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Psalm 89 (Tehillim 89) in Hebrew and English

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Tenakh Study · Psalms · Book Three

Psalm 89

תהלים פט

A Maskil of Etan the Ezrachi praising the faithfulness of Hashem and His covenant with David and his seed, then lamenting that God has cast off His anointed, and asking how long.

Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, where the heading is verse 1. In most English Bibles the heading has no number, so each verse here is one higher than there (verse 2 here is verse 1 there).

89:1Maskil of Etan (Ethan) the Ezrachi (Ezrahite).

אמַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְאֵיתָ֥ן הָֽאֶזְרָחִֽי׃

89:2I will sing of the mercies of Hashem for ever: with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.

בחַֽסְדֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה עוֹלָ֣ם אָשִׁ֑ירָה לְדֹ֥ר וָדֹ֓ר ׀ אוֹדִ֖יעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בְּפִֽי׃

89:3For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up for ever: Your faithfulness shall You establish in the very heavens.”

גכִּֽי־אָמַ֗רְתִּי ע֭וֹלָם חֶ֣סֶד יִבָּנֶ֑ה שָׁמַ֓יִם ׀ תָּכִ֖ן אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בָהֶֽם׃

89:4I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn unto David My servant,

דכָּרַ֣תִּֽי בְ֭רִית לִבְחִירִ֑י נִ֝שְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי לְדָוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃

89:5Your seed will I establish for ever, and build up your throne to all generations. Selah.

העַד־ע֭וֹלָם אָכִ֣ין זַרְעֶ֑ךָ וּבָנִ֨יתִי לְדֹר־וָד֖וֹר כִּסְאֲךָ֣ סֶֽלָה׃

89:6And the heavens shall praise Your wonders, O Hashem: Your faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

ווְי֘וֹד֤וּ שָׁמַ֣יִם פִּלְאֲךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה אַף־אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בִּקְהַ֥ל קְדֹשִֽׁים׃

89:7For who in the heaven can be compared unto Hashem? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto Hashem?

זכִּ֤י מִ֣י בַ֭שַּׁחַק יַעֲרֹ֣ךְ לַיהוָ֑ה יִדְמֶ֥ה לַ֝יהוָ֗ה בִּבְנֵ֥י אֵלִים׃

89:8God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him.

חאֵ֣ל נַ֭עֲרָץ בְּסוֹד־קְדֹשִׁ֣ים רַבָּ֑ה וְ֝נוֹרָ֗א עַל־כָּל־סְבִיבָֽיו׃

89:9O Hashem God of hosts, who is a strong Yah like unto You? or to Your faithfulness round about You?

טיְהוָ֤ה ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י צְבָא֗וֹת מִֽי־כָֽמ֖וֹךָ חֲסִ֥ין ׀ יָ֑הּ וֶ֝אֱמֽוּנָתְךָ֗ סְבִיבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

89:10You rule the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, You still them.

יאַתָּ֣ה מ֭וֹשֵׁל בְּגֵא֣וּת הַיָּ֑ם בְּשׂ֥וֹא גַ֝לָּ֗יו אַתָּ֥ה תְשַׁבְּחֵֽם׃

89:11You have broken Rahav (Rahab) in pieces, as one that is slain; You have scattered Your enemies with Your strong arm.

יאאַתָּ֤ה דִכִּ֣אתָ כֶחָלָ֣ל רָ֑הַב בִּזְר֥וֹעַ עֻ֝זְּךָ֗ פִּזַּ֥רְתָּ אוֹיְבֶֽיךָ׃

89:12The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours: as for the world and the fulness thereof, You have founded them.

יבלְךָ֣ שָׁ֭מַיִם אַף־לְךָ֥ אָ֑רֶץ תֵּבֵ֥ל וּ֝מְלֹאָ֗הּ אַתָּ֥ה יְסַדְתָּֽם׃

89:13The north and the south You have created them: Tavor (Tabor) and Chermon (Hermon) shall rejoice in Your name.

יגצָפ֣וֹן וְ֭יָמִין אַתָּ֣ה בְרָאתָ֑ם תָּב֥וֹר וְ֝חֶרְמ֗וֹן בְּשִׁמְךָ֥ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃

89:14You have a mighty arm: strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.

ידלְךָ֣ זְ֭רוֹעַ עִם־גְּבוּרָ֑ה תָּעֹ֥ז יָ֝דְךָ֗ תָּר֥וּם יְמִינֶֽךָ׃

89:15Justice and judgment are the habitation of Your throne: mercy and truth shall go before Your face.

טוצֶ֣דֶק וּ֭מִשְׁפָּט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֶ֑ךָ חֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת יְֽקַדְּמ֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃

89:16Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Hashem, in the light of Your countenance.

טזאַשְׁרֵ֣י הָ֭עָם יוֹדְעֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה יְ֝הוָ֗ה בְּֽאוֹר־פָּנֶ֥יךָ יְהַלֵּכֽוּן׃

89:17In Your name shall they rejoice all the day: and in Your righteousness shall they be exalted.

יזבְּ֭שִׁמְךָ יְגִיל֣וּן כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ יָרֽוּמוּ׃

89:18For You are the glory of their strength: and in Your favour our horn shall be exalted.

יחכִּֽי־תִפְאֶ֣רֶת עֻזָּ֣מוֹ אָ֑תָּה וּ֝בִרְצֹנְךָ֗ תָּר֥וּם (כתיב תרים) קַרְנֵֽנוּ׃

89:19For Hashem is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

יטכִּ֣י לַֽ֭יהוָה מָֽגִנֵּ֑נוּ וְלִקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מַלְכֵּֽנוּ׃

89:20Then You spoke in vision to Your holy one, and said, “I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

כאָ֤ז דִּבַּ֥רְתָּֽ־בְחָ֡זוֹן לַֽחֲסִידֶ֗יךָ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר שִׁוִּ֣יתִי עֵ֭זֶר עַל־גִּבּ֑וֹר הֲרִימ֖וֹתִי בָח֣וּר מֵעָֽם׃

89:21I have found David My servant; with My holy oil have I anointed him:

כאמָ֭צָאתִי דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֑י בְּשֶׁ֖מֶן קָדְשִׁ֣י מְשַׁחְתִּֽיו׃

89:22With whom My hand shall be established: My arm also shall strengthen him.

כבאֲשֶׁ֣ר יָ֭דִי תִּכּ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ אַף־זְרוֹעִ֥י תְאַמְּצֶֽנּוּ׃

89:23The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

כגלֹֽא־יַשִּׁ֣א אוֹיֵ֣ב בּ֑וֹ וּבֶן־עַ֝וְלָ֗ה לֹ֣א יְעַנֶּֽנּוּ׃

89:24And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

כדוְכַתּוֹתִ֣י מִפָּנָ֣יו צָרָ֑יו וּמְשַׂנְאָ֥יו אֶגּֽוֹף׃

89:25But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him: and in My name shall his horn be exalted.

כהוֶֽאֶֽמוּנָתִ֣י וְחַסְדִּ֣י עִמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בִשְׁמִ֗י תָּר֥וּם קַרְנֽוֹ׃

89:26I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

כווְשַׂמְתִּ֣י בַיָּ֣ם יָד֑וֹ וּֽבַנְּהָר֥וֹת יְמִינֽוֹ׃

89:27He shall cry unto Me, ‘You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.’

כזה֣וּא יִ֭קְרָאֵנִי אָ֣בִי אָ֑תָּה אֵ֝לִ֗י וְצ֣וּר יְשׁוּעָתִֽי׃

89:28Also I will make him My firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

כחאַף־אָ֭נִי בְּכ֣וֹר אֶתְּנֵ֑הוּ עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן לְמַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

89:29My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and My covenant shall stand fast with him.

כטלְ֭עוֹלָ֗ם אֶשְׁמָר (כתיב אשמור)־ל֣וֹ חַסְדִּ֑י וּ֝בְרִיתִ֗י נֶאֱמֶ֥נֶת לֽוֹ׃

89:30His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

לוְשַׂמְתִּ֣י לָעַ֣ד זַרְע֑וֹ וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ כִּימֵ֥י שָׁמָֽיִם׃

89:31If his children forsake My Torah, and walk not in My judgments;

לאאִם־יַֽעַזְב֣וּ בָ֭נָיו תּוֹרָתִ֑י וּ֝בְמִשְׁפָּטַ֗י לֹ֣א יֵלֵכֽוּן׃

89:32If they break My statutes, and keep not My commandments;

לבאִם־חֻקֹּתַ֥י יְחַלֵּ֑לוּ וּ֝מִצְוֺתַ֗י לֹ֣א יִשְׁמֹֽרוּ׃

89:33Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

לגוּפָקַדְתִּ֣י בְשֵׁ֣בֶט פִּשְׁעָ֑ם וּבִנְגָעִ֥ים עֲוֺנָֽם׃

89:34Nevertheless My lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer My faithfulness to fail.

לדוְ֭חַסְדִּי לֹֽא־אָפִ֣יר מֵֽעִמּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־אֲ֝שַׁקֵּ֗ר בֶּאֱמוּנָתִֽי׃

89:35My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips.

להלֹא־אֲחַלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתִ֑י וּמוֹצָ֥א שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י לֹ֣א אֲשַׁנֶּֽה׃

89:36Once have I sworn by My holiness that I will not lie unto David.

לואַ֭חַת נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי בְקָדְשִׁ֑י אִֽם־לְדָוִ֥ד אֲכַזֵּֽב׃

89:37His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before Me.

לזזַ֭רְעוֹ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִהְיֶ֑ה וְכִסְא֖וֹ כַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ נֶגְדִּֽי׃

89:38It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.” Selah.

לחכְּ֭יָרֵחַ יִכּ֣וֹן עוֹלָ֑ם וְעֵ֥ד בַּ֝שַּׁ֗חַק נֶאֱמָ֥ן סֶֽלָה׃

89:39But You have cast off and abhorred, You have been wroth with Your anointed.

לטוְאַתָּ֣ה זָ֭נַחְתָּ וַתִּמְאָ֑ס הִ֝תְעַבַּ֗רְתָּ עִם־מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃

89:40You have made void the covenant of Your servant: You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

מנֵ֭אַרְתָּה בְּרִ֣ית עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ חִלַּ֖לְתָּ לָאָ֣רֶץ נִזְרֽוֹ׃

89:41You have broken down all his hedges; You have brought his strong holds to ruin.

מאפָּרַ֥צְתָּ כָל־גְּדֵרֹתָ֑יו שַׂ֖מְתָּ מִבְצָרָ֣יו מְחִתָּה׃

89:42All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.

מבשַׁ֭סֻּהוּ כָּל־עֹ֣בְרֵי דָ֑רֶךְ הָיָ֥ה חֶ֝רְפָּ֗ה לִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃

89:43You have set up the right hand of his adversaries; You have made all his enemies to rejoice.

מגהֲ֭רִימוֹתָ יְמִ֣ין צָרָ֑יו הִ֝שְׂמַ֗חְתָּ כָּל־אוֹיְבָֽיו׃

89:44You have also turned the edge of his sword, and have not made him to stand in the battle.

מדאַף־תָּ֭שִׁיב צ֣וּר חַרְבּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א הֲ֝קֵימֹת֗וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

89:45You have made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.

מההִשְׁבַּ֥תָּ מִטְּהָר֑וֹ וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ לָאָ֥רֶץ מִגַּֽרְתָּה׃

89:46The days of his youth have You shortened: You have covered him with shame. Selah.

מוהִ֭קְצַרְתָּ יְמֵ֣י עֲלוּמָ֑יו הֶֽעֱטִ֨יתָ עָלָ֖יו בּוּשָׁ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃

89:47How long, Hashem? will You hide Yourself for ever? shall Your wrath burn like fire?

מזעַד־מָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תִּסָּתֵ֣ר לָנֶ֑צַח תִּבְעַ֖ר כְּמוֹ־אֵ֣שׁ חֲמָתֶֽךָ׃

89:48Remember how short my time is: why have You made all men in vain?

מחזְכָר־אֲנִ֥י מֶה־חָ֑לֶד עַל־מַה־שָּׁ֝֗וְא בָּרָ֥אתָ כָל־בְּנֵי־אָדָֽם׃

89:49What man is he that lives, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

מטמִ֤י גֶ֣בֶר יִֽ֭חְיֶה וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֶה־מָּ֑וֶת יְמַלֵּ֨ט נַפְשׁ֖וֹ מִיַּד־שְׁא֣וֹל סֶֽלָה׃

89:50Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses, which You swore unto David in Your truth?

נאַיֵּ֤ה ׀ חֲסָדֶ֖יךָ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֥ים ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ לְ֝דָוִ֗ד בֶּאֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃

89:51Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;

נאזְכֹ֣ר אֲ֭דֹנָי חֶרְפַּ֣ת עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ שְׂאֵתִ֥י בְ֝חֵיקִ֗י כָּל־רַבִּ֥ים עַמִּֽים׃

89:52Wherewith Your enemies have reproached, O Hashem; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed.

נבאֲשֶׁ֤ר חֵרְפ֖וּ אוֹיְבֶ֥יךָ ׀ יְהוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר חֵ֝רְפ֗וּ עִקְּב֥וֹת מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃

89:53Blessed be Hashem for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

נגבָּר֖וּךְ יְהוָ֥ה לְ֝עוֹלָ֗ם אָ֘מֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃

Quiz time · 6 questions

How well do you know Psalm 89?

Read the psalm, then pick the best answer for each question. You will see right away if you got it right. When you have answered every question, you will see your score. To try again, press Start over.

1In verse 4, Hashem says He has sworn unto whom?

2In verse 10, what does Hashem rule?

3Which two mountains shall rejoice in Hashem’s name (verse 13)?

4In verse 21, what did Hashem anoint David with?

5In verse 38, David’s throne shall be established for ever as what?

6What words end verse 53, the last verse?

Your answers and score are saved on this device only, so they will be here when you come back. Press Start over to clear them.

Sources & method

Hebrew text
The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain) as published by the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0). Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type. The Divine Name is printed as it appears in the codex.
English translation
The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the familiar English name in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Tziyon (Zion)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem,” the short form יָהּ is “Yah,” and הַלְלוּ־יָהּ is “Hallelujah”; “God” (Elohim) and “Lord” (Adonai) are unchanged, and “law” is “Torah” where the Hebrew is תּוֹרָה.
Verse numbers
Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible. In the Hebrew a psalm’s heading (“A Psalm of David…”) is part of the text and is counted as verse 1, or verses 1–2, so in psalms with a heading the verse numbers are often one or two higher than in English Bibles. Where that happens, a note under the summary says so.
Quiz
Written by Benei Avraham for young readers (about 11 and up). Every answer is in the psalm on this page. Answers and scores are kept only in this browser (local storage) and can be cleared with Start over.
Hebrew font
SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.