighty one, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you.

יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י צְבָא֗וֹת מִֽי־כָֽמ֖וֹךָ חֲסִ֥ין ׀ יָ֑הּ וֶ֝אֱמֽוּנָתְךָ֗ סְבִיבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

9Heb 10

You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them.

אַתָּ֣ה מ֭וֹשֵׁל בְּגֵא֣וּת הַיָּ֑ם בְּשׂ֥וֹא גַ֝לָּ֗יו אַתָּ֥ה תְשַׁבְּחֵֽם׃

10Heb 11

You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

אַתָּ֤ה דִכִּ֣אתָ כֶחָלָ֣ל רָ֑הַב בִּזְר֥וֹעַ עֻ֝זְּךָ֗ פִּזַּ֥רְתָּ אוֹיְבֶֽיךָ׃

11Heb 12

The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours, the world and its fullness. You have founded them.

לְךָ֣ שָׁ֭מַיִם אַף־לְךָ֥ אָ֑רֶץ תֵּבֵ֥ל וּ֝מְלֹאָ֗הּ אַתָּ֥ה יְסַדְתָּֽם׃

12Heb 13

You have created the north and the south. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.

צָפ֣וֹן וְ֭יָמִין אַתָּ֣ה בְרָאתָ֑ם תָּב֥וֹר וְ֝חֶרְמ֗וֹן בְּשִׁמְךָ֥ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃

13Heb 14

You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted.

לְךָ֣ זְ֭רוֹעַ עִם־גְּבוּרָ֑ה תָּעֹ֥ז יָ֝דְךָ֗ תָּר֥וּם יְמִינֶֽךָ׃

14Heb 15

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face.

צֶ֣דֶק וּ֭מִשְׁפָּט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֶ֑ךָ חֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת יְֽקַדְּמ֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃

15Heb 16

Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh.

אַשְׁרֵ֣י הָ֭עָם יוֹדְעֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה יְ֝הוָ֗ה בְּֽאוֹר־פָּנֶ֥יךָ יְהַלֵּכֽוּן׃

16Heb 17

In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted.

בְּ֭שִׁמְךָ יְגִיל֣וּן כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ יָרֽוּמוּ׃

17Heb 18

For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted.

כִּֽי־תִפְאֶ֣רֶת עֻזָּ֣מוֹ אָ֑תָּה וּ֝בִרְצֹנְךָ֗ תרים קַרְנֵֽנוּ׃

18Heb 19

For our shield belongs to Yahweh, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

כִּ֣י לַֽ֭יהוָה מָֽגִנֵּ֑נוּ וְלִקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מַלְכֵּֽנוּ׃

19Heb 20

Then you spoke in vision to your saints, and said, “I have given strength to the warrior. I have exalted a young man from the people.

אָ֤ז דִּבַּ֥רְתָּֽ־בְחָ֡זוֹן לַֽחֲסִידֶ֗יךָ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר שִׁוִּ֣יתִי עֵ֭זֶר עַל־גִּבּ֑וֹר הֲרִימ֖וֹתִי בָח֣וּר מֵעָֽם׃

20Heb 21

I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil,

מָ֭צָאתִי דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֑י בְּשֶׁ֖מֶן קָדְשִׁ֣י מְשַׁחְתִּֽיו׃

21Heb 22

with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him.

אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָ֭דִי תִּכּ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ אַף־זְרוֹעִ֥י תְאַמְּצֶֽנּוּ׃

22Heb 23

No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him.

לֹֽא־יַשִּׁ֣א אוֹיֵ֣ב בּ֑וֹ וּבֶן־עַ֝וְלָ֗ה לֹ֣א יְעַנֶּֽנּוּ׃

23Heb 24

I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him.

וְכַתּוֹתִ֣י מִפָּנָ֣יו צָרָ֑יו וּמְשַׂנְאָ֥יו אֶגּֽוֹף׃

24Heb 25

But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted.

וֶֽאֶֽמוּנָתִ֣י וְחַסְדִּ֣י עִמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בִשְׁמִ֗י תָּר֥וּם קַרְנֽוֹ׃

25Heb 26

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

וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י בַיָּ֣ם יָד֑וֹ וּֽבַנְּהָר֥וֹת יְמִינֽוֹ׃

26Heb 27

He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!’

ה֣וּא יִ֭קְרָאֵנִי אָ֣בִי אָ֑תָּה אֵ֝לִ֗י וְצ֣וּר יְשׁוּעָתִֽי׃

27Heb 28

I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

אַף־אָ֭נִי בְּכ֣וֹר אֶתְּנֵ֑הוּ עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן לְמַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

28Heb 29

I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more. My covenant will stand firm with him.

לְ֭עוֹלָ֗ם אשמור־ל֣וֹ חַסְדִּ֑י וּ֝בְרִיתִ֗י נֶאֱמֶ֥נֶת לֽוֹ׃

29Heb 30

I will also make his offspring endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י לָעַ֣ד זַרְע֑וֹ וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ כִּימֵ֥י שָׁמָֽיִם׃

30Heb 31

If his children forsake my law, and don’t walk in my ordinances;

אִם־יַֽעַזְב֣וּ בָ֭נָיו תּוֹרָתִ֑י וּ֝בְמִשְׁפָּטַ֗י לֹ֣א יֵלֵכֽוּן׃

31Heb 32

if they break my statutes, and don’t keep my commandments;

אִם־חֻקֹּתַ֥י יְחַלֵּ֑לוּ וּ֝מִצְוֺתַ֗י לֹ֣א יִשְׁמֹֽרוּ׃

32Heb 33

then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י בְשֵׁ֣בֶט פִּשְׁעָ֑ם וּבִנְגָעִ֥ים עֲוֺנָֽם׃

33Heb 34

But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail.

וְ֭חַסְדִּי לֹֽא־אָפִ֣יר מֵֽעִמּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־אֲ֝שַׁקֵּ֗ר בֶּאֱמוּנָתִֽי׃

34Heb 35

I will not break my covenant, nor alter what my lips have uttered.

לֹא־אֲחַלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתִ֑י וּמוֹצָ֥א שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י לֹ֣א אֲשַׁנֶּֽה׃

35Heb 36

Once I have sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David.

אַ֭חַת נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי בְקָדְשִׁ֑י אִֽם־לְדָוִ֥ד אֲכַזֵּֽב׃

36Heb 37

His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me.

זַ֭רְעוֹ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִהְיֶ֑ה וְכִסְא֖וֹ כַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ נֶגְדִּֽי׃

37Heb 38

It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah.

כְּ֭יָרֵחַ יִכּ֣וֹן עוֹלָ֑ם וְעֵ֥ד בַּ֝שַּׁ֗חַק נֶאֱמָ֥ן סֶֽלָה׃

38Heb 39

But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.

וְאַתָּ֣ה זָ֭נַחְתָּ וַתִּמְאָ֑ס הִ֝תְעַבַּ֗רְתָּ עִם־מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃

39Heb 40

You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust.

נֵ֭אַרְתָּה בְּרִ֣ית עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ חִלַּ֖לְתָּ לָאָ֣רֶץ נִזְרֽוֹ׃

40Heb 41

You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin.

פָּרַ֥צְתָּ כָל־גְּדֵרֹתָ֑יו שַׂ֖מְתָּ מִבְצָרָ֣יו מְחִתָּה׃

41Heb 42

All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors.

שַׁ֭סֻּהוּ כָּל־עֹ֣בְרֵי דָ֑רֶךְ הָיָ֥ה חֶ֝רְפָּ֗ה לִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃

42Heb 43

You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice.

הֲ֭רִימוֹתָ יְמִ֣ין צָרָ֑יו הִ֝שְׂמַ֗חְתָּ כָּל־אוֹיְבָֽיו׃

43Heb 44

Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven’t supported him in battle.

אַף־תָּ֭שִׁיב צ֣וּר חַרְבּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א הֲ֝קֵימֹת֗וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

44Heb 45

You have ended his splendor, and thrown his throne down to the ground.

הִשְׁבַּ֥תָּ מִטְּהָר֑וֹ וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ לָאָ֥רֶץ מִגַּֽרְתָּה׃

45Heb 46

You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah.

הִ֭קְצַרְתָּ יְמֵ֣י עֲלוּמָ֑יו הֶֽעֱטִ֨יתָ עָלָ֖יו בּוּשָׁ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃

46Heb 47

How long, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire?

עַד־מָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תִּסָּתֵ֣ר לָנֶ֑צַח תִּבְעַ֖ר כְּמוֹ־אֵ֣שׁ חֲמָתֶֽךָ׃

47Heb 48

Remember how short my time is, for what vanity you have created all the children of men!

זְכָר־אֲנִ֥י מֶה־חָ֑לֶד עַל־מַה־שָּׁ֝֗וְא בָּרָ֥אתָ כָל־בְּנֵי־אָדָֽם׃

48Heb 49

What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.

מִ֤י גֶ֣בֶר יִֽ֭חְיֶה וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֶה־מָּ֑וֶת יְמַלֵּ֨ט נַפְשׁ֖וֹ מִיַּד־שְׁא֣וֹל סֶֽלָה׃

49Heb 50

Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness?

אַיֵּ֤ה ׀ חֲסָדֶ֖יךָ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֥ים ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ לְ֝דָוִ֗ד בֶּאֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃

50Heb 51

Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples,

זְכֹ֣ר אֲ֭דֹנָי חֶרְפַּ֣ת עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ שְׂאֵתִ֥י בְ֝חֵיקִ֗י כָּל־רַבִּ֥ים עַמִּֽים׃

51Heb 52

With which your enemies have mocked, Yahweh, with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one.

אֲשֶׁ֤ר חֵרְפ֖וּ אוֹיְבֶ֥יךָ ׀ יְהוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר חֵ֝רְפ֗וּ עִקְּב֥וֹת מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃

52Heb 53

Blessed be Yahweh forever more. Amen, and Amen.

בָּר֖וּךְ יְהוָ֥ה לְ֝עוֹלָ֗ם אָ֘מֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃

Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.

Mercies of the LORD

forever I speak

Generation to generation

faithfulness

I said mercy built forever

faith in heaven held together

You spoke covenant unbroken

David’s line by oath was spoken

Seed established never failing

throne enduring never fading

From the start to every nation

You sustain each generation

Faithful forever

(hey)

Mercy forever

(hey)

None like You

none like You

Faithful forever

(hey)

Heavens Yours and earth below

all creation that we know

North and south obey Your voice

Tabor Hermon both rejoice

Arm of power hand lifted

right hand strong never shifted

Justice built into Your throne

truth and mercy lead You on

Faithful forever

(hey)

Mercy forever

(hey)

None like You

none like You

Faithful forever

(hey)

Rahab Babylon

Tyre Sidon

Cush coastlands

all recorded

Names written

lines counted

tribes rising

voice sounding

Every nation

every people

marked in covenant

none unequal

You spoke vision

raised the chosen

David anointed

oil was flowing

Hand upon him

arm sustaining

enemy broken

foes are fading

No enemy

outlasts him

No wicked

breaks him

You defend

You stand

Your mercy

remains

But now

You cast off

Rejected

anointed

Broken

covenant

Crown thrown

down

Walls fall

strongholds break

Enemies

take

Laugh loud

shame now

Where is Your mercy

(hey)

Where is Your oath

(hey)

You swore before

You swore

Where is Your mercy

(hey)

How long LORD

how long

Will Your anger

burn strong

Life is short

we fade

Why are we

made

Who lives

no death

Who escapes

the depth

Where is mercy

You said

Where the words

You said

David’s line

where now

Faithfulness

where now

Enemies mock

Your name

Mock the steps

of Your King

We carry shame

through the lands

Still we stand

in Your hand

Faithful forever

(hey)

Mercy forever

(hey)

You are God

You are King

Faithful forever

(hey)

Blessed be the LORD

forever

Amen

and amen

Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.

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What we have done is capture the essence of each psalm: what matters most in it. Think of each song as a summary. Think of it as a cheat sheet. The purpose of the psalm is still being met. God's word to mankind is still being heard.

Behind many of these lines is word research: deep study of the meaning of the Hebrew. So where a line sounds different from your translation, and you think it is wrong, study it. We believe you will find that the essence of what we sing is true.

The truth is that no one can set the Psalms to music without also becoming a commentator. That is what this is. It is a modern commentary on the Psalms: not only the Psalms themselves, and not only the Psalms being sung. So do not think that every word of the psalm is here. It is not. Read the psalm itself, in full.

Why do this at all? Because we believe God intended humanity to be surrounded by His word. This was always the entertainment He wanted us to have: not hours of television, not a day lost in a phone looking at nonsense. The blessed man of Psalm 1 meditates on God's word day and night. How can we meditate on His word if we do not surround ourselves with it?

As ministers, our first responsibility is to share God's word with people. That is what these songs are for.

Paul Whitehorn