Psalms 89:1-3

Psalm 89 ¹ 

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 

89:2 For I say, “Loyal love is permanently established; ⁵ 

in the skies you set up your faithfulness.” ⁶ 

89:3 The Lord said, ⁷ 

“I have made a covenant with my chosen one;

I have made a promise on oath to David, my servant:

[89:1]  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.

[89:1]  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.

[89:1]  ³ tn Or “forever.”

[89:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “to a generation and a generation I will make known your faithfulness with my mouth.”

[89:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “built.”

[89:2]  ⁶ sn You set up your faithfulness. This may allude to the Lord’s heavenly throne, which symbolizes his just rule and from which the Lord decrees his unconditional promises (see vv. 8, 14).

[89:3]  ⁷ tn The words “the Lord said” are supplied in the translation for clarification. It is clear that the words of vv. 3-4 are spoken by the Lord, in contrast to vv. 1-2, which are spoken by the psalmist.