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

88:1 Intellectus Ethan Ezrahitæ.

2 ¶ Misericordias Domini in æternum cantabo;
in generationem et generationem annuntiabo veritatem tuam in ore meo.

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

3 Quoniam dixisti: In æternum misericordia ædificabitur in cælis;
præparabitur veritas tua in eis.

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

4 Disposui testamentum electis meis;
juravi David servo meo:

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

5 Usque in æternum præparabo semen tuum,
et ædificabo in generationem et generationem sedem tuam.

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

6 Confitebuntur cæli mirabilia tua, Domine;
etenim veritatem tuam in ecclesia sanctorum.

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

7 Quoniam quis in nubibus æquabitur Domino;
similis erit Deo in filiis Dei?

7 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.

8 Deus, qui glorificatur in consilio sanctorum,
magnus et terribilis super omnes qui in circuitu ejus sunt.

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

9 Domine Deus virtutum, quis similis tibi?
potens es, Domine, et veritas tua in circuitu tuo.

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

10 Tu dominaris potestati maris;
motum autem fluctuum ejus tu mitigas.

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

11 Tu humiliasti, sicut vulneratum, superbum;
in brachio virtutis tuæ dispersisti inimicos tuos.

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

12 Tui sunt cæli, et tua est terra:
orbem terræ, et plenitudinem ejus tu fundasti;

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

13 aquilonem et mare tu creasti.
Thabor et Hermon in nomine tuo exsultabunt:

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

14 tuum brachium cum potentia.
Firmetur manus tua, et exaltetur dextera tua:

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

15 justitia et judicium præparatio sedis tuæ:
misericordia et veritas præcedent faciem tuam.

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

16 Beatus populus qui scit jubilationem:
Domine, in lumine vultus tui ambulabunt,

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

17 et in nomine tuo exsultabunt tota die,
et in justitia tua exaltabuntur.

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

18 Quoniam gloria virtutis eorum tu es,
et in beneplacito tuo exaltabitur cornu nostrum.

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

19 Quia Domini est assumptio nostra,
et sancti Israël regis nostri.

19 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.

20 Tunc locutus es in visione sanctis tuis,
et dixisti: Posui adjutorium in potente,
et exaltavi electum de plebe mea.

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

21 Inveni David, servum meum;
oleo sancto meo unxi eum.

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

22 Manus enim mea auxiliabitur ei,
et brachium meum confortabit eum.

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

23 Nihil proficiet inimicus in eo,
et filius iniquitatis non apponet nocere ei.

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

24 Et concidam a facie ipsius inimicos ejus,
et odientes eum in fugam convertam.

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

25 Et veritas mea et misericordia mea cum ipso,
et in nomine meo exaltabitur cornu ejus.

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

26 Et ponam in mari manum ejus,
et in fluminibus dexteram ejus.

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

27 Ipse invocabit me: Pater meus es tu,
Deus meus, et susceptor salutis meæ.

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

28 Et ego primogenitum ponam illum,
excelsum præ regibus terræ.

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

29 In æternum servabo illi misericordiam meam,
et testamentum meum fidele ipsi.

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

30 Et ponam in sæculum sæculi semen ejus,
et thronum ejus sicut dies cæli.

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

31 Si autem dereliquerint filii ejus legem meam,
et in judiciis meis non ambulaverint;

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

32 si justitias meas profanaverint,
et mandata mea non custodierint:

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

33 visitabo in virga iniquitates eorum,
et in verberibus peccata eorum;

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

34 misericordiam autem meam non dispergam ab eo,
neque nocebo in veritate mea,

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

35 neque profanabo testamentum meum:
et quæ procedunt de labiis meis non faciam irrita.

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

36 Semel juravi in sancto meo, si David mentiar:

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

37 semen ejus in æternum manebit.

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

38 Et thronus ejus sicut sol in conspectu meo,
et sicut luna perfecta in æternum,
et testis in cælo fidelis.

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

39 Tu vero repulisti et despexisti;
distulisti christum tuum.

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

40 Evertisti testamentum servi tui;
profanasti in terra sanctuarium ejus.

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

41 Destruxisti omnes sepes ejus;
posuisti firmamentum ejus formidinem.

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

42 Diripuerunt eum omnes transeuntes viam;
factus est opprobrium vicinis suis.

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

43 Exaltasti dexteram deprimentium eum;
lætificasti omnes inimicos ejus.

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

44 Avertisti adjutorium gladii ejus,
et non es auxiliatus ei in bello.

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

45 Destruxisti eum ab emundatione,
et sedem ejus in terram collisisti.

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

46 Minorasti dies temporis ejus;
perfudisti eum confusione.

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

47 Usquequo, Domine, avertis in finem?
exardescet sicut ignis ira tua?

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

48 Memorare quæ mea substantia:
numquid enim vane constituisti omnes filios hominum?

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

49 Quis est homo qui vivet et non videbit mortem?
eruet animam suam de manu inferi?

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

50 Ubi sunt misericordiæ tuæ antiquæ, Domine,
sicut jurasti David in veritate tua?

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

51 Memor esto, Domine, opprobrii servorum tuorum,
quod continui in sinu meo, multarum gentium:

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

52 quod exprobraverunt inimici tui, Domine;
quod exprobraverunt commutationem christi tui.

52 Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

53 Benedictus Dominus in æternum. Fiat, fiat.