Psalm 89

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.

Analysis

The superscription of the psalm states that it was written by Ethan the Ezrahite, who, along with Heman the Ezrahite, 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".
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 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.

Uses

New Testament

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

Judaism

This psalm is recited during Selichot in some traditions.
Verse 53 is the first verse of Baruch Hashem L'Olam in Pesukei Dezimra and Baruch Hashem L'Olam after the Shema in weekday Maariv.
Verses 16–18 are recited following the Shofar blowing on Rosh Hashanah.
Eastern Orthodox Church

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Psalm 88 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

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.
Menachem Creditor composed Olam Chesed Yibaneh/A World of Love, with three words from Psalm 89:3. Haaretz called it the anthem of Jewish resistance to the Unite the Right rally.

Text

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 88.

Verse 52

This closing verse is the benediction or doxology by which the third book of the psalter is brought to a close, " part of the original psalm, entirely in harmony with the spirit of it".