1(A special psalm by Ethan the Ezrahite.) Our LORD, I will sing of your love forever. Everyone yet to be born will hear me praise your faithfulness.
2I will tell them, "God's love can always be trusted, and his faithfulness lasts as long as the heavens."
3You said, "David, my servant, is my chosen one, and this is the agreement I made with him:
4David, one of your descendants will always be king."
5Our LORD, let the heavens now praise your miracles, and let all of your angels praise your faithfulness.
6None who live in the heavens can compare with you.
7You are the most fearsome of all who live in heaven; all the others fear and greatly honor you.
8You are LORD God All-Powerful! No one is as loving and faithful as you are.
9You rule the roaring sea and calm its waves.
10You crushed the monster Rahab, and with your powerful arm you scattered your enemies.
11The heavens and the earth belong to you. And so does the world with all its people because you created them
12and everything else. Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon gladly praise you.
13You are strong and mighty!
14Your kingdom is ruled by justice and fairness with love and faithfulness leading the way.
15Our LORD, you bless those who join in the festival and walk in the brightness of your presence.
16We are happy all day because of you, and your saving power brings honor to us.
17Your own glorious power makes us strong, and because of your kindness, our strength increases.
18Our LORD and our King, the Holy One of Israel, you are truly our shield.
19In a vision, you once said to your faithful followers: "I have helped a mighty hero. I chose him from my people and made him famous.
20David, my servant, is the one I chose to be king,
21and I will always be there to help and strengthen him.
22"No enemy will outsmart David, and he won't be defeated by any hateful people.
23I will strike down and crush his troublesome enemies.
24He will always be able to depend on my love, and I will make him strong with my own power.
25I will let him rule the lands across the rivers and seas.
26He will say to me, 'You are my Father and my God, as well as the mighty rock where I am safe.'
27"I have chosen David as my first-born son, and he will be the ruler of all kings on earth.
28My love for him will last, and my agreement with him will never be broken.
29"One of David's descendants will always be king, and his family will rule until the sky disappears.
30Suppose some of his children should reject my Law and refuse my instructions.
31Or suppose they should disobey all of my teachings.
32Then I will correct and punish them because of their sins.
33But I will always love David and faithfully keep all of my promises to him.
34"I won't break my agreement or go back on my word.
35I have sworn once and for all by my own holy name, and I won't lie to David.
36His family will always rule. I will let his kingdom last as long as the sun
37and moon appear in the sky."
38You are now angry, God, and you have turned your back on your chosen king.
39You broke off your agreement with your servant, the king, and you completely destroyed his kingdom.
40The walls of his city have been broken through, and every fortress now lies in ruin.
41All who pass by take what they want, and nations everywhere joke about the king.
42You made his enemies powerful and let them celebrate.
43But you forced him to retreat because you did not fight on his side.
44You took his crown and threw his throne in the dirt.
45You made an old man of him and put him to shame.
46How much longer, LORD? Will you hide forever? How long will your anger keep burning like fire?
47Remember, life is short! Why did you empty our lives of all meaning?
48No one can escape the power of death and the grave.
49Our Lord, where is the love you have always shown and that you promised so faithfully to David?
50Remember your servant, Lord! People make jokes about me, and I suffer many insults.
51I am your chosen one, but your enemies chase and make fun of me.
52Our LORD, we praise you forever. Amen and amen.