{An Instruction of Ethan the Ezrahite} My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the LORD; with my mouth will I ever be showing thy faithfulness from one generation to another.

Righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat; mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

"I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant:

Blessed is the people, O LORD, that can rejoice in thee; they shall walk in the light of thy countenance.

My covenant will I not break, nor disannull the thing that is gone out of my lips.

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.

And I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him.

God is greatly to be feared in the council of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

For who is he among the clouds, that may be compared unto the LORD? Yea what is he among the gods, that shall be like unto the LORD?

He shall call me, "Thou art my father, my God, and the strength of my salvation.'

O LORD the very heavens shall praise thy wondrous works; yea, and thy faithfulness in the congregation of the saints.

The heavens are thine. The earth also is thine; thou hast laid the foundation of the round world and all that therein is.

What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? May a man deliver his own soul from the hand of hell? Selah.

For I have said, "Mercy shall be set up for ever; thy truth shalt thou establish in the heavens."

But if his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments,

O LORD God of hosts, who is like unto thee in power? Thy truth, most mighty LORD, is on every side.

I have sworn once by my holiness, that I will not fail David.

Thou rulest the pride of the sea; thou stillest the waves thereof when they arise.

But thou hast abhorred and forsaken thine annointed, and art displeased at him.

My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

LORD, where are thy old loving-kindnesses, which thou sworest unto David in thy truth?

Thou hast subdued Egypt, like one that is wounded; thou scatterest thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arm.

Thy seed will I establish forever, and set up thy throne from one generation to another." Selah.

His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

The LORD is our defense, and the holy one of Israel is our king.

Nevertheless, my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my truth to fail.

Thou hast made the north and the south, Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

His seed shall endure forever, and his throne is like as the sun before me.

LORD, how long wilt thou hide thyself? Forever? And shall thy wrath burn like fire?

Thou hast a mighty arm; strong is thy hand, and high is thy righthand.

For thou art the glory of their strength, and through thy favour shalt thou lift up our horns.

He shall stand fast for evermore as the moon, and as the faithful witness in heaven." Selah.

Remember, LORD, the rebuke that the multitude of the people do unto thy servants, and how I have borne it in my bosom;

I will visit their offenses with the rod, and their sins with scourges.

My truth also and my mercy shall be with him; and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

O remember how short my time is; hast thou made all men for nought?

Their delight shall be daily in thy name; and through thy righteousness they shall be exalted.

if they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments,

Thanks be to the LORD for evermore. Amen, Amen.

Thou hast broken the covenant of thy servant, and cast his crown to the ground.

My hand shall hold him fast, and mine arm shall strengthen him.

wherewith thine have blasphemed thee, and slandered the footsteps of thine anointed.

The enemy shall not overcome him, and the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.

I will set his hand in the sea, and his righthand in the floods.

Thou hast overthrown all his hedges, and broken down his strongholds.

I shall smite down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

The days of his youth hast thou shortened, and covered him with dishonour. Selah.

All they that go by, spoil him; he is become a reproach to his neighbours.

Thou hast put out his glory, and cast his throne down to the ground.

Thou hast taken away the strength of his sword, and givest him not victory in the battle.

Thou hast set up the righthand of his enemies, and made all his adversaries to rejoice.