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A Contemplation of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
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For I have said, "Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens."
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"I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David:
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'Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.' " Selah
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And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.
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For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?
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God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
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O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
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You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them.
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You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain; You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.
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The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them.
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The north and the south, You have created them; Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name.
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You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.
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Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.
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Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.
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In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted.
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For You are the glory of their strength, And in Your favor our horn is exalted.
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For our shield belongs to the Lord, And our king to the Holy One of Israel.
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Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one, And said: "I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people.
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I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him,
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With whom My hand shall be established; Also My arm shall strengthen him.
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The enemy shall not outwit him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
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I will beat down his foes before his face, And plague those who hate him.
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"But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, And in My name his horn shall be exalted.
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Also I will set his hand over the sea, And his right hand over the rivers.
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He shall cry to Me, 'You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.'
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Also I will make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.
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My mercy I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall stand firm with him.
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His seed also I will make to endure forever, And his throne as the days of heaven.
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"If his sons forsake My law And do not walk in My judgments,
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If they break My statutes And do not keep My commandments,
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Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes.
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Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, Nor allow My faithfulness to fail.
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My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.
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Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David:
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His seed shall endure forever, And his throne as the sun before Me;
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It shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky." Selah
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But You have cast off and abhorred, You have been furious with Your anointed.
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You have renounced the covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
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You have broken down all his hedges; You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
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All who pass by the way plunder him; He is a reproach to his neighbors.
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You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries; You have made all his enemies rejoice.
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You have also turned back the edge of his sword, And have not sustained him in the battle.
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You have made his glory cease, And cast his throne down to the ground.
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The days of his youth You have shortened; You have covered him with shame. Selah
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How long, Lord? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire?
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Remember how short my time is; For what futility have You created all the children of men?
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What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah
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Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses, Which You swore to David in Your truth?
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Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants-- How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples,
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With which Your enemies have reproached, O Lord, With which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed.
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Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen and Amen.