Psalm 89 is the 89th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 88. In Latin, it is known as "Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo". It is described as a maschil or "contemplation". The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic liturgies. It has been set to music, for example by Baroque composer Heinrich Schütz in German.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

King James Version

Analysis

The superscription of the psalm states that it was written by Ethan the Ezrahite, who, along with Heman the Ezrahite (to whom Psalm 88 is attributed), was a wise man from the time of, or prior to, King Solomon. 1 Kings 4:31 states that Solomon "was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations" (ESV). In 2 Samuel 7:12–17, God promises King David that there will always be a king from his line to rule over Israel. Some scholars claim that this psalm was written after the deportation of the Jews to Babylon. However, this claim is inconsistent with the dating of Ethan to the time of Solomon. More likely is that it was written on behalf of the king (David or Solomon) during a time of trouble. The author expresses his belief that the promises outlined in 2 Samuel 7:12-17 will be fulfilled. Charles Spurgeon called this psalm a Covenant Psalm and described it as "the utterance of a believer". It begins with words of praise for Yahweh's goodness and covenant faithfulness. For the first 37 verses, the psalm recounts the promises made to King David and the covenant established by God with him; from verse 38 to 51, the psalmist laments what seems to him like God's lack of remembrance of his covenant promises.

Verse 52

This closing verse is the benediction or doxology by which the third book of the psalter is brought to a close, "[not] part of the original psalm, [but] entirely in harmony with the spirit of it".

Uses

Judaism

New Testament

In the New Testament, part of verse 10 is quoted in Luke, and verse 20 is quoted in Acts.

Eastern Orthodox Church

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Psalm 88 (Psalm 89 in the Masoretic Text) is part of the twelfth Kathisma division of the Psalter, read at Vespers on Wednesday evenings, as well as on Tuesdays and Thursdays during Lent, at Matins and the Ninth Hour, respectively.

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read in the evening of the 17th day of the month, as well as at Evensong on Christmas Day.

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 90 in a metred version in German as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628. It is split in two parts, "Ich will von Gnade singen" and "Ach Gott, warum verstößt du nun", SWV 186 and 1878. Alan Hovhaness set the text to music in his Op. 27, a choral work O Lord God of Hosts.