Psalm 89/Story Behind/Assumptions

V.	Text (Hebrew)	Text (CBC)	Proposition (Story Behind)	common ground	local ground	playground
1	מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְאֵיתָ֥ן הָֽאֶזְרָחִֽי׃	A maskil. By Ethan the Ezrahite.		• On Ethan the Ezrahite, see https://psalms.scriptura.org/w/The_Identity_of_Ethan_the_Ezrahite_in_Ps_89:1.
2	חַֽסְדֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה עוֹלָ֣ם אָשִׁ֑ירָה	I will sing forever about YHWH's acts of loyalty.
	לְדֹ֥ר וָדֹ֓ר ׀ אוֹדִ֖יעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בְּפִֽי׃	I will make your reliability known with my mouth for generations to come.
3	כִּֽי־אָמַ֗רְתִּי	For I said,
	ע֭וֹלָם חֶ֣סֶד יִבָּנֶ֑ה	"Loyalty will be built up forever.
	שָׁמַ֓יִם ׀ *תִּכֹּן* אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בָהֶֽם׃	The sky—your reliability will be established in it."		• The sky is God's abode (cf. Pss 2:4; 11:4). • The sky is associated with permanence (cf. v. 30b; Deut 11:21; Job 14:12). • The sky is "high and remote" (SDBH), and so what is in the sky is untouchable by humans and unaffected by earthly affairs (cf. Gen 11:1-9).		• YHWH's reliability will endure as long as the skies endure. • YHWH's reliability is not affected by earthly affairs and cannot be thwarted by humans.
4	כָּרַ֣תִּֽי בְ֭רִית לִבְחִירִ֑י	"I have made a covenant with my chosen one.		• YHWH made a covenant with David and with his descendants (see 2 Sam 7). • A "covenant" (בְּרִית) is "an enduring agreement which defines a relationship between two parties involving a solemn, binding obligation(s) specified on the part of at least one of the parties toward the other, made by oath under threat of divine curse, and ratified by a visual ritual" (Gentry and Wellum 2012, 132, adapted from Lane 2000, 314).
	נִ֝שְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי לְדָוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃	I have sworn an oath to David, my servant:		• Making a covenant involved swearing an oath (see note above). • David is YHWH's "servant" (2 Sam 7:5, 8; Ps 18:1).
5	עַד־ע֭וֹלָם אָכִ֣ין זַרְעֶ֑ךָ	I will establish your descendants forever,
	וּבָנִ֨יתִי לְדֹר־וָד֖וֹר כִּסְאֲךָ֣ סֶֽלָה׃	and I will build your throne for generations to come.'" Selah.
6	וְי֘וֹד֤וּ שָׁמַ֣יִם פִּלְאֲךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה	So let the sky praise your wonders, YHWH!
	אַף־אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בִּקְהַ֥ל קְדֹשִֽׁים׃	[Let them praise] your reliability, too, in the assembly of holy ones!		• "Common to the mythopoeic world of the ANE was the idea of a council or assembly of the gods that met to determine the fates of the cosmos...Within the biblical materials, the concept of an assembly of divine beings is found throughout the OT as an expression of Yahweh's power and authority... In addition to the function of serving as part of the divine retinue, the beings served to praise and adore Yahweh in his court" (Mullen 1992, ABD vol. 2, pp. 215-216; cf. 1 Kgs 22:19; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; Ps 82; cf. the phrase "the assembly of the sons of the gods [bn . ilm .]" in the Ugaritic Baal Myth [COS I, 258; KTU 1.4, III:14]).
7	כִּ֤י מִ֣י בַ֭שַּׁחַק יַעֲרֹ֣ךְ לַיהוָ֑ה	For who in heaven can compare to YHWH?
	יִדְמֶ֥ה לַ֝יהוָ֗ה בִּבְנֵ֥י אֵלִים׃	[Who] among the divine beings is like YHWH?
8	אֵ֣ל נַ֭עֲרָץ בְּסוֹד־קְדֹשִׁ֣ים	[He is] a god who is terrifying in the council of holy ones,
	רַבָּ֑ה וְ֝נוֹרָ֗א עַל־כָּל־סְבִיבָֽיו׃	great and fearful above everyone around him.
9	יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י צְבָא֗וֹת מִֽי־כָֽמ֖וֹךָ	YHWH, God of armies, who is like you?
	חֲסִ֥ין ׀ יָ֑הּ	Mighty Yah, [who is like you]
	וֶ֝אֱמֽוּנָתְךָ֗ סְבִיבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃	with your reliability around you?
10	אַתָּ֣ה מ֭וֹשֵׁל בְּגֵא֣וּת הַיָּ֑ם	You rule over the swelling of the sea.		• "The cosmic sea... symbolizes the continued threat the forces of chaos pose against God and creation" (Ryken et al. 1998, 765; cf. Ps 74:12-17).		• "This incomparability is then justified and displayed through references to Yahweh’s victories and acts of creation... Yahweh’s royal dominion and incomparability follow from his victories" (Ballentine 2012, 116, 119).
	בְּשׂ֥וֹא גַ֝לָּ֗יו אַתָּ֥ה תְשַׁבְּחֵֽם׃	When its waves rise up, you control them.		• "As Creator, God controls the sea, both producing and calming its waves (Isa 51:15; Jer 31:35)" (Ryken et al. 1998, 765).
11	אַתָּ֤ה דִכִּ֣אתָ כֶחָלָ֣ל רָ֑הַב	You crushed Rahab like those who are slain.		• "Rahab is one of the names in the OT of the chaos [sea] monster(s) (cf. also Leviathan, Tannin, Tehom, and Yam" (Spronk 1999, 684; cf. Isa 51:9-10; Job 26:12). • YHWH defeated Rahab, the chaos sea monster, at the time of creation (see Day 2020; cf. Pss 65:7-8; 74:12-17; 93:1-4; 104:1-9; Job 9:5-14, 26:5-14; 38:8-11 [cited by Day]; though some scholars, e.g., Tsumura 2020, reject any connection between the conflict motif and creation). • YHWH's victory over Rahab demonstrates his power and legitimates his rule over creation. Cf. Ballentine (2012, 280): "The victory of the divine warrior is used to justify his dominion, that is, the divine warrior attains power that is 'proven' to be legitimate through his success in combat... Authors claim that these deities have legitimate divine authority by referencing or elaborating their victory over foes, prowess in battle, and/or superiority over the sea or sea-based figures" • For Ugaritic parallels, see the Baal myth (COS 1.86), specifically the second tablet (CTA 2; KTU 1.2). E.g., "As for your enemy, O Ba'lu, as for your enemy, you'll smite (him), you'll destroy your adversary. You'll take your eternal kingship, your sovereignty (that endures) from generation to generation... So the mace whirls in Ba'lu's hand... Strikes Prince [Yammu] on the head, Ruler Naharu on the forehead... 'Scatter (him) O Mighty [Ba'lu]'... Mighty Ba'lu disperses him... Yammu is certainly dead..."		• "As a whole, Psalm 89 employs the conflict motif for three purposes: (1) to exhibit the dominion of Yahweh, (2) to promote the legitimacy of David, and (3) to summon Yahweh to act on behalf of his anointed in a later historical context" (Ballentine 2015, 168).
	בִּזְר֥וֹעַ עֻ֝זְּךָ֗ פִּזַּ֥רְתָּ אוֹיְבֶֽיךָ׃	With your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
12	לְךָ֣ שָׁ֭מַיִם	The sky is yours;
	אַף־לְךָ֥ אָ֑רֶץ	the earth also is yours.
	תֵּבֵ֥ל וּ֝מְלֹאָ֗הּ אַתָּ֥ה יְסַדְתָּֽם׃	The world and all that is in it—you founded them.
13	צָפ֣וֹן וְ֭יָמִין אַתָּ֣ה בְרָאתָ֑ם	North and south—you created them.		• On the mountains mentioned here, see lexical notes.
	תָּב֥וֹר וְ֝חֶרְמ֗וֹן בְּשִׁמְךָ֥ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃	Tabor and Hermon rejoice at your name.
14	לְךָ֣ זְ֭רוֹעַ עִם־גְּבוּרָ֑ה	You have a strong arm, together with might.
	תָּעֹ֥ז יָ֝דְךָ֗	Your hand is powerful,
	תָּר֥וּם יְמִינֶֽךָ׃	your right hand exalted.
15	צֶ֣דֶק וּ֭מִשְׁפָּט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֶ֑ךָ	The base of your throne is righteousness and justice.
	חֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת יְֽקַדְּמ֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃	Loyalty and faithfulness stand in front of your presence.
16	אַשְׁרֵ֣י הָ֭עָם יוֹדְעֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה	Happy are the people, those who know the signal,		• David further responded to YHWH's covenant promises by celebrating how special YHWH's people are. See 2 Sam 7:23-24—And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God" (NIV). • For the אשרי declaration, see the notes on Ps 1:1. • On the word "signal," see Lexical notes.
	יְ֝הוָ֗ה בְּֽאוֹר־פָּנֶ֥יךָ יְהַלֵּכֽוּן׃	YHWH, who go about in the light of your presence!
17	בְּ֭שִׁמְךָ יְגִיל֣וּן כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם	They are always glad because of your name,
	וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ יָרֽוּמוּ׃	and exalted because of your righteousness.
18	כִּֽי־תִפְאֶ֣רֶת עֻזָּ֣מוֹ אָ֑תָּה	For you are the strength in which they glory,
	וּ֝בִרְצֹנְךָ֗ תָּר֥וּם קַרְנֵֽנוּ׃	and our horn will be exalted because of your favor.
19	כִּ֣י לַֽ֭יהוָה מָֽגִנֵּ֑נוּ	For our shield belongs to YHWH,
	וְלִקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מַלְכֵּֽנוּ׃	and our king belongs to the holy one of Israel.
20	אָ֤ז דִּבַּ֥רְתָּֽ־בְחָ֡זוֹן לַֽחֲסִידֶ֗יךָ	Long ago, you spoke in a vision to your loyal ones		• YHWH communicated his promises to David through Nathan the prophet. See 2 Sam 7:4, 17—"But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan...Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation (הַחִזָּיוֹן)" (NIV). Before that, he also spoke through Samuel the prophet.
	וַתֹּ֗אמֶר	and said,
	שִׁוִּ֣יתִי עֵ֭זֶר עַל־גִּבּ֑וֹר	"I have granted help to a warrior		• cf. 2 Sam 7:8 • YHWH helped David slay Goliath, and he gave him success as the leader of Israel's armies (cf. 1 Sam 17ff)
	הֲרִימ֖וֹתִי בָח֣וּר מֵעָֽם׃	I have exalted someone chosen from the people.
21	מָ֭צָאתִי דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֑י	I have found David, my servant;		• The prophet Samuel found David in Bethlehem and anointed him as king over YHWH's people (cf. 1 Sam 16)
	בְּשֶׁ֖מֶן קָדְשִׁ֣י מְשַׁחְתִּֽיו׃	I have anointed him with my holy oil;
22	אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָ֭דִי תִּכּ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ	My hand will always be with him;		• cf. 2 Sam 7:9
	אַף־זְרוֹעִ֥י תְאַמְּצֶֽנּוּ׃	my arm will also strengthen him.
23	לֹֽא־יַשִּׁ֣א אוֹיֵ֣ב בּ֑וֹ	No enemy will exact tribute from him,
	וּבֶן־עַ֝וְלָ֗ה לֹ֣א יְעַנֶּֽנּוּ׃	and no unjust person will afflict him.		• cf. 2 Sam 7:10
24	וְכַתּוֹתִ֣י מִפָּנָ֣יו צָרָ֑יו	But I will crush his adversaries from before him,
	וּמְשַׂנְאָ֥יו אֶגּֽוֹף׃	and strike down those who are hostile to him.
25	וֶֽאֶֽמוּנָתִ֣י וְחַסְדִּ֣י עִמּ֑וֹ	And my reliability and my loyalty will be with him,
	וּ֝בִשְׁמִ֗י תָּר֥וּם קַרְנֽוֹ׃	and his horn will be exalted because of my name.
26	וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י בַיָּ֣ם יָד֑וֹ	And I will put his hand on the sea		• On the imagery here, see Ballentine 2012, 156, 260; cf. Mari Letter A.1968 (18th century BC)—"Those weapon[s] with which I crushed Sea, I gave you" cited in Ballentine 2012, 157)		• "The establishment of David’s royal authority is linked to the mythic past by being associated with Yahweh’s foundational acts and divine combat. Likewise, David is portrayed as participating in the continued subjugation of the sea/rivers, thus sharing in Yahweh’s authority won through past divine combat" (Ballentine 2012, 163).
	וּֽבַנְּהָר֥וֹת יְמִינֽוֹ׃	and his right hand on the currents.
27	ה֣וּא יִ֭קְרָאֵנִי	He will call out to me,		• YHWH promised to become the father of David and his descendants. See 2 Sam 7:14—"I will be his father, and he will be my son" (NIV, cf. Ps. 2). • The description of the king as God’s son is an idea attested throughout the Ancient Near Eastern world. See the sampling of primary source material in Walton 2018, 260, 262-5. The Old Testament, for example, mentions “Ben-hadad (בֶּן־הֲדַד, “son of [the deity] Hadad”)… king of Syria, who lived in Damascus” (1 Kgs 15:18, ESV; cf. 2 Chron 16:2, 4). An Ugaritic text refers to King Kirta as “the son of Illu, the offspring of the Gracious and Holy One” (COS 1.101; cf. KTU 1.16, 10-11). On Egyptian evidence, see Hoffmeier 1994. Note especially: “[Then said Amun-Re, King of the Gods]: You are my son, my heir, who issued from my body...” (Murnane and Meltzer 1995, 233 no. 107-A). “The meaning may have differed in Egypt, Canaan, and Mesopotamia, but the common denominator is the idea that the king represents the character of the god in some way to the people" (Gentry 2012, 397). • See the sonship imagery chart for more information.
	אָ֣בִי אָ֑תָּה אֵ֝לִ֗י וְצ֣וּר יְשׁוּעָתִֽי׃	"You are my father, my god and the rock who saves me."		• See the rock imagery chart for more information.
28	אַף־אָ֭נִי בְּכ֣וֹר אֶתְּנֵ֑הוּ עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן לְמַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃	What's more, I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.		• YHWH promised to make David great among the kings of the earth. See 2 Sam 7:9—"Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth" (NIV; cf. Ps 2).
29	לְ֭עוֹלָ֗ם אֶשְׁמָור־ל֣וֹ חַסְדִּ֑י	I will keep my loyalty for him forever,
	וּ֝בְרִיתִ֗י נֶאֱמֶ֥נֶת לֽוֹ׃	and my covenant will be enduring for him.
30	וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י לָעַ֣ד זַרְע֑וֹ	I will establish his descendants forever		• YHWH also made an eternal, unconditional covenant with creation, promising that day and night (and, therefore, sun and moon) would never cease (see Gen 8:21–22). The same loyalty and reliability that uphold YHWH's covenant with creation also uphold YHWH's covenant with David. Therefore, "If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their appointed time, then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne" (Jer 33:20–21, ESV).
	וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ כִּימֵ֥י שָׁמָֽיִם׃	and his throne as long as the sky endures.
31	אִם־יַֽעַזְב֣וּ בָ֭נָיו תּוֹרָתִ֑י	If his descendants reject my instruction		• As the father of David and his descendants, YHWH promised to discipline them when they sinned. See 2 Sam 7:14b—"When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod (בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט) wielded by men, with floggings (וּבְנִגְעֵ֖י) inflicted by human hands" (NIV).
	וּ֝בְמִשְׁפָּטַ֗י לֹ֣א יֵלֵכֽוּן׃	and do not walk according to my rules;
32	אִם־חֻקֹּתַ֥י יְחַלֵּ֑לוּ	if they dishonor my decrees
	וּ֝מִצְוֺתַ֗י לֹ֣א יִשְׁמֹֽרוּ׃	and do not keep my commands,
33	וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י בְשֵׁ֣בֶט פִּשְׁעָ֑ם	then I will punish their rebellion with a rod
	וּבִנְגָעִ֥ים עֲוֺנָֽם׃	and their iniquity with wounds.
34	וְ֭חַסְדִּי לֹֽא־אָפִ֣יר מֵֽעִמּ֑וֹ	But I will not annul my loyalty from being with him,		• YHWH promises to remain faithful to his covenant with David and his descendants, even when they sinned. See 2 Sam 7:15—"But my love (וְחַסְדִּ֖י) will never be taken away from him" (NIV).
	וְלֹֽא־אֲ֝שַׁקֵּ֗ר בֶּאֱמוּנָתִֽי׃	and I will not deal falsely with my reliability.
35	לֹא־אֲחַלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתִ֑י	I will not dishonor my covenant
	וּמוֹצָ֥א שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י לֹ֣א אֲשַׁנֶּֽה׃	or change what has come from my lips.
36	אַ֭חַת נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי בְקָדְשִׁ֑י	Once and for all I swear an oath by my holiness:
	אִֽם־לְדָוִ֥ד אֲכַזֵּֽב׃	I will not lie to David.
37	זַ֭רְעוֹ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִהְיֶ֑ה	His descendants will be forever,
	וְכִסְא֖וֹ כַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ נֶגְדִּֽי׃	and his throne [will be] like the sun before me.
38	כְּ֭יָרֵחַ יִכּ֣וֹן עוֹלָ֑ם	Like the moon it will be established forever,
	וְעֵ֥ד בַּ֝שַּׁ֗חַק נֶאֱמָ֥ן סֶֽלָה׃	and [like] the witness in heaven [it will be] enduring.'" Selah.
39	וְאַתָּ֣ה זָ֭נַחְתָּ	But you have rejected
	וַתִּמְאָ֑ס	and refused!
	הִ֝תְעַבַּ֗רְתָּ עִם־מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃	You have become furious with your anointed one.
40	נֵ֭אַרְתָּה בְּרִ֣ית עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ	You have renounced the covenant with your servant.
	חִלַּ֖לְתָּ לָאָ֣רֶץ נִזְרֽוֹ׃	You have thrown his crown down to the ground as something profane.
41	פָּרַ֥צְתָּ כָל־גְּדֵרֹתָ֑יו	You have breached all of his walls.
	שַׂ֖מְתָּ מִבְצָרָ֣יו מְחִתָּה׃	You have made his strongholds a ruin.
42	שַׁ֭סֻּהוּ כָּל־עֹ֣בְרֵי דָ֑רֶךְ	All who pass by have plundered him.
	הָיָ֥ה חֶ֝רְפָּ֗ה לִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃	He has become an object of scorn to his neighbors.
43	הֲ֭רִימוֹתָ יְמִ֣ין צָרָ֑יו	You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries.
	הִ֝שְׂמַ֗חְתָּ כָּל־אוֹיְבָֽיו׃	You have caused all of his enemies to rejoice.
44	אַף־תָּ֭שִׁיב צ֣וּר חַרְבּ֑וֹ	What's worse, you turn back his sharp sword,
	וְלֹ֥א הֲ֝קֵימֹת֗וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃	and you did not help him up in the battle.
45	הִשְׁבַּ֥תָּ מִטְּהָר֑וֹ	You have put an end to his splendor
	וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ לָאָ֥רֶץ מִגַּֽרְתָּה׃	and hurled his throne down to the ground.
46	הִ֭קְצַרְתָּ יְמֵ֣י עֲלוּמָ֑יו	You have cut short the days of his youth.
	הֶֽעֱטִ֨יתָ עָלָ֖יו בּוּשָׁ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃	You have covered him with shame. Selah.
47	עַד־מָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה	How long, YHWH?
	תִּסָּתֵ֣ר לָנֶ֑צַח	Will you hide yourself forever?
	תִּבְעַ֖ר כְּמוֹ־אֵ֣שׁ חֲמָתֶֽךָ׃	Will your wrath rage like a fire [forever]?
48	זְכָר־*אֲדֹנָי* מֶה־חָ֑לֶד	Remember, Lord, what a lifespan is,
	עַל־מַה־שָּׁ֝֗וְא בָּרָ֥אתָ כָל־בְּנֵי־אָדָֽם׃	for what futility you created all people!			YHWH creates all people for futility
49	מִ֤י גֶ֣בֶר יִֽ֭חְיֶה	What person can live
	וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֶה־מָּ֑וֶת	and not see death,
	יְמַלֵּ֨ט נַפְשׁ֖וֹ מִיַּד־שְׁא֣וֹל סֶֽלָה׃	can rescue his life from the power of Sheol? Selah.
50	אַיֵּ֤ה ׀ חֲסָדֶ֖יךָ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֥ים ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י	Where are your former acts of loyalty, Lord,
	נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ לְ֝דָוִ֗ד בֶּאֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃	which you swore to David in your reliability?
51	זְכֹ֣ר אֲ֭דֹנָי חֶרְפַּ֣ת עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ	Remember, Lord, how your servants are scorned,
	שְׂאֵתִ֥י בְ֝חֵיקִ֗י כָּל־*רִבֵי מֵעַמִּֽים*׃	how I carry in my bosom all the insults of the peoples!		• See imagery chart for "bosom"
52	אֲשֶׁ֤ר חֵרְפ֖וּ אוֹיְבֶ֥יךָ ׀ יְהוָ֑ה	[Remember] that your enemies have scorned, YHWH,
	אֲשֶׁ֥ר חֵ֝רְפ֗וּ עִקְּב֥וֹת מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃	that they have scorned the footsteps of your anointed one!
53	בָּר֖וּךְ יְהוָ֥ה לְ֝עוֹלָ֗ם אָ֘מֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃	Blessed be YHWH forever! Amen and Amen.