The Loving Kindness of the LORD

I will sing of the loving kindness of the LORD forever.With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

The psalm begins with a promise to sing of the LORD's loving kindness forever and to make his faithfulness known to all generations. Loving kindness and faithfulness run through the whole psalm.

Also read Titus 1:2, Psalm 86:12-13, Psalm 71:15-19, Psalm 59:16

I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever.You established the heavens.Your faithfulness is in them.”

For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

Also read Psalm 89:37, Psalm 146:6, Nehemiah 1:5, Psalm 89:5

“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,I have sworn to David, my servant,

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

Also read Matthew 3:17, Hebrews 7:21, Isaiah 55:3, Isaiah 42:1

‘I will establish your offspring forever,and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah.

Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.

Also read 1 Chronicles 22:10, Psalm 89:36, Romans 15:12, Romans 1:3-4

The heavens will praise your wonders, LORD,your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.

And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

The praise of God's faithfulness moves from the singer's own mouth in verse 1 to the heavens themselves. God's wonders and faithfulness are praised in the assembly of the holy ones, a gathering in heaven. The KJV has the congregation of the saints.

Also read Psalm 89:7, Jude 1:14-15, Revelation 19:1-6, Psalm 50:6

For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like the LORD,

For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?

Two questions set the LORD apart from every being in the skies. Nobody among the sons of the heavenly beings can be compared to him, and verse 7 carries the thought on. The KJV reads who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD.

Also read Psalm 89:8, Jeremiah 10:6, Exodus 15:11, Psalm 86:8

a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones,to be feared above all those who are around him?

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

God is very awesome in the council of the holy ones and feared above all who are around him. Even among heavenly beings, no one compares.

Also read Hebrews 12:28-29, Jeremiah 10:10, Jeremiah 10:7, Leviticus 10:3

LORD, God of Armies, who is a mighty one, like you?LORD, your faithfulness is around you.

O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

The question is who is mighty like the LORD, God of Armies. Faithfulness surrounds him, the same quality the psalm praised in verse 1.

Also read Psalm 71:19, 1 Samuel 2:2, Psalm 24:8, Isaiah 40:25-26

You rule the pride of the sea.When its waves rise up, you calm them.

Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

God rules the pride of the sea and calms its waves when they rise. The King James Version has "Thou rulest the raging of the sea". Rising waves are no threat to the one who rules them.

Also read Mark 4:39, Nahum 1:4, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 93:3-4

You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain.You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

God has broken Rahab in pieces and scattered his enemies with his mighty arm. The psalm names Rahab without explaining it, right after the sea in verse 9.

Also read Deuteronomy 4:34, Exodus 7:1-15, Exodus 3:19-20, Psalm 68:1

The heavens are yours.The earth also is yours,the world and its fullness.You have founded them.

The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

The heavens and the earth belong to God, with the world and everything in it, because he founded them. Ownership comes from creation.

Also read Genesis 2:1, Psalm 115:16, 1 Corinthians 10:28, Genesis 1:1

You have created the north and the south.Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.

The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

Also read Jeremiah 46:18, Psalm 65:12-13, Isaiah 49:13, Joshua 12:1

You have a mighty arm.Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted.

Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

God has a mighty arm, a strong hand and an exalted right hand. Three pictures of strength are stacked together.

Also read Psalm 62:11, Daniel 4:34-35, Matthew 6:13, Psalm 89:10

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.Loving kindness and truth go before your face.

Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne, and loving kindness and truth go before his face. The verse describes what his rule is built on.

Also read Psalm 45:6-7, John 1:17, Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 145:17

Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you.They walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

The people who learn to acclaim God are blessed, and they walk in the light of his presence. The King James Version reads "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound".

Also read Proverbs 16:15, Psalm 98:4-6, John 14:21-23, Isaiah 2:5

In your name they rejoice all day.In your righteousness, they are exalted.

In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

Also read Jeremiah 23:6, Romans 1:17, Psalm 40:10, Psalm 33:21

For you are the glory of their strength.In your favor, our horn will be exalted.

For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

Also read Psalm 112:9, Philippians 4:13, Psalm 92:10, Psalm 89:24

For our shield belongs to the LORD,our king to the Holy One of Israel.

For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

Also read Isaiah 1:4, Psalm 71:22, Psalm 47:9, Isaiah 33:22

Then you spoke in vision to your saints,and said, “I have given strength to the warrior.I have exalted a young man from the people.

Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

Also read Jeremiah 30:21, Revelation 3:7, Luke 1:70, Isaiah 9:6

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

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

God speaks: he has found David his servant and anointed him with holy oil. Here the praise of God becomes the story of his covenant with David.

Also read 1 Samuel 16:12-13, Acts 13:22, John 3:34, 1 Samuel 16:1

with whom my hand shall be established.My arm will also strengthen him.

With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.

Also read Zechariah 10:12, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 49:8, Isaiah 42:1

No enemy will tax him.No wicked man will oppress him.

The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

Also read John 17:12, 1 Chronicles 17:9, Matthew 4:1-10, 2 Samuel 7:10

I will beat down his adversaries before him,and strike those who hate him.

And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

This is part of God's promise to David, spoken in a vision according to verse 19. God says he himself will beat down the king's adversaries and strike those who hate him, so the victory is presented as God's work rather than the king's. The KJV has plague them that hate him.

Also read Luke 19:14, John 15:23, Psalm 2:1-6, 2 Samuel 3:1

But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him.In my name, his horn will be exalted.

But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

Also read Psalm 89:16-17, Psalm 61:7, John 17:26, Psalm 20:1

I will set his hand also on the sea,and his right hand on the rivers.

I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

Also read Psalm 2:8, Revelation 11:15, 1 Kings 4:21, Psalm 72:8-11

He will call to me, ‘You are my Father,my God, and the rock of my salvation!’

He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

The promise says David will call God my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Here the father language belongs to God's covenant with the king, and verse 27 adds that God will appoint him firstborn. The KJV reads he shall cry unto me, Thou art my father.

Also read 2 Samuel 7:14, Matthew 26:39, Mark 15:34, Psalm 62:2

I will also appoint him my firstborn,the highest of the kings of the earth.

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

God will appoint David his firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. The title describes both rank and closeness to God.

Also read Psalm 2:10-12, Colossians 1:15, Colossians 1:18, 2 Chronicles 9:23-24

I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more.My covenant will stand firm with him.

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

Also read Psalm 89:33-34, Acts 13:32-34, Isaiah 55:3, Psalm 111:9

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

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

Also read Psalm 89:4, Psalm 89:36, 1 Chronicles 22:10, 1 Chronicles 17:11-12

If his children forsake my law,and don’t walk in my ordinances;

If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

Also read 1 Chronicles 28:9, Ezekiel 20:19, Proverbs 28:4, Luke 1:6

if they break my statutes,and don’t keep my commandments;

If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;

Also read Psalm 55:20

then I will punish their sin with the rod,and their iniquity with stripes.

Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

Also read 1 Corinthians 11:31-32, Proverbs 3:11-12, 1 Kings 11:6, 1 Kings 11:39

But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him,nor allow my faithfulness to fail.

Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

Also read 2 Samuel 7:15, Jeremiah 33:20-26, Lamentations 3:31-32, Hebrews 6:18

I will not break my covenant,nor alter what my lips have uttered.

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

God will not break his covenant or alter what his lips have spoken. This is the promise the second half of the psalm appeals to.

Also read Numbers 23:19, Matthew 24:35, Jeremiah 14:21, Malachi 3:6

Once I have sworn by my holiness,I will not lie to David.

Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

Also read Amos 4:2, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:13, Hebrews 6:17

His offspring will endure forever,his throne like the sun before me.

His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.

Also read John 12:34, Psalm 89:4, Isaiah 53:10, Psalm 72:17

It will be established forever like the moon,the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah.

It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

The throne will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky. This is the last line of God's promise before the psalm turns to lament in verse 38.

Also read Genesis 9:13-16, Genesis 1:14-18, Isaiah 54:9-10, Psalm 72:7

But you have rejected and spurned.You have been angry with your anointed.

But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

Also read Lamentations 4:20, 2 Samuel 1:21, Hosea 9:17, Lamentations 2:7

You have renounced the covenant of your servant.You have defiled his crown in the dust.

Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

Also read Psalm 143:3, Psalm 89:44, Psalm 116:11, Isaiah 25:12

You have broken down all his hedges.You have brought his strongholds to ruin.

Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.

Also read Isaiah 5:5-6, Lamentations 2:5, Lamentations 2:2, Revelation 13:1-7

All who pass by the way rob him.He has become a reproach to his neighbors.

All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.

Also read Jeremiah 42:18, Nehemiah 5:9, Psalm 79:4, Psalm 80:13

You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries.You have made all of his enemies rejoice.

Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.

Also read Deuteronomy 28:25, John 16:20, Deuteronomy 28:43, Revelation 11:10

Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword,and haven’t supported him in battle.

Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.

Also read Joshua 7:4-5, Psalm 44:10, Leviticus 26:36-37, Joshua 7:8-12

You have ended his splendor,and thrown his throne down to the ground.

Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.

Also read Daniel 7:20-25, Lamentations 4:1-2, Psalm 89:39, 1 Kings 12:16-20

You have shortened the days of his youth.You have covered him with shame. Selah.

The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

Also read Psalm 102:23, Psalm 71:13, Psalm 44:15, Psalm 89:28-29

How long, LORD?Will you hide yourself forever?Will your wrath burn like fire?

How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

Also read Psalm 90:13, Psalm 13:1-2, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, Psalm 10:1

Remember how short my time is,for what vanity you have created all the children of men!

Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

Also read Job 14:1, James 4:14, Psalm 144:4, Job 7:7

What man is he who shall live and not see death,who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.

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

Also read Ecclesiastes 3:19-20, Psalm 49:15, Ecclesiastes 12:7, Hebrews 11:5

Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses,which you swore to David in your faithfulness?

Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?

Also read 2 Samuel 3:9, Psalm 54:5, Isaiah 63:7-15, Psalm 132:11-12

Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants,how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples,

Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;

Also read Romans 15:3, Psalm 74:18, Psalm 44:13-16, Psalm 69:9

With which your enemies have mocked, LORD,with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one.

Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.

Also read Hebrews 11:36, 2 Samuel 16:7-8, Matthew 5:10-12, Matthew 26:61

Blessed be the LORD forever more.Amen, and Amen.

Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

Also read Psalm 41:13, Psalm 72:18-19, Matthew 6:13, Psalm 106:48