LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS GO BEFORE YOU
Key verse: 89:14
NIV
Psalm 89[a]
A maskil[b] of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 I will sing(A) of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known(B)
through all generations.
2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.(C)
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,
4 ‘I will establish your line forever
and make your throne firm through all generations.’”[c](D)
5 The heavens(E) praise your wonders, Lord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly(F) of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?(G)
7 In the council(H) of the holy ones(I) God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.(J)
8 Who is like you,(K) Lord God Almighty?(L)
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.(M)
10 You crushed Rahab(N) like one of the slain;
with your strong arm you scattered(O) your enemies.
11 The heavens are yours,(P) and yours also the earth;(Q)
you founded the world and all that is in it.(R)
12 You created the north and the south;
Tabor(S) and Hermon(T) sing for joy(U) at your name.
13 Your arm is endowed with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.(V)
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;(W)
love and faithfulness go before you.(X)
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk(Y) in the light(Z) of your presence, Lord.
16 They rejoice in your name(AA) all day long;
they celebrate your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength,(AB)
and by your favor you exalt our horn.[d](AC)
18 Indeed, our shield[e](AD) belongs to the Lord,
our king(AE) to the Holy One of Israel.
Footnotes
- Psalm 89:1 In Hebrew texts 89:1-52 is numbered 89:2-53.
- Psalm 89:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 89:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 37, 45 and 48.
- Psalm 89:17 Horn here symbolizes strong one.
- Psalm 89:18 Or sovereign
Cross references
- Psalm 89:1 : Ps 59:16
- Psalm 89:1 : S Ps 36:5; 40:10
- Psalm 89:2 : S Ps 36:5
- Psalm 89:4 : 2Sa 7:12-16; 1Ki 8:16; Ps 132:11-12; Isa 9:7; Eze 37:24-25; S Mt 1:1; S Lk 1:33
- Psalm 89:5 : S Ps 19:1
- Psalm 89:5 : S Ps 1:5
- Psalm 89:6 : S Ge 1:26; S Ex 9:14; S Ps 18:31; 113:5
- Psalm 89:7 : Ps 111:1
- Psalm 89:7 : S Job 5:1
- Psalm 89:7 : Ps 47:2
- Psalm 89:8 : S Ps 71:19
- Psalm 89:8 : Isa 6:3
- Psalm 89:9 : S Ps 65:7
- Psalm 89:10 : S Job 9:13
- Psalm 89:10 : S Ps 59:11; S 68:1; 92:9
- Psalm 89:11 : S Dt 10:14; Ps 115:16
- Psalm 89:11 : 1Ch 29:11; S Ps 24:1
- Psalm 89:11 : S Ge 1:1
- Psalm 89:12 : S Jos 19:22
- Psalm 89:12 : S Dt 3:8; S 4:48
- Psalm 89:12 : Ps 98:8
- Psalm 89:13 : S Jos 4:24
- Psalm 89:14 : Ps 97:2
- Psalm 89:14 : Ps 85:10-11
- Psalm 89:15 : Ps 1:1
- Psalm 89:15 : Ps 44:3
- Psalm 89:16 : Ps 30:4; 105:3
- Psalm 89:17 : Ps 18:1
- Psalm 89:17 : ver 24; Ps 75:10; 92:10; 112:9; 148:14
- Psalm 89:18 : Ps 18:2
- Psalm 89:18 : Ps 47:9; Isa 16:5; 33:17, 22
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
I Will Sing of the Steadfast Love of the Lord
A Maskil[a] of (A)Ethan the Ezrahite.89 (B)I will sing of (C)the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your (D)faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I said, (E)“Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens (F)you will establish your (G)faithfulness.”
3 You have said, “I have made (H)a covenant with my (I)chosen one;
I have (J)sworn to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your (K)offspring forever,
and build your (L)throne for all generations.’” Selah
5 Let (M)the heavens praise your (N)wonders, O Lord,
your faithfulness in the assembly of (O)the holy ones!
6 For (P)who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
(Q)Who among the heavenly beings[b] is like the Lord,
7 a God greatly (R)to be feared in the council of (S)the holy ones,
and awesome above all (T)who are around him?
8 O Lord God of hosts,
(U)who is mighty as you are, O (V)Lord,
with your faithfulness all around you?
9 You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you (W)still them.
10 You (X)crushed (Y)Rahab like a carcass;
you (Z)scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11 (AA)The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;
(AB)the world and all that is in it, you have (AC)founded them.
12 (AD)The north and the south, you have created them;
(AE)Tabor and (AF)Hermon (AG)joyously praise your name.
13 You have a mighty arm;
strong is your hand, high your right hand.
14 (AH)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
(AI)steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are the people who know (AJ)the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in (AK)the light of your face,
16 who exult in your (AL)name all the day
and in your righteousness are (AM)exalted.
17 For you are (AN)the glory of their strength;
by your favor our (AO)horn is exalted.
18 For our (AP)shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to (AQ)the Holy One of Israel.
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Footnotes
- Psalm 89:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 89:6 Hebrew the sons of God, or the sons of might
Cross references
- Psalm 89:1 : 1 Kgs. 4:31; 1 Chr. 2:6
- Psalm 89:1 : Ps. 101:1
- Psalm 89:1 : ver. 14, 24, 28, 33, 49; [Isa. 55:3]
- Psalm 89:1 : ver. 5, 8, 24, 33, 49; Ps. 88:11; 119:90
- Psalm 89:2 : [See ver. 1 above]; ver. 14, 24, 28, 33, 49; [Isa. 55:3]
- Psalm 89:2 : See Ps. 36:5
- Psalm 89:2 : [See ver. 1 above]; ver. 5, 8, 24, 33, 49; Ps. 88:11; 119:90
- Psalm 89:3 : ver. 28, 34, 39
- Psalm 89:3 : ver. 19; 1 Kgs. 8:16; Isa. 42:1
- Psalm 89:3 : ver. 35, 49; Ps. 132:11; See 2 Sam. 7:8-16; 1 Chr. 17:7-14; Jer. 33:17-21
- Psalm 89:4 : ver. 29, 36; John 12:34
- Psalm 89:4 : ver. 29, 36; [Isa. 9:7; Luke 1:32, 33]
- Psalm 89:5 : Ps. 19:1; 50:6; 97:6; See Rev. 7:10-12
- Psalm 89:5 : Ps. 88:12
- Psalm 89:5 : ver. 7; Job 5:1; 15:15; [Job 1:6]
- Psalm 89:6 : ver. 8; [Ps. 86:8]
- Psalm 89:6 : ver. 8; [Ps. 86:8]
- Psalm 89:7 : See Ps. 47:2
- Psalm 89:7 : [See ver. 5 above]; ver. 7; Job 5:1; 15:15; [Job 1:6]
- Psalm 89:7 : [Ps. 103:20, 21]
- Psalm 89:8 : [1 Sam. 2:2]; See Ps. 35:10
- Psalm 89:8 : See Ps. 68:4
- Psalm 89:9 : Ps. 65:7; Job 38:11
- Psalm 89:10 : [Ex. 14:30]
- Psalm 89:10 : See Job 9:13
- Psalm 89:10 : See Ps. 53:5
- Psalm 89:11 : Gen. 1:1; 1 Chr. 29:11
- Psalm 89:11 : See Ps. 24:1
- Psalm 89:11 : See Ps. 104:5
- Psalm 89:12 : Job 26:7
- Psalm 89:12 : Jer. 46:18
- Psalm 89:12 : Deut. 3:9
- Psalm 89:12 : Ps. 98:8
- Psalm 89:14 : Ps. 97:2
- Psalm 89:14 : ver. 2; [Ps. 85:13]
- Psalm 89:15 : See Ps. 66:1
- Psalm 89:15 : See Ps. 4:6
- Psalm 89:16 : [Ps. 20:5, 7]
- Psalm 89:16 : [Job 36:7]
- Psalm 89:17 : [Ps. 78:61]
- Psalm 89:17 : ver. 24; See Ps. 75:10
- Psalm 89:18 : Ps. 47:9
- Psalm 89:18 : See Ps. 71:22
89 (B)I will sing of (C)the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your (D)faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I said, (E)“Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens (F)you will establish your (G)faithfulness.”
3 You have said, “I have made (H)a covenant with my (I)chosen one;
I have (J)sworn to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your (K)offspring forever,
and build your (L)throne for all generations.’” Selah
5 Let (M)the heavens praise your (N)wonders, O Lord,
your faithfulness in the assembly of (O)the holy ones!
6 For (P)who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
(Q)Who among the heavenly beings[b] is like the Lord,
7 a God greatly (R)to be feared in the council of (S)the holy ones,
and awesome above all (T)who are around him?
8 O Lord God of hosts,
(U)who is mighty as you are, O (V)Lord,
with your faithfulness all around you?
9 You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you (W)still them.
10 You (X)crushed (Y)Rahab like a carcass;
you (Z)scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11 (AA)The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;
(AB)the world and all that is in it, you have (AC)founded them.
12 (AD)The north and the south, you have created them;
(AE)Tabor and (AF)Hermon (AG)joyously praise your name.
13 You have a mighty arm;
strong is your hand, high your right hand.
14 (AH)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
(AI)steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are the people who know (AJ)the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in (AK)the light of your face,
16 who exult in your (AL)name all the day
and in your righteousness are (AM)exalted.
17 For you are (AN)the glory of their strength;
by your favor our (AO)horn is exalted.
18 For our (AP)shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to (AQ)the Holy One of Israel.
Footnotes
- Psalm 89:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 89:6 Hebrew the sons of God, or the sons of might
Cross references
- Psalm 89:1 : 1 Kgs. 4:31; 1 Chr. 2:6
- Psalm 89:1 : Ps. 101:1
- Psalm 89:1 : ver. 14, 24, 28, 33, 49; [Isa. 55:3]
- Psalm 89:1 : ver. 5, 8, 24, 33, 49; Ps. 88:11; 119:90
- Psalm 89:2 : [See ver. 1 above]; ver. 14, 24, 28, 33, 49; [Isa. 55:3]
- Psalm 89:2 : See Ps. 36:5
- Psalm 89:2 : [See ver. 1 above]; ver. 5, 8, 24, 33, 49; Ps. 88:11; 119:90
- Psalm 89:3 : ver. 28, 34, 39
- Psalm 89:3 : ver. 19; 1 Kgs. 8:16; Isa. 42:1
- Psalm 89:3 : ver. 35, 49; Ps. 132:11; See 2 Sam. 7:8-16; 1 Chr. 17:7-14; Jer. 33:17-21
- Psalm 89:4 : ver. 29, 36; John 12:34
- Psalm 89:4 : ver. 29, 36; [Isa. 9:7; Luke 1:32, 33]
- Psalm 89:5 : Ps. 19:1; 50:6; 97:6; See Rev. 7:10-12
- Psalm 89:5 : Ps. 88:12
- Psalm 89:5 : ver. 7; Job 5:1; 15:15; [Job 1:6]
- Psalm 89:6 : ver. 8; [Ps. 86:8]
- Psalm 89:6 : ver. 8; [Ps. 86:8]
- Psalm 89:7 : See Ps. 47:2
- Psalm 89:7 : [See ver. 5 above]; ver. 7; Job 5:1; 15:15; [Job 1:6]
- Psalm 89:7 : [Ps. 103:20, 21]
- Psalm 89:8 : [1 Sam. 2:2]; See Ps. 35:10
- Psalm 89:8 : See Ps. 68:4
- Psalm 89:9 : Ps. 65:7; Job 38:11
- Psalm 89:10 : [Ex. 14:30]
- Psalm 89:10 : See Job 9:13
- Psalm 89:10 : See Ps. 53:5
- Psalm 89:11 : Gen. 1:1; 1 Chr. 29:11
- Psalm 89:11 : See Ps. 24:1
- Psalm 89:11 : See Ps. 104:5
- Psalm 89:12 : Job 26:7
- Psalm 89:12 : Jer. 46:18
- Psalm 89:12 : Deut. 3:9
- Psalm 89:12 : Ps. 98:8
- Psalm 89:14 : Ps. 97:2
- Psalm 89:14 : ver. 2; [Ps. 85:13]
- Psalm 89:15 : See Ps. 66:1
- Psalm 89:15 : See Ps. 4:6
- Psalm 89:16 : [Ps. 20:5, 7]
- Psalm 89:16 : [Job 36:7]
- Psalm 89:17 : [Ps. 78:61]
- Psalm 89:17 : ver. 24; See Ps. 75:10
- Psalm 89:18 : Ps. 47:9
- Psalm 89:18 : See Ps. 71:22
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
First, 'your love stands firm forever' (1-4). Psalm 89 was written in a time when David's dynasty was in jeopardy (38-45). Yet God's love and faithfulness never changes. The key of this truth is anchored in God's own words: He gave his covenant to David, a promise he has kept in sending Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. Second, 'who is like you, Lord God Almighty?' (5-18) No one and nothing can compare with the Lord's glory, power, and faithfulness. He created and sustains all things, to the joy of his creation. His rule is uncontested. His arm is endowed with power to crush and scatter enemies. He is righteous and just in his power and authority. Only the Lord is able to give such love and faithfulness. Blessed are all who learn to acclaim him, who walk in the light of his presence. As we hold to his promises, we too can rejoice and celebrate his love and faithfulness.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the clear expression of your eternal love and faithfulness to us in Jesus. Let me sing your praises forever.
One Word: Sing of the Lord's great love forever
