The Bible — World English Bible

Psalm 89

In brief

Psalm 89 is a song of Ethan the Ezrahite centered on the covenant God made with David. It begins with praise for the LORD's loving kindness and faithfulness, his power over sky, sea and land. It then recalls the promise made to David of lasting descendants and a lasting throne. But from verse 38 the tone changes: the king seems rejected and humiliated. The psalmist challenges God about his promise, then ends with a blessing.

The chapter in 6 parts

  1. v. 1-4Singing of God's faithfulness and his covenant with David
  2. v. 5-14The incomparable LORD, master of sky, sea and land
  3. v. 15-18Blessed are the people who know how to acclaim him
  4. v. 19-37The promise made to David: a covenant that will not be broken
  5. v. 38-45Yet the king appears rejected and humiliated
  6. v. 46-52How long? Remember, blessed be the LORD

1I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

2I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.”

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

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

5The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.

6For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like Yahweh,

7a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him?

8Yahweh, God of Armies, who is a mighty one, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you.

9You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them.

10You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

11The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours, the world and its fullness. You have founded them.

12You have created the north and the south. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.

13You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted.

14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face.

15Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh.

16In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted.

17For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted.

18For our shield belongs to Yahweh, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19Then 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.

20I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil,

21with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him.

22No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him.

23I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him.

24But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted.

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

26He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!’

27I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

28I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more. My covenant will stand firm with him.

29I will also make his offspring endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

30If his children forsake my law, and don’t walk in my ordinances;

31if they break my statutes, and don’t keep my commandments;

32then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

33But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail.

34I will not break my covenant, nor alter what my lips have uttered.

35Once I have sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David.

36His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me.

37It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.”

38But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.

39You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust.

40You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin.

41All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors.

42You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice.

43Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven’t supported him in battle.

44You have ended his splendor, and thrown his throne down to the ground.

45You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame.

46How long, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire?

47Remember how short my time is, for what vanity you have created all the children of men!

48What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?

49Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness?

50Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples,

51With which your enemies have mocked, Yahweh, with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one.

52Blessed be Yahweh forever more. Amen, and Amen.

Key verses

Verse 1-2
I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.”

The psalm opens with a decision to sing of God's faithfulness forever. Even in a crisis, the psalmist begins by remembering who God is.

Verse 14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne, and loving kindness and truth go before him. This verse describes his character.

Verse 20-24
I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil, with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him. No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him. I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him. But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted.

God speaks of David, his servant, whom he chose and anointed. He promises his support, faithfulness and kindness to the one who reigns.

Verse 33-35
But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail. I will not break my covenant, nor alter what my lips have uttered. Once I have sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David.

Even if David's sons disobey and are disciplined, God affirms that he will not break his covenant. His faithfulness does not depend on theirs.

Verse 46
How long, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire?

The psalmist dares to ask: how long? This verse shows that we can question God about his promises without losing faith.

What the sermons say

Frequently asked questions about Psalm 89

What does Psalm 89 mean?

Psalm 89 meditates on God's covenant with David. It begins with praise of his faithfulness, recalls the promise of a lasting throne, then expresses the pain of seeing that promise seemingly broken. It does not give every answer, but it teaches us to pray honestly, leaning on what God has said.

How can I pray or meditate on Psalm 89?

Start with verses 1 and 2: choose to remember God's kindness toward you, aloud. Then read verses 33 to 35 as an assurance that God keeps his promises. If you are going through a trial, you can make the complaint of verses 46 to 51 your own, then finish with the praise of verse 52.

Who is Ethan the Ezrahite?

The title attributes this song to Ethan the Ezrahite, a wise man known in the Old Testament, mentioned in the first book of Kings for his wisdom and also in the lists of singers. The psalm probably dates from a time when David's line seemed threatened, but the text does not name the event.

Why does Psalm 89 change tone at verse 38?

Verses 1 to 37 celebrate God's promises. From verse 38 the psalmist sees that reality seems to contradict them: the king is humiliated. The psalm keeps this contrast without resolving it, to show that we can complain to God while remembering his faithfulness. Christians also read in it an expectation of the Messiah.

Articles quoting Psalm 89

← All chapters

World English Bible translation — public domain.