Psalm 89

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General information

Settings by composers

See also Inveni David, for settings of vv. 21-22 as the offertory for Common of Confessors, a Bishop. See Misericordias Domini for settings of v. 2. See Veritas mea for settings of v. 25 for the Offertory from the Common of Saints, currently assigned to the feast of St. Joseph.

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

 

Text and translations

Clementine Vulgate (Psalm 88)

Latin.png Latin text

1  Intellectus Ethan Ezrahitae.
2  Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo;
in generationem et generationem annuntiabo veritatem tuam in ore meo.
3  Quoniam dixisti: In aeternum misericordia aedificabitur in caelis; praeparabitur veritas tua in eis.
4  Disposui testamentum electis meis; juravi David servo meo:
5  Usque in aeternum praeparabo semen tuum, et aedificabo
in generationem et generationem sedem tuam.
6  Confitebuntur caeli mirabilia tua, Domine; etenim veritatem tuam
in ecclesia sanctorum.
7  Quoniam quis in nubibus aequabitur Domino;
  similis erit Deo in filiis Dei?
8  Deus, qui glorificatur in consilio sanctorum,
magnus et terribilis super omnes qui in circuitu ejus sunt.
9  Domine Deus virtutum, quis similis tibi? potens es, Domine, et veritas tua in circuitu tuo.
10  Tu dominaris potestati maris; motum autem fluctuum ejus tu mitigas.
11  Tu humiliasti, sicut vulneratum, superbum;
in brachio virtutis tuae dispersisti inimicos tuos.
12  Tui sunt caeli, et tua est terra:
orbem terrae, et plenitudinem ejus tu fundasti;
13  aquilonem et mare tu creasti. Thabor et Hermon in nomine tuo exsultabunt:
14  tuum brachium cum potentia. Firmetur manus tua, et exaltetur dextera tua:
15  justitia et judicium praeparatio sedis tuae: misericordia et veritas praecedent faciem tuam.
16  Beatus populus qui scit jubilationem: Domine, in lumine vultus tui ambulabunt,
17  et in nomine tuo exsultabunt tota die, et in justitia tua exaltabuntur.
18  Quoniam gloria virtutis eorum tu es, et in beneplacito tuo exaltabitur cornu nostrum.
19  Quia Domini est assumptio nostra, et sancti Isra¨el regis nostri.
20  Tunc locutus es in visione sanctis tuis, et dixisti: Posui adjutorium
in potente, et exaltavi electum de plebe mea.
21  Inveni David, servum meum; oleo sancto meo unxi eum.
22  Manus enim mea auxiliabitur ei, et brachium meum confortabit eum.
23  Nihil proficiet inimicus in eo, et filius iniquitatis non apponet nocere ei.
24  Et concidam a facie ipsius inimicos ejus, et odientes eum in fugam convertam.
25  Et veritas mea et misericordia mea cum ipso, et in nomine meo exaltabitur cornu ejus.
26  Et ponam in mari manum ejus, et in fluminibus dexteram ejus.
27  Ipse invocabit me: Pater meus es tu, Deus meus, et susceptor salutis meae.
28  Et ego primogenitum ponam illum, excelsum prae regibus terrae.
29  In aeternum servabo illi misericordiam meam, et testamentum meum fidele ipsi.
30  Et ponam in saeculum saeculi semen ejus, et thronum ejus sicut dies caeli.
31  Si autem dereliquerint filii ejus legem meam, et in judiciis meis non ambulaverint;
32  si justitias meas profanaverint, et mandata mea non custodierint:
33  visitabo in virga iniquitates eorum, et in verberibus peccata eorum;
34  misericordiam autem meam non dispergam ab eo, neque nocebo in veritate mea,
35  neque profanabo testamentum meum: et quae procedunt de labiis meis non faciam irrita.
36  Semel juravi in sancto meo, si David mentiar:
37  semen ejus in aeternum manebit. Et thronus ejus sicut sol in conspectu meo,
38  et sicut luna perfecta in aeternum, et testis in caelo fidelis.
39  Tu vero repulisti et despexisti; distulisti christum tuum.
40  Evertisti testamentum servi tui; profanasti in terra sanctuarium ejus.
41  Destruxisti omnes sepes ejus; posuisti firmamentum ejus formidinem.
42  Diripuerunt eum omnes transeuntes viam; factus est opprobrium vicinis suis.
43  Exaltasti dexteram deprimentium eum; laetificasti omnes inimicos ejus.
44  Avertisti adjutorium gladii ejus, et non es auxiliatus ei in bello.
45  Destruxisti eum ab emundatione, et sedem ejus in terram collisisti.
46  Minorasti dies temporis ejus; perfudisti eum confusione.
47  Usquequo, Domine, avertis in finem? exardescet sicut ignis ira tua?
48  Memorare quae mea substantia: numquid enim vane constituisti omnes filios hominum?
49  Quis est homo qui vivet et non videbit mortem? eruet animam suam de manu
inferi?
50  Ubi sunt misericordiae tuae antiquae, Domine, sicut jurasti David in veritate tua?
51  Memor esto, Domine, opprobrii servorum tuorum, quod continui in sinu meo,
multarum gentium:
52  quod exprobraverunt inimici tui, Domine; quod exprobraverunt commutationem christi tui.
53  Benedictus Dominus in aeternum. Fiat, fiat.

Church of England 1662 Book of Common Prayer

English.png English text

  Of understanding, for Ethan the Ezrahite.
1  My song shall be alway of the loving-kindness of the Lord:
with my mouth will I ever be shewing thy truth from one generation to another.
2  For I have said, Mercy shall be set up for ever: thy truth shalt thou stablish in the heavens.
3  I have made a covenant with my chosen: I have sworn unto David my servant;
4  Thy seed will I stablish for ever: and set up
thy throne from one generation to another.
5  O Lord, the very heavens shall praise thy wondrous works: and thy truth
in the congregation of the saints.
6  For who is he among the clouds: that shall be compared unto the Lord?
7  And what is he among the gods: that shall be like unto the Lord?
8  God is very greatly to be feared in the council of the saints:
and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him.
9  O Lord God of hosts, who is like unto thee: thy truth, most mighty Lord, is on every side.
10  Thou rulest the raging of the sea: thou stillest the waves thereof when they arise.
11  Thou hast subdued Egypt, and destroyed it:
thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arm.
12  The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine:
thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is.
13  Thou hast made the north and the south: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy Name.
14  Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
15  Righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
16  Blessed is the people, O Lord, that can rejoice in thee: they shall walk in the light of thy countenance.
17  Their delight shall be daily in thy Name: and in thy righteousness shall they make their boast.
18  For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy loving-kindness thou shalt lift up our horns.
19  For the Lord is our defence: the Holy One of Israel is our King.
20  Thou spakest sometime in visions unto thy saints, and saidst: I have laid help
upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
21  I have found David my servant: with my holy oil have I anointed him.
22  My hand shall hold him fast: and my arm shall strengthen him.
23  The enemy shall not be able to do him violence: the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
24  I will smite down his foes before his face: and plague them that hate him.
25  My truth also and my mercy shall be with him: and in my Name shall his horn be exalted.
26  I will set his dominion also in the sea: and his right hand in the floods.
27  He shall call me, Thou art my Father: my God, and my strong salvation.
28  And I will make him my first-born: higher than the kings of the earth.
29  My mercy will I keep for him for evermore: and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
30  His seed also will I make to endure for ever: and his throne as the days of heaven.
31  But if his children forsake my law: and walk not in my judgements;
32  If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments:
  I will visit their offences with the rod, and their sin with scourges.
33  Nevertheless, my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him: nor suffer my truth to fail.
34  My covenant I will not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips:
  I have sworn once by my holiness, that I will not fail David.
35  His seed shall endure for ever: and his seat is like as the sun before me.
36  He shall stand fast for evermore as the moon: and as the faithful witness in heaven.
37  But thou hast abhorred and forsaken thine Anointed: and art displeased at him.
38  Thou hast broken the covenant of thy servant: and cast his crown to the ground.
39  Thou hast overthrown all his hedges: and broken down his strong holds.
40  All they that go by spoil him: and he is become a reproach to his neighbours.
41  Thou hast set up the right hand of his enemies: and made all his adversaries to rejoice.
42  Thou hast taken away the edge of his sword: and givest him not victory in the battle.
43  Thou hast put out his glory: and cast his throne down to the ground.
44  The days of his youth hast thou shortened: and covered him with dishonour.
45  Lord, how long wilt thou hide thyself, for ever: and shall thy wrath burn like fire?
46  O remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men for nought?
47  What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death: and shall he deliver his soul from the hand
of hell?
48  Lord, where are thy old loving-kindnesses: which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?
49  Remember, Lord, the rebuke that thy servants have: and how I do bear in my bosom the rebukes
of many people.
50  Wherewith thine enemies have blasphemed thee, and slandered the footsteps of thine Anointed:
  Praised be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

Douay-Rheims (Psalm 88)

English.png English text

1  Of understanding, for Ethan the Ezrahite.
2  The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation.
3  For thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the heavens: thy truth shall be prepared in them.
4  I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant:
5  Thy seed will I settle for ever. And I will build up thy throne unto generation and generation.
6  The heavens shall confess thy wonders, O Lord: and thy truth in the church of the saints.
7  For who in the clouds can be compared to the Lord: or who among the sons of God shall be like to God?
8  God, who is glorified in the assembly of the saints: great and terrible above all them that are about him.
9  O Lord God of hosts, who is like to thee? thou art mighty, O Lord, and thy truth is round about thee.
10  Thou rulest the power of the sea: and appeasest the motion of the waves thereof.
11  Thou hast humbled the proud one, as one that is slain: with the arm of thy strength thou hast scattered thy enemies.
12  Thine are the heavens, and thine is the earth: the world and the fulness thereof thou hast founded:
13  The north and the sea thou hast created. Thabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name:
14  Thy arm is with might. Let thy hand be strengthened, and thy right hand exalted:
15  Justice and judgment are the preparation of thy throne. Mercy and truth shall go before thy face:
16  …

Káldi fordítás (88. zsoltár)

Hungarian.png Hungarian translation

Az ezrahi Étan oktatása.
Az Úr irgalmasságait mindörökké éneklem, nemzedékről nemzedékre hirdetni fogom igazságodat az én számmal.
Mert azt mondottad: Az irgalmasság örökre megállapíttatik mennyekben, el van készítve igazságod azokban.
Szövetséget kötöttem választottaimmal, megesküdtem Dávid szolgámnak:
Megalapítom a te ivadékodat és megerősítem székedet nemzedékről nemzedékre.
Hirdetni fogják, Uram, az egek csodatételeidet, és igazvoltodat a szentek gyülekezetében.
Mert ki hasonlítható a felhőkben az Úrhoz? ki lesz hasonló Isten fiai közt az Istenhez?
Az Isten, ki a szentek tanácsában dicsőíttetik, nagy és rettenetes mindazok fölött, kik körötte vannak.
Erők Ura Istene! ki hasonló hozzád? hatalmas vagy, Uram! és a te igazságod környezetedben.
Te uralkodol a tenger hatalmasságán, és habjai dagályát te csendesíted le.
Te megalázod a kevélyt, mint a sebesűltet, a te erőd karjaival ide s tova hányod ellenségeidet.
Tieid az egek, és tied a föld; a föld kerekségét, s a mi azt betölti, te alapítottad;
az éjszakot és a tengert te teremtetted; Tábor és Hermon a te nevedben örvendenek.
Hatalmas a te karod. Erősödjék meg kezed, és magasztaltassék föl a te jobbod.
Jog és igazság a te széked alapja; irgalom és valóság járnak orczád előtt.
Boldog nép az, mely tud vigadozni; Uram! a te orczád világosságában járnak ők,
és a te nevednek örvendeznek egész nap, és igazságodban fölmagasztaltatnak.
Mert erejök dicsősége te vagy, és jóvoltodból emelkedik föl a mi szarvunk;
mert az Úr fölvett bennünket, Izrael Szente a mi királyunk.
Akkor látomásban szólottál szenteidnek, és mondád: Segítséget adtam a hatalmasnak, és fölmagasztaltam a választottat népem közől.
Találtam Dávidot az én szolgámat, szent olajommal kentem fel őt.
Mert az én kezem megsegíti őt, és karom megerősíti őt.
Semmire sem megy vele az ellenség, és a gonoszság fia nem mer ártani neki.
És összevágom orczája előtt ellenségeit, és gyülölőit megszalasztom.
És az én valóságom és irgalmam vele lesz; és nevemben föl fog emelkedni szarva.
És a tengerre teszem az ő kezét, és jobbját a folyóvizekre.
Ő segítségűl hí engem: Te Atyám vagy, Istenem, és üdvöm oltalma!
És én elsőszülötté teszem őt, fölebbvalóvá a föld királyainál.
Örökké megtartom neki irgalmasságomat, és szövetségemet híven őneki.
És ivadékát örökkévalóvá teszem, és királyi székét, mint az ég napjait.
De ha fiai elhagyják törvényemet, és nem járnak itéleteimben,
ha rendeléseimet megfertőztetik, és parancsaimat nem tartják:
meglátogatom vesszővel gonoszságaikat, és vereségekkel az ő bűneiket.
Azonban irgalmasságomat nem veszem el tőle, és nem szegem meg igazmondásomat,
sem nem hamisítom meg szövetségemet, s a mi ajakimon kijő, nem teszem érvénytelenné.
Egyszer megesküdtem az én szentségemre; hazudok-e Dávidnak?
Az ő ivadéka örökké megmarad,
és királyi széke, mint a nap, az én szemem előtt, és mint a teljes hold mindörökké; s ama hűséges tanú az égen.
Te pedig megvetetted és megutáltad, távol tartottad a te fölkentedet,
fölforgattad a te szolgád szövetségét, megfertőztetted a földön az ő szentélyét,
lerontottad minden kerítését, erősségébe félelmet helyeztél;
megrabolta őt minden útonjáró, gyalázattá lett szomszédainak.
Fölemelted az ő nyomorgatói jobbját, örömet szerzettél minden ellenségének,
elvetted fegyverének segítségét, és nem segítetted őt a hadban.
eltörlötted az ő tisztaságát, és székét a földre vetetted,
megrövidítetted ideje napjait, elborítottad őt gyalázattal.
Meddig fordúlsz el, Uram, egészen? fölgyúlad-e mint a tűz a te haragod?
Emlékezzél meg, mi az én mivoltom; hiába alkottad-e mind az emberek fiait?
Melyik ember az, ki él, és halált nem látand? megmenti-e lelkét a pokol kezéből?
Hol vannak a te régi irgalmasságaid, Uram! a mint megesküdtél Dávidnak igazvoltodra?
Emlékezzél meg, Uram, a te szolgáid gyalázatáról (mit kebelemben hordozok) annyi sok nemzettől,
hogy gúnyolnak, Uram, a te ellenségeid, s kigúnyolják a te fölkented balsorsát.
Áldassék az Úr mindörökké. Úgy legyen, úgy legyen.

Metrical Old Version (John Hopkins)

English.png English text

To sing the mercies of the Lord
My tongue shall never spare,
My mouth from age to age accord
Thy truth for to declare:

For I have said, that mercy shall
For evermore endure;
Thy faithfulness in the heav'ns all
Is stablish'd firm and sure.

With mine elect, saith God, have I
A faithful cov'nant made,
And sworn to David solemnly,
Having to him thus said;

Thy seed for ever I will stay,
And stablish it full fast,
And still uphold thy throne alway
From age to age to last.

The heavns do shew with joy and mirth
Thy wondrous works, O Lord;
Thy saints within thy church on earth
Thy faith and truth record.

Who with the Lord is equal then
In all the clouds abroad?
Among the sons of gods or men
What one is like our God?

God in the assembly of the saints
Is greatly to be dread,
And over all that dwell about
In rev'rence to be had.

Lord God of hosts, in all the world
what one is like to thee?
On every side, most mighty Lord,
Thy truth is seen to be.

The rage and fury of the sea
Thou rulest at thy will,
And when the waves thereof arise,
Thou mak'st them calm and still:

And Egypt, Lord, thou hast subdu'd,
Thou hast destroy'd it quite;
Thy foes thou closely hast pursu'd,
And scatter'd through thy might.

The Second Part
The heav'ns are thine, and still have been,
Likewise the earth and land,
The world and all that is therein
Thou foundedst with thy hand:

Both north and south, with east and west,
Thyself didst make and frame:
Both Tabor mount and Hermon hill
Rejoice and praise thy name.

Thine arm is strong and full of pow'r,
All might therein doth lie;
The strength of thy right hand each hour
Thou liftest up on high:

In righteousness and equity
Thou hast thy seat and place;
Mercy and truth are still with thee,
And go before thy face.

That folk is blest that knoweth right
The joyful sound, O God;
For in the favour of thy sight
They walk full safe abroad:

And in thy name throughout the day
They greatly do rejoice,
And through thy righteousness have they
A pleasant fame and noise.

For why? their glory, strength, and aid,
In thee alone doth lie;
And thy goodness which hath us staid,
Shall lift our horn on high.

Our strength that doth defend us well,
The Lord to us doth bring;
The Holy One of Israel
He is our Guide and King.

Sometimes thy will to holy men
In visions thou didst show,
And thus didst say unto them then,
Thy mind to make them know:

A man of might I have erect
Your king and guide to be,
And set him up whom I elect
Among the folk to me.

 

The Third Part
My servant David I appoint
To rule my people well,
And with my holy oil anoint
Him king of Israel.

For why? my hand is ready still
With him for to remain,
And with my arm also I will
Him strengthen and sustain:

The enemies shall not oppress,
They shall not him devour.
Nor shall the sons of wickedness
on him have any pow'r:

His foes likewise I will destroy
Before his face in sight,
Those that him hate I will annoy,
And strike them with my might:

My truth and mercy shall likewise
Upon him ever lie;
And in my name his horn shall rise,
And be exalted high:

His kingdom I will set to be
Upon the sea and land;
Also the running flood shall he
Embrace with his right hand:

He shall depend with all his heart
On me, and thus shall say,
My Father and my God thou art,
My rock, my health, and stay:

As my first-born I will him count
Of all on earth that springs;
His might and honour shall surmount
Above all earthly kings:

My mercy shall be with him still,
As I myself have told,
My faithful cov'nant to fulfil
My promise I will hold:

Also his seed I will sustain
For ever strong and sure;
So that his seed shall still remain,
While heav'n and earth endure.

The Fourth Part
But if his sons forsake my law,
And so begin to swerve,
And of my judgements have no awe,
And will not them observe;

Or if they do not use aright
My laws for them prepar'd;
But set all my commandments light,
And will not them regard:

Then with the rod will I begin
Their doings to amend,
And so will scourge them for their sin,
Whenever they offend.

But yet my mercy and goodness
I will not take away
From him, nor let my faithfulness
In any wise decay:

But sure my cov'nant I will hold,
With all that I have spoke:
No word the which my lips have told
Shall alter or be broke.

Once sware I by my holiness,
And that perform will I;
With David I will promise keep,
To him I will not lie:

His seed for evermore shall reign.
Also his throne of might,
As doth the sun it shall remain
For ever in my sight:

And as the moon within the sky
For ever standeth fast,
A faithful witness from on high;
So shall his kingdom last.

But, Lord, thou dost him now reject,
And put him in great fear;
Yea, thou art wroth with thine elect,
Thine own anointed dear.

The cov'nant with thy servant made,
Thou hast quite overthrown.
And down upon the ground hast laid
And cast his royal crown.

 

The Fifth Part
His hedges thou hast overthrown,
His walls destroy'd quite round;
All his strong holds hast beaten down,
And levell'd with the ground:

That he is sore destroy'd and torn
Of comers-by throughout,
And so is made a mock and scorn
To all that dwell about:

Thou their right hand hast arm'd with pow'r,
That him so sore annoy:
And all his foes that him devour,
Lo, thou hast made to joy:

His sword's edge thou dost take away
That should his foes withstand;
To him in war no victory
Thou giv'st, nor upper hand:

His glory thou dost also waste,
His throne, his joy, and mirth,
By thee is overthrown and cast
Full low upon the earth:

Thou hast cut off and made full short
His youth and joyful days,
And rais'd of him an ill report,
To his shame and dispraise.

How long away from me therefore,
For ever wilt thou turn?
And shall thine anger evermore
Like fire consume and burn?

O call to mind, remember then,
My time consumeth fast:
Why hast thou made the sons of men
As things in vain to waste,

What man is he that liveth, and
Death never thinks to see,
Or from the grave's devouring hand
Shall he his soul set free?

Where is, O Lord, thy great goodness,
So oft declar'd before,
Which by thy truth and uprightness
To David thou hast swore?

The great rebukes to mind I call,
That on thy servants lie,
The railings of the people all,
Borne in my breast have I;

Wherewith, O Lord. thine enemies
Blasphemed have thy name:
The steps of thine anointed one
They cease not to defame.

All praise be given unto thee,
O God, the Lord most high,
From this time forth for evermore,
Amen, Amen, say I.

Metrical paraphrase by Isaac Watts, 1719

English.png English text

PART 1 (C. M.)
The faithfulness of God

My never-ceasing songs shall show
The mercies of the Lord;
And make succeeding ages know
How faithful is his word.

The sacred truths his lips pronounce
Shall firm as heav'n endure;
And if he speak a promise once,
Th' eternal grace is sure.

How long the race of David held
The promised Jewish throne!
But there's a nobler cov'nant sealed
To David's greater Son.

His seed for ever shall possess
A throne above the skies;
The meanest subject of his grace
Shall to that glory rise.

Lord God of hosts, thy wondrous ways
Are sung by saints above;
And saints on earth their honors raise
To thy unchanging love.

PART 2, v. 7 ff. (C. M.)
The power and majesty of God; or, Reverential worship

With rev'rence let the saints appear,
And bow before the Lord;
His high commands with rev'rence hear,
And tremble at his word.

How terrible thy glories be!
How bright thine armies shine!
Where is the power that vies with thee,
Or truth compared to thine?

The northern pole and southern rest
On thy supporting hand;
Darkness and day, from east to west,
Move round at thy command.

Thy words the raging winds control,
And rule the boist'rous deep;
Thou mak'st the sleeping billows roll,
The rolling billows sleep.

Heav'n, earth, and air, and sea, are thine,
And the dark world of hell;
How did thine arm in vengeance shine
When Egypt durst rebel!

Justice and judgment are thy throne,
Yet wondrous is thy grace;
While truth and mercy, joined in one,
Invite us near thy face.

PART 3, v. 15 ff. (C. M.)
A blessed gospel
Blest are the souls that hear and know
The gospel's joyful sound;
Peace shall attend the path they go,
And light their steps surround.

Their joy shall bear their spirits up
Through their Redeemer's name;
His righteousness exalts their hope,
Nor Satan dares condemn.

The Lord, our glory and defence,
Strength and salvation gives;
Isr'el, thy King for ever reigns,
Thy God for ever lives.

 

PART 4, v. 19 ff. (C. M.)
Christ's mediatorial kingdom; or, His Divine and human nature

Hear what the Lord in vision said,
And made his mercy known:
"Sinners, behold your help is laid
On my Almighty Son.

"Behold the Man my wisdom chose
Among your mortal race:
His head my holy oil o'erflows,
The Spirit of my grace.

"High shall he reign on David's throne,
My people's better King;
My arm shall beat his rivals down,
And still new subjects bring.

"My truth shall guard him in his way,
With mercy by his side,
While in my name through earth and sea
He shall in triumph ride.

"Me for his Father and his God
He shall for ever own,
Call me his rock, his high abode,
And I'll support my Son.

"My first-born Son arrayed in grace
At my right hand shall sit;
Beneath him angels know their place,
And monarchs at his feet.

"My cov'nant stands for ever fast,
My promises are strong;
Firm as the heav'ns his throne shall last,
His seed endure as long."

PART 5, v. 30 ff. (C. M.)
The covenant of grace unchangeable

"Yet," saith the Lord, "if David's race,
The children of my Son,
Should break my laws, abuse my grace,
And tempt mine anger down;

"Their sins I'll visit with the rod
And make their folly smart;
But I'll not cease to be their God,
Nor from my truth depart.

"My cov'nant I will ne'er revoke,
But keep my grace in mind
And what eternal love hath spoke
Eternal truth shall bind.

"Once have I sworn (I need no more)
And pledged my holiness,
To seal the sacred promise sure
To David and his race.

"The sun shall see his offspring rise
And spread from sea to sea,
Long as he travels round the skies
To give the nations day.

"Sure as the moon that rules the night
His kingdom shall endure,
Till the fixed laws of shade and light
Shall be observed no more.

 

PART 6, v. 47 ff. (L. M.)
Mortality and hope. A funeral psalm

Remember, Lord, our mortal state,
How frail our life! how short the date!
Where is the man that draws his breath
Safe from disease, secure from death'?

Lord, while we see whole nations die,
Our flesh and sense repine and cry,
"Must death for ever rage and reign?
Or hast thou made mankind in vain?

"Where is thy promise to the just?
Are not thy servants turned to dust?"
But faith forbids these mournful sighs,
And sees the sleeping dust arise.

That glorious hour, that dreadful day,
Wipes the reproach of saints away,
And clears the honor of thy word:
Awake, our souls, and bless the Lord.

LAST PART, v. 47 ff. (8,8,8,8,8,8)
Life, death, and the resurrection

Think, mighty God, on feeble man;
How few his hours! how short his span!
Short from the cradle to the grave
Who can secure his vital breath
Against the bold demands of death,
With skill to fly, or power to save?

Lord, shall it be for ever said,
"The race of man was only made
For sickness, sorrow, and the dust?"
Are not thy servants day by day
Sent to their graves, and turned to clay?
Lord, where's thy kindness to the just?

Hast thou not promised to thy Son
And all his seed a heav'nly crown?
But flesh and sense indulge despair:
For ever blessed be the Lord,
That faith can read his holy word,
And find a resurrection there.

For ever blessed be the Lord,
Who gives his saints a long reward
For all their toil, reproach, and pain:
Let all below and all above
Join to proclaim thy wondrous love,
And each repeat their loud Amen.