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An instruction, by Ethan the Ezrahite. Of the kind acts of Jehovah, to the age I sing, To all generations I make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth,
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For I said, `To the age is kindness built, The heavens! Thou dost establish Thy faithfulness in them.'
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I have made a covenant for My chosen, I have sworn to David My servant:
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`Even to the age do I establish thy seed, And have built to generation and generation thy throne. Selah.
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and the heavens confess Thy wonders, O Jehovah, Thy faithfulness also is in an assembly of holy ones.
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For who in the sky, Compareth himself to Jehovah? Is like to Jehovah among sons of the mighty?
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God is very terrible, In the secret counsel of His holy ones, And fearful over all surrounding Him.
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O Jehovah, God of Hosts, Who is like Thee--a strong Jah? And Thy faithfulness is round about Thee.
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Thou art ruler over the pride of the sea, In the lifting up of its billows Thou dost restrain them.
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Thou hast bruised Rahab, as one wounded. With the arm of Thy strength Thou hast scattered Thine enemies.
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Thine are the heavens--the earth also is Thine, The habitable world and its fulness, Thou hast founded them.
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North and south Thou hast appointed them, Tabor and Hermon in Thy name do sing.
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Thou hast an arm with might, Strong is Thy hand--high Thy right hand.
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Righteousness and judgment Are the fixed place of Thy throne, Kindness and truth go before Thy face.
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O the happiness of the people knowing the shout, O Jehovah, in the light of Thy face they walk habitually.
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In Thy name they rejoice all the day, And in Thy righteousness they are exalted,
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For the beauty of their strength art Thou, And in Thy good will is our horn exalted,
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For of Jehovah is our shield, And of the Holy One of Israel our king.
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Then Thou hast spoken in vision, To Thy saint, yea, Thou sayest, I have placed help upon a mighty one, Exalted a chosen one out of the people,
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I have found David My servant, With My holy oil I have anointed him.
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With whom My hand is established, My arm also doth strengthen him.
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An enemy exacteth not upon him, And a son of perverseness afflicteth him not.
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And I have beaten down before him his adversaries, And those hating him I plague,
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And My faithfulness and kindness are with him, And in My name is his horn exalted.
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And I have set on the sea his hand, And on the rivers his right hand.
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He proclaimeth me: `Thou art my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.'
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I also first-born do appoint him, Highest of the kings of the earth.
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To the age I keep for him My kindness, And My covenant is stedfast with him.
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And I have set his seed for ever, And his throne as the days of the heavens.
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If his sons forsake My law, And in My judgments do not walk;
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If My statutes they pollute, And My commands do not keep,
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I have looked after with a rod their transgression, And with strokes their iniquity,
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And My kindness I break not from him, Nor do I deal falsely in My faithfulness.
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I profane not My covenant, And that which is going forth from My lips I change not.
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Once I have sworn by My holiness, I lie not to David,
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His seed is to the age, And his throne is as the sun before Me,
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As the moon it is established--to the age, And the witness in the sky is stedfast. Selah.
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And Thou, Thou hast cast off, and dost reject, Thou hast shown Thyself wroth With Thine anointed,
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Hast rejected the covenant of Thy servant, Thou hast polluted to the earth his crown,
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Thou hast broken down all his hedges, Thou hast made his fenced places a ruin.
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Spoiled him have all passing by the way, He hath been a reproach to his neighbours,
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Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries, Thou hast caused all his enemies to rejoice.
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Also--Thou turnest back the sharpness of his sword, And hast not established him in battle,
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Hast caused him to cease from his brightness, And his throne to the earth hast cast down.
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Thou hast shortened the days of his youth, Hast covered him over with shame. Selah.
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Till when, O Jehovah, art Thou hidden? For ever doth Thy fury burn as fire?
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Remember, I pray Thee, what is life-time? Wherefore in vain hast Thou created All the sons of men?
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Who is the man that liveth, and doth not see death? He delivereth his soul from the hand of Sheol. Selah.
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Where are Thy former kindnesses, O Lord. Thou hast sworn to David in Thy faithfulness,
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Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Thy servants, I have borne in my bosom all the strivings of the peoples,
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Wherewith Thine enemies reproached, O Jehovah, Wherewith they have reproached The steps of Thine anointed.
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Blessed is Jehovah to the age. Amen, and amen!