Psalm 89
Words: Isaac Watts
PART 1. 
The covenant made with Christ; or, The true David.
1 For ever shall my song record
The truth and mercy of the Lord;
Mercy and truth for ever stand,
Like heav'n, established by his hand.
2 Thus to his Son he sware, and said,
"With thee my cov'nant first is made;
In thee shall dying sinners live,
Glory and grace are thine to give.
3 "Be thou my Prophet, thou my, Priest;
Thy children shall be ever blessed;
Thou art my chosen King: thy throne
Shall stand eternal like my own.
4 "There's none of all my sons above
So much my image or my love;
Celestial powers thy subjects are:
Then what can earth to thee compare ?
5 "David, my servant, whom I chose
To guard my flock, to crush my foes,
And raised him to the Jewish throne,
Was but a shadow of my Son."
6 Now let the church rejoice and sing
Jesus, her Savior and her King;
Angels his heav'nly wonders show,
And saints declare his works below.
PART 1. 
The faithfulness of God.
1 My never-ceasing songs shall show
The mercies of the Lord;
And make succeeding ages know
How faithful is his word.
2 The sacred truths his lips pronounce
Shall firm as heav'n endure;
And if he speak a promise once,
Th' eternal grace is sure.
3 How long the race of David held
The promised Jewish throne!
But there's a nobler cov'nant sealed
To David's greater Son.
4 His seed for ever shall possess
A throne above the skies;
The meanest subject of his grace
Shall to that glory rise.
5 Lord God of hosts, thy wondrous ways
Are sung by saints above;
And saints on earth their honors raise
To thy unchanging love.
1 With rev'rence let the saints appear,
And bow before the Lord;
His high commands with rev'rence hear,
And tremble at his word.
2 How terrible thy glories be!
How bright thine armies shine!
Where is the power that vies with thee,
Or truth compared to thine?
3 The northern pole and southern rest
On thy supporting hand;
Darkness and day, from east to west,
Move round at thy command.
4 Thy words the raging winds control,
And rule the boist'rous deep;
Thou mak'st the sleeping billows roll,
The rolling billows sleep.
5 Heav'n, earth, and air, and sea, are thine,
And the dark world of hell;
How did thine arm in vengeance shine
When Egypt durst rebel!
6 Justice and judgment are thy throne,
Yet wondrous is thy grace;
While truth and mercy, joined in one,
Invite ns near thy face.
1 Blessed are the souls that hear and know
The gospel's joyful sound;
Peace shall attend the path they go,
And light their steps surround.
2 Their joy shall bear their spirits up
Through their Redeemer's name;
His righteousness exalts their hope,
Nor Satan dares condemn.
3 The Lord, our glory and defense,
Strength and salvation gives;
Isr'el, thy King for ever reigns,
Thy God for ever lives.
l Hear what the Lord in vision said,
And made his mercy known:
"Sinners, behold your help is laid
On my Almighty Son.
2 "Behold the Man my wisdom chose
Among your mortal race:
His head my holy oil o'erflows,
The Spirit of my grace.
3 "High shall he reign on David's throne,
My people's better King;
My arm shall beat his rivals down,
And still new subjects bring.
4 "My truth shall guard him in his way,
with mercy by his side,
While in my name through earth and sea
He shall in triumph ride.
5 "Me for his Father and his God
He shall for ever own,
Call me his rock, his high abode,
And I '11 support my Son.
6 "My first-born Son arrayed in grace
At my right hand shall sit;
Beneath him angels know their place,
And monarchs at his feet.
7 "My cov'nant stands for ever fast,
My promises are strong;
Firm as the heav'ns his throne shall last,
His seed endure as long."
1 "Yet," saith the Lord, "if David's race,
The children of my Son,
Should break my laws, abuse my grace,
And tempt mine anger down;
2 "Their sins I'll visit with the rod
and make their folly smart;
But I'll not cease to be their God,
Nor from my truth depart.
3 "My cov'nant I will ne'er revoke,
But keep my grace in mind;
And what eternal love hath spoke
Eternal truth shall bind.
4 "Once have I sworn (I need no more)
And pledged my holiness,
To seal the sacred promise sure
To David and his race.
5 "The sun shall see his offspring rise
And spread from sea to sea,
Long as he travels round the skies
To give the nations day.
6 "Sure as the moon that rules the night
His kingdom shall endure,
Till the fixed laws of shade and light
Shall be observed no more."
1 Remember, Lord, our mortal state,
How frail our life! how short the date!
Where is the man that draws his breath
Safe from disease, secure from death?
2 Lord, while we see whole nations die,
Our flesh and sense repine and cry,
"Must death for ever rage and reign?
Or hast thou made mankind in vain?
3 "Where is thy promise to the just?
Are not thy servants turned to dust?"
But faith forbids these mournful sighs,
And sees the sleeping dust arise.
4 That glorious hour, that dreadful day,
Wipes the reproach of saints away,
And clears the honor of thy word:
Awake, our souls, and bless the Lord.
1 Think, mighty God, on feeble man;
how few his hours! how short his span !
Short from the cradle to the grave:
Who can secure his vital breath
Against the bold demands of death,
With skill to fly, or power to save?
2 Lord, shall it be for ever said,
"The race of man was only made
For sickness, sorrow, and the dust?"
Are not thy servants day by day
Sent to their graves, and turned to clay?
Lord, where's thy kindness to the just?
3 Hast thou not promised to thy Son
And all his seed a heav'nly crown?
But flesh and sense indulge despair:
For ever blessed be the Lord,
That faith can read his holy word,
And find a resurrection there.
4 For ever blessed be the Lord,
Who gives his saints a long reward
For all their toil, reproach, and pain:
Let all below and all above
Join to proclaim thy wondrous love,
And each repeat their loud Amen.
