A well-written song 2 by Ethan the Ezrachite.
89:1 I will sing continually 3 about the Lord’s faithful deeds;
to future generations I will proclaim your faithfulness. 4
A song, a psalm written by the Korahites; for the music director; according to the machalath-leannoth style; 6 a well-written song 7 by Heman the Ezrachite.
88:1 O Lord God who delivers me! 8
By day I cry out
and at night I pray before you. 9
1 sn Psalm 89. The psalmist praises God as the sovereign creator of the world. He recalls God’s covenant with David, but then laments that the promises of the covenant remain unrealized. The covenant promised the Davidic king military victories, but the king has now been subjected to humiliating defeat.
2 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. See the note on the phrase “well-written song” in the superscription of Ps 88.
3 tn Or “forever.”
4 tn Heb “to a generation and a generation I will make known your faithfulness with my mouth.”
5 sn Psalm 88. The psalmist cries out in pain to the Lord, begging him for relief from his intense and constant suffering. The psalmist regards God as the ultimate cause of his distress, but nevertheless clings to God in hope.
6 tn The Hebrew phrase מָחֲלַת לְעַנּוֹת (makhalat lÿ’annot) may mean “illness to afflict.” Perhaps it refers to a particular style of music, a tune title, or a musical instrument. The term מָחֲלַת also appears in the superscription of Ps 53.
7 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. The word is derived from a verb meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.” Various options are: “a contemplative song,” “a song imparting moral wisdom,” or “a skillful [i.e., well-written] song.” The term occurs in the superscriptions of Pss 32, 42, 44, 45, 52-55, 74, 78, 88, 89, and 142, as well as in Ps 47:7.
8 tn Heb “O
9 tn Heb “[by] day I cry out, in the night before you.”