The Lord’s Covenant with David and Israel’s Afflictions.
A Possibly, Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful PsalmMaskil of 1 Kin 4:31Ethan Ps 88: titlethe Ezrahite.
1I willsingאָשִׁ֑ירָה'a.Shi.rahH7891of the graciousnessחַֽסְדֵ֣יchas.DeiH2617of the Lordיְ֭הוָהYah.wehH3068foreverעוֹלָ֣םo.LamH5769;To allלְדֹ֥רle.DorH1755generationsוָדֹ֓ר׀va.DorH1755I willmakeאוֹדִ֖יעַ'o.Di.a'H3045Yourfaithfulnessאֱמוּנָתְךָ֣'e.mu.na.te.KhaH530knownH3045with my mouthבְּפִֽי׃be.FiH6310.
2For I have saidאָמַ֗רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559, “GraciousnessH2617will be builtH1129upH1129foreverH5769;In the heavensשָׁמַ֓יִם׀sha.Ma.yimH8064You will establishתָּכִ֖ןta.KhinH3559YourfaithfulnessH530.”
3“I have madeכָּרַ֣תִּֽיka.Ra.tiH3772a covenantבְ֭רִיתVe.ritH1285withMy chosenלִבְחִירִ֑יliv.chi.RiH972; I haveswornנִ֝שְׁבַּ֗עְתִּיnish.Ba'.tiH7650to My servantעַבְדִּֽי׃'av.DiH5650Davidלְדָוִ֥דle.da.VidH1732,
4I will establishאָכִ֣ין'a.KhinH3559yourdescendantsזַרְעֶ֑ךָzar.'E.khaH2233foreverעַד־ ע֭וֹלָם'ad- o.lomH5704H5769And buildוּבָנִ֨יתִיu.va.Ni.tiH1129upH1129yourthroneכִּסְאֲךָ֣kis.'a.KhaH3678to allלְדֹר־le.dor-H1755generationsוָד֖וֹרva.DorH1755.”Selahסֶֽלָה׃Se.lahH5542
5Theheavensשָׁמַ֣יִםsha.Ma.yimH8064will praiseוְי֘וֹד֤וּve.Yo.DuH3034Your wondersפִּלְאֲךָ֣pil.'a.KhaH6382, Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068;Your faithfulnessאֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗'e.mu.na.te.khaH530alsoאַף־'af-H637in the assemblyבִּקְהַ֥לbik.HalH6951of theholyקְדֹשִֽׁים׃ke.do.ShimH6918onesH6918.
6Forwhoמִ֣יmiH4310in the skiesבַ֭שַּׁחַקVa.sha.chakH7834isH6186comparableיַעֲרֹ֣ךְya.'a.RokhH6186to the LordH3068? Who among thesonsבִּבְנֵ֥יbiv.NeiH1121of the mightyאֵלִים׃'e.limH410isH1819likeH1819the LordH3068,
7A GodH410greatlyרַבָּ֑הra.BahH7227fearedנַ֭עֲרָץNa.'a.rotzH6206in the councilבְּסוֹד־be.sod-H5475of theholyקְדֹשִׁ֣יםke.do.ShimH6918onesH6918, Andawesomeוְ֝נוֹרָ֗אve.no.Ra'H3372aboveעַל־'al-H5921allכָּל־kol-H3605those who are aroundסְבִיבָֽיו׃se.vi.VavH5439Him?
9You ruleמ֭וֹשֵׁלMo.o.shelH4910the surgingבְּגֵא֣וּתbe.ge.'UtH1348of the seaהַיָּ֑םhai.YamH3220;When its wavesגַ֝לָּ֗יוga.LavH1530riseבְּשׂ֥וֹאbe.So'H5375, Youcalmתְשַׁבְּחֵֽם׃te.sha.be.ChemH7623them.
10You YourselfH859crushedדִכִּ֣אתָdi.Ki.taH1792RahabH7293like one who is slainכֶחָלָ֣לkhe.cha.LalH2491; Youscatteredפִּזַּ֥רְתָּpi.Zar.taH6340Your enemiesH340withYour mightyעֻ֝זְּךָ֗'u.ze.khaH5797armבִּזְר֥וֹעַbiz.Ro.a'H2220.
11Theheavensשָׁ֭מַיִםSha.ma.yimH8064are Yours, the earthאָ֑רֶץ'A.retzH776alsoאַף־'af-H637is Yours; Theworldתֵּבֵ֥לte.VelH8398andallH4393it containsH4393,You have establishedיְסַדְתָּֽם׃ye.sad.TamH3245them.
12Thenorthצָפ֣וֹןtza.FonH6828and the southוְ֭יָמִיןVe.ya.minH3225,You have createdבְרָאתָ֑םve.ra.TamH1254them;Taborתָּב֥וֹרta.VorH8396andHermonוְ֝חֶרְמ֗וֹןve.cher.MonH2768shoutיְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃ye.ra.Ne.nuH7442forH7442joyH7442at Your nameבְּשִׁמְךָ֥be.shim.KhaH8034.
14Righteousnessצֶ֣דֶקTze.dekH6664and justiceוּ֭מִשְׁפָּטU.mish.potH4941are the foundationמְכ֣וֹןme.KhonH4349of Your throneכִּסְאֶ֑ךָkis.'E.khaH3678;Mercyחֶ֥סֶדChe.sedH2617andtruthוֶ֝אֱמֶ֗תve.'e.MetH571goH6923beforeפָנֶֽיךָ׃fa.Nei.khaH6923H6440You.
15Blessedאַשְׁרֵ֣י'ash.ReiH835are the peopleהָ֭עָםHa.'omH5971who knowיוֹדְעֵ֣יyod.'EiH3045thejoyfulH8643soundH8643!Lordיְ֝הוָ֗הYah.wehH3068,they walkיְהַלֵּכֽוּן׃ye.ha.le.KhunH1980in thelightבְּֽאוֹר־be.'or-H216of Your faceH6440.
16InYour nameבְּ֭שִׁמְךָBe.shim.khaH8034they rejoiceיְגִיל֣וּןye.gi.LunH1523allכָּל־kol-H3605the dayהַיּ֑וֹםhai.YomH3117,And by Your righteousnessוּבְצִדְקָתְךָ֥u.ve.tzid.ka.te.ChaH6666they are exaltedיָרֽוּמוּ׃ya.Ru.muH7311.
17For You are the gloryתִפְאֶ֣רֶתtif.'E.retH8597oftheir strengthעֻזָּ֣מוֹ'u.Za.movH5797,And by Your favorוּ֝בִרְצֹנְךָ֗u.vir.tzo.ne.khaH7522ourhornקַרְנֵֽנוּ׃kar.Ne.nuH7161is exaltedH7311.
18For ourshieldמָֽגִנֵּ֑נוּma.gi.Ne.nuH4043belongs to the Lordלַֽ֭יהוָהla.Yah.wehH3068,And our kingמַלְכֵּֽנוּ׃mal.Ke.nuH4428to theHolyוְלִקְד֖וֹשׁve.lik.Do.oshH6918OneH6918of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֣לYis.ra.'ElH3478.
19Onceאָ֤ז'azH227You spokeדִּבַּ֥רְתָּֽ־di.Bar.ta-H1696in visionבְחָ֡זוֹןve.Cha.zonH2377to Your godlyH2623onesH2623,And saidוַתֹּ֗אמֶרva.To.merH559, “I havegivenשִׁוִּ֣יתִיshi.Vi.tiH7737helpעֵ֭זֶר'E.zerH5828to one who ismightyגִּבּ֑וֹרgi.BorH1368;I have exaltedהֲרִימ֖וֹתִיha.ri.Mo.tiH7311onechosenבָח֣וּרva.ChurH977from the peopleמֵעָֽם׃me.'AmH5971.
20I havefoundמָ֭צָאתִיMa.tza.tiH4672My servantעַבְדִּ֑י'av.DiH5650Davidדָּוִ֣דda.VidH1732;With My holyקָדְשִׁ֣יkod.shiH6944oilבְּשֶׁ֖מֶןbe.She.menH8081I have anointedמְשַׁחְתִּֽיו׃me.shach.TivH4886him,
21With whomאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834My handיָ֭דִיYa.diH3027will be establishedתִּכּ֣וֹןti.KonH3559;My armזְרוֹעִ֥יze.ro.'IH2220alsoאַף־'af-H637willstrengthenתְאַמְּצֶֽנּוּ׃te.'am.me.Tze.nuH553him.
23But I willcrushוְכַתּוֹתִ֣יve.kha.to.TiH3807his adversariesצָרָ֑יוtza.RavH6862beforeמִפָּנָ֣יוmi.pa.NavH4480H6440him,And strikeאֶגּֽוֹף׃'e.GofH5062those who hateוּמְשַׂנְאָ֥יוu.me.san.'AvH8130him.
24Myfaithfulnessוֶֽאֶֽמוּנָתִ֣יve.'e.mu.na.TiH530and My favorוְחַסְדִּ֣יve.chas.DiH2617will be with him,And in My nameוּ֝בִשְׁמִ֗יu.vish.MiH8034hishornקַרְנֽוֹ׃kar.NoH7161will be exaltedתָּר֥וּםta.RumH7311.
25I will also placeוְשַׂמְתִּ֣יve.sam.TiH7760his handיָד֑וֹya.DoH3027on the seaבַיָּ֣םvai.YamH3220,And his rightיְמִינֽוֹ׃ye.mi.NoH3225handH3225on the riversוּֽבַנְּהָר֥וֹתu.va.ne.ha.RotH5104.
26He will callיִ֭קְרָאֵנִיYik.ra.'e.niH7121to Me, ‘You aremy Fatherאָ֣בִי'A.viH1,My Godאֵ֝לִ֗י'e.LiH410, and therockוְצ֣וּרve.TzurH6697of my salvationיְשׁוּעָתִֽי׃ye.shu.'a.TiH3444.’
27I will alsoאַף־'af-H637makeאֶתְּנֵ֑הוּ'e.te.Ne.huH5414him Myfirstbornבְּכ֣וֹרbe.KhorH1060, Thehighestעֶ֝לְי֗וֹןel.YonH5945of the kingsלְמַלְכֵי־le.mal.khei-H4428of the earthאָֽרֶץ׃'A.retzH776.
28I will maintainH8104Myfavorחַסְדִּ֑יchas.DiH2617for him foreverלְ֭עוֹלָ֗םle.'o.LamH5769, And Mycovenantוּ֝בְרִיתִ֗יu.ve.ri.TiH1285shall be confirmedנֶאֱמֶ֥נֶתne.'e.Me.netH539to him.
29So I will establishוְשַׂמְתִּ֣יve.sam.TiH7760hisdescendantsזַרְע֑וֹzar.'OH2233foreverלָעַ֣דla.'AdH5703, And histhroneוְ֝כִסְא֗וֹve.khis.'OH3678as the daysכִּימֵ֥יki.MeiH3117of heavenשָׁמָֽיִם׃sha.Ma.yimH8064.
30“Ifאִם־'im-H518his sonsבָ֭נָיוVa.navH1121abandonיַֽעַזְב֣וּya.'az.VuH5800My Lawתּוֹרָתִ֑יto.ra.TiH8451And do not walkיֵלֵכֽוּן׃ye.le.KhunH1980in My judgmentsוּ֝בְמִשְׁפָּטַ֗יu.ve.mish.pa.TaiH4941,
31IfH518theyviolateיְחַלֵּ֑לוּye.cha.Le.luH2490My statutesחֻקֹּתַ֥יchu.ko.TaiH2708And do not keepיִשְׁמֹֽרוּ׃yish.Mo.ruH8104My commandmentsוּ֝מִצְוֹתַ֗יu.mitz.vo.TaiH4687,
32Then I will punishוּפָקַדְתִּ֣יu.fa.kad.TiH6485their wrongdoingפִּשְׁעָ֑םpish.'AmH6588with therodבְשֵׁ֣בֶטve.She.vetH7626,And their guiltעֲוֹנָֽם׃'a.vo.NamH5771withafflictionsוּבִנְגָעִ֥יםu.vin.ga.'ImH5061.
33But I will notwithholdH6565My favorוְ֭חַסְדִּיVe.chas.diH2617from him,NorH3808dealאֲ֝שַׁקֵּ֗ר'a.sha.KerH8266falselyH8266in My faithfulnessבֶּאֱמוּנָתִֽי׃be.'e.mu.na.TiH530.
34I will notviolateאֲחַלֵּ֥ל'a.cha.LelH2490Mycovenantבְּרִיתִ֑יbe.ri.TiH1285,NorH3808will IalterH8132the utteranceוּמוֹצָ֥אu.mo.Tza'H4161of My lipsשְׂ֝פָתַ֗יSe.fa.TaiH8193.
35Onceאַ֭חַת'A.chatH259I haveswornנִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּיnish.Ba'.tiH7650by My holinessבְקָדְשִׁ֑יve.ka.de.ShiH6944;I will not lieאֲכַזֵּֽב׃'a.kha.ZevH3576to Davidלְדָוִ֥דle.da.VidH1732.
36Hisdescendantsזַ֭רְעוֹzar.'oH2233shall endureיִהְיֶ֑הyih.YehH1961foreverלְעוֹלָ֣םle.'o.LamH5769, And histhroneוְכִסְא֖וֹve.khis.'OH3678as the sunכַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁkha.She.meshH8121beforeנֶגְדִּֽי׃neg.DiH5048Me.
37It shall be establishedיִכּ֣וֹןyi.KonH3559foreverH5769like the moonכְּ֭יָרֵחַKe.ya.re.achH3394, And awitnessוְעֵ֥דve.'EdH5707in the skyבַּ֝שַּׁ֗חַקba.Sha.chakH7834is faithfulנֶאֱמָ֥ןne.'e.ManH539.”Selahסֶֽלָה׃Se.lahH5542
38But You haverejectedזָ֭נַחְתָּZa.nach.taH2186andrefusedוַתִּמְאָ֑סva.tim.'AsH3988,You have beenH5674fullH5674ofH5674wrathH5674againstעִם־'im-H5973Youranointedמְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃me.shi.Che.khaH4899.
39You haverepudiatedנֵ֭אַרְתָּהNe.'ar.tahH5010the covenantבְּרִ֣יתbe.RitH1285of Your servantעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ'av.De.khaH5650; You haveprofanedחִלַּ֖לְתָּchi.Lal.taH2490his crownנִזְרֽוֹ׃niz.RoH5145in the dustלָאָ֣רֶץla.'A.retzH776.
40You havebrokenH6555downH6555allכָל־khol-H3605his wallsגְּדֵרֹתָ֑יוge.de.ro.TavH1448; You havebroughtשַׂ֖מְתָּSam.taH7760his strongholdsמִבְצָרָ֣יוmiv.tza.RavH4013to ruinמְחִתָּה׃me.chi.tahH4288.
41AllH3605who passעֹ֣בְרֵיoe.reiH5674alongH5674the wayדָ֑רֶךְDa.rekhH1870plunderשַׁ֭סֻּהוּsu.huH8155him;He has becomeהָיָ֥הha.YahH1961adisgraceחֶ֝רְפָּ֗הcher.PahH2781to his neighborsלִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃lish.khe.NavH7934.
42You haveexaltedהֲ֭רִימוֹתָHa.ri.mo.taH7311the rightיְמִ֣יןye.MinH3225handH3225of his adversariesצָרָ֑יוtza.RavH6862; You havemade allH3605his enemiesH340rejoiceהִ֝שְׂמַ֗חְתָּhis.Mach.taH8055.
43You alsoאַף־'af-H637turnתָּ֭שִׁיבTa.shivH7725backH7725the edgeH6864of his swordחַרְבּ֑וֹchar.BoH2719, And havenot made him standהֲ֝קֵימֹת֗וֹha.kei.mo.ToH6965in battleבַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ba.mil.cha.MahH4421.
44You have putH7673anH7673endH7673to hissplendorמִטְּהָר֑וֹmi.te.ha.RoH2892And castמִגַּֽרְתָּה׃mi.Gar.tahH4048his throneוְ֝כִסְא֗וֹve.khis.'OH3678to the groundלָאָ֥רֶץla.'A.retzH776.
45You haveshortenedהִ֭קְצַרְתָּHik.tzar.taH7114the daysיְמֵ֣יye.MeiH3117of his youthעֲלוּמָ֑יו'a.lu.MavH5934; You havecoveredהֶֽעֱטִ֨יתָhe.'e.Ti.taH5844him with shameבּוּשָׁ֣הbu.ShahH955.Selahסֶֽלָה׃Se.lahH5542
46Howמָ֣הmahH4100longעַד־'ad-H5704, Lordיְ֭הוָהYah.wehH3068?Will You hideתִּסָּתֵ֣רti.sa.TerH5641Yourself foreverלָנֶ֑צַחla.Ne.tzachH5331? Will Yourwrathחֲמָתֶֽךָ׃cha.ma.Te.khaH2534burnתִּבְעַ֖רtiv.'ArH1197likeכְּמוֹ־ke.mov-H3644fireאֵ֣שׁ'eshH784?
47Rememberזְכָר־ze.khor-H2142whatH4100my lifespanחָ֑לֶדCha.ledH2465is;For whatH4100futilityשָּׁ֝֗וְאShav'H7723You have createdבָּרָ֥אתָba.Ra.taH1254allכָל־khol-H3605the sonsבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of mankindאָדָֽם׃'a.DamH120!
48Whatמִ֤יmiH4310manגֶ֣בֶרGe.verH1397can liveיִֽ֭חְיֶהYich.yehH2421and notseeיִרְאֶה־yir.'eh-H7200deathמָּ֑וֶתMa.vetH4194? Can hesaveיְמַלֵּ֨טye.ma.LetH4422his soulנַפְשׁ֖וֹnaf.ShoH5315from thepowerמִיַּד־mi.yad-H3027ofSheolשְׁא֣וֹלshe.'olH7585?Selahסֶֽלָה׃Se.lahH5542
49Whereאַיֵּ֤ה׀'ai.YehH346are Your formerהָרִאשֹׁנִ֥ים׀ha.ri.sho.NimH7223actsH2617ofH2617favorH2617,Lordאֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.NaiH136, Which Yousworeנִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּnish.Ba'.taH7650to Davidלְ֝דָוִ֗דle.da.VidH1732in Your faithfulnessבֶּאֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃be.'e.mu.na.Te.khaH530?
50Rememberזְכֹ֣רze.KhorH2142,LordH136, thetauntחֶרְפַּ֣תcher.PatH2781against Your servantsעֲבָדֶ֑יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650;How I carryשְׂאֵתִ֥יse.'e.TiH5375in my heartבְ֝חֵיקִ֗יve.chei.KiH2436the taunts ofallכָּל־kol-H3605the manyרַבִּ֥יםra.BimH7227peoplesעַמִּֽים׃'a.MimH5971,
51With whichאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834Your enemiesH340have tauntedחֵרְפ֖וּche.re.FuH2778, Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,With whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834they have tauntedחֵ֝רְפ֗וּche.re.FuH2778the footstepsעִקְּב֥וֹתi.ke.VotH6119ofYour anointedמְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃me.shi.Che.khaH4899.
BOOK 4
52Blessedבָּר֖וּךְba.RukhH1288be the LordH3068foreverלְ֝עוֹלָ֗םle.'o.LamH5769!Amenאָ֘מֵ֥ן׀'a.MenH543and Amenוְאָמֵֽן׃ve.'a.MenH543.
Commentaries