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Psalm 88 (89)

The Lord's kindness to the house of David
“God has raised up one from the house of David, as he promised: Jesus the Saviour” (Acts 13, 22.23).

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord;
  through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever,
  that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.

‘With my chosen one I have made a covenant;
I have sworn to David my servant:
I will establish your dynasty for ever
and set up your throne through all ages.’

The heavens proclaim your wonders, O Lord;
  the assembly of your holy ones proclaims your truth.
For who in the skies can compare with the Lord
  or who is like the Lord among the sons of God?

A God to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
  great and dreadful to all around him.
O Lord God of hosts, who is your equal?
  You are mighty, O Lord, and truth is your garment.

It is you who rule the sea in its pride;
  it is you who still the surging of its waves.
It is you who trod Rahab underfoot like a corpse,
  scattering your foes with your mighty arm.

The heavens are yours, the world is yours.
  It is you who founded the earth and all it holds;
it is you who created the North and the South.
  Tabor and Hermon shout with joy at your name.

Yours is a mighty arm, O Lord;
  your hand is strong, your right hand ready.
Justice and right are the pillars of your throne,
  love and truth walk in your presence.

Happy the people who acclaim such a king,
  who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
who find their joy every day in your name,
  who make your justice the source of their bliss.

For you, O Lord, are the glory of their strength;
  by your favour it is that our might is exalted;
for our ruler is in the keeping of the Lord;
  our king in the keeping of the Holy One of Israel.

Of old you spoke in a vision.
  To your friends the prophets you said:
‘I have set the crown on a warrior,
  I have exalted one chosen from the people.

‘I have found David my servant
  and with my holy oil anointed him.
My hand shall always be with him
  and my arm shall make him strong.

‘The enemy shall never outwit him
  nor the evil man oppress him.
I will beat down his foes before him
  and smite those who hate him.

‘My truth and my love shall be with him;
  by my name his might shall be exalted.
I will stretch out his hand to the Sea
  and his right hand as far as the River.

‘He will say to me: “You are my father,
  my God, the rock who saves me.”
And I will make him my first-born,
  the highest of the kings of the earth.

‘I will keep my love for him always;
  with him my covenant shall last.
I will establish his dynasty for ever,
  make his throne endure as the heavens.’

‘If his sons forsake my law
  and refuse to walk as I decree
and if ever they violate my statutes,
  refusing to keep my commands;

‘then I will punish their offences with the rod,
  then I will scourge them on account of their guilt.
But I will never take back my love,
  my truth will never fail.

‘I will never violate my covenant
  nor go back on the word I have spoken.
Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness.
  “I will never lie to David.

‘“His dynasty shall last for ever.
  In my sight his throne is like the sun;
like the moon, it shall endure for ever,
  a faithful witness in the skies.”’