1 Our Lord, I will singof your love for ever.Everyone yet to be bornwill hear me praiseyour faithfulness.
2 I will tell them, “God's lovecan always be trusted,and his faithfulness lastsas long as the heavens.”
3 You said, “David, my servant,is my chosen one,and this is the agreementI made with him:
4 David, one of your descendantswill always be king.”
5 Our Lord, let the heavensnow praise your miracles,and let all your angelspraise your faithfulness.
6 None who live in the heavenscan compare with you.
7 You are the most fearsomeof all who live in heaven;all the others fearand greatly honour you.
8 You are Lord God All-Powerful!No one is as lovingand faithful as you are.
9 You rule the roaring seaand calm its waves.
10 You crushed the monster Rahab,and with your powerful armyou scattered your enemies.
11 The heavens and the earthbelong to you.And so does the worldwith all its peoplebecause you created them
12 and everything else.Mount Tabor and Mount Hermongladly praise you.
13 You are strong and mighty!
14 Your kingdom is ruledby justice and fairnesswith love and faithfulnessleading the way.
15 Our Lord, you bless thosewho join in the festivaland walk in the brightnessof your presence.
16 We are happy all daybecause of you,and your saving powerbrings honour to us.
17 Your own glorious powermakes us strong,and because of your kindness,our strength increases.
18 Our Lord and our King,the Holy One of Israel,you are truly our shield.
19 In a vision, you once saidto your faithful followers:“I have helped a mighty hero.I chose him from my peopleand made him famous.
20 David, my servant, is the oneI chose to be king,
21 and I will always be thereto help and strengthen him.
22 “No enemy will outsmart David,and he won't be defeatedby any hateful people.
23 I will strike down and crushhis troublesome enemies.
24 He will always be ableto depend on my love,and I will make him strongwith my own power.
25 I will let him rule the landsacross the rivers and seas.
26 He will say to me,‘You are my Fatherand my God,as well as the mighty rockwhere I am safe.’
27 “I have chosen Davidas my firstborn son,and he will be the rulerof all kings on earth.
28 My love for him will last,and my agreement with himwill never be broken.
29 “One of David's descendantswill always be king,and his family will ruleuntil the sky disappears.
30 Suppose some of his childrenshould reject my Lawand refuse my instructions.
31 Or suppose they should disobeyall of my teachings.
32 Then I will correctand punish thembecause of their sins.
33 But I will always love Davidand faithfully keep allof my promises to him.
34 “I won't break my agreementor go back on my word.
35 I have sworn once and for allby my own holy name,and I won't lie to David.
36 His family will always rule.I will let his kingdom lastas long as the sun
37 and moonappear in the sky.”
38 You are now angry, God,and you have turned your backon your chosen king.
39 You broke off your agreementwith your servant, the king,and you completely destroyedhis kingdom.
40 The walls of his cityhave been broken through,and every fortressnow lies in ruin.
41 All who pass bytake what they want,and nations everywherejoke about the king.
42 You made his enemies powerfuland let them celebrate.
43 But you forced him to retreatbecause you did not fighton his side.
44 You took his crownand threw his throneto the ground.
45 You made an old man of himand put him to shame.
46 How much longer, Lord?Will you hide for ever?How long will your angerkeep burning like fire?
47 Remember, life is short!Why did you empty our livesof all meaning?
48 No one can escape the powerof death and the grave.
49 Our Lord, where is the loveyou have always shownand that you promisedso faithfully to David?
50 Remember your servant, Lord!People make jokes about me,and I suffer many insults.
51 I am your chosen one,but your enemies chaseand make fun of me.
52 Our Lord, we praise youfor ever. Amen and amen.