Psalms of Solomon

Psalm XVII

PSALM XVII. A Psalm of Solomon: with a Song unto the King. 1 O LORD, thou art our King henceforth and even for ever- more, for in thee, O God, our soul exulteth. 2 And what is the time of man’s life upon the earth? Even according to the measure of his time, so is his hope in him. 3 But as for us, we will hope in God, our saviour, for the might of our God endureth unto everlasting with mercy. 4 And the kingdom of our God is unto everlasting over the heathen in judgement. 5 Thou, O LORD, didst choose David to be king over Israel, and didst swear unto him touching his seed for ever, that his kingdom should not fail before thee. 6 But when we sinned, sinners rose up against us; they fell upon us and thrust us out: even they, to whom thou madest no promise, took away our place with violence. 7 And they esteemed not thy glorious name in any honour ; they preferred a kingdom to that which was their excellency. 8 They laid waste the throne of David with a tumultuous shout of triumph. But thou, O God, didst cast them down, and remove their seed from off the earth, 9 When there arose against them a man that was a stranger to our race. 10 According to their sins didst thou recompense them, O God ! yea, it befell them according to their works. 11 According to their works God had compassion upon them; he sought out their seed diligently and forsook them not. 12 Faithful is the LORD in all his judgements, which he doeth upon the earth. 13 The tempest hath laid waste our land that none should inhabit it; they destroyed both young and old and their little ones together. 14 In the fury of his wrath he sent them away even unto the west. And the princes of the land he turned into derision, and spared them not. 15 In that he was an alien, the adversary wrought insolence, and his heart was alien from our God. 16 And all things whatsoever he did in Jerusalem, he did even as do the Gentiles in their cities unto their gods. 17 And the children of the covenant that dwelt in the midst of the mingled people surpassed them, there was none among them in the midst of Jerusalem that did mercy and truth. 18 They that loved the assemblies of the saints fled from them: they were scattered as sparrows from their nest. 19 They were wandering in desert places, that their lives might be preserved from harm; and precious in the sight of them that were sojourners was one life saved from among them. 20 Over all the earth were they scattered and driven by lawless men. For the heaven ceased to drop rain upon the earth, 21 The fountains were stayed, the everlasting fountains that spring out of the great depths and from the high mountains: because there was none among them that did righteousness and judgement. From their ruler to the vilest of the people, they were altogether sinful. 22 The king was a transgressor, and the judge was dis- obedient, and the people sinful. 23 Behold, O LORD, and raise up unto them their king, the son of David, in the time which thou, O God, knowest, that he may reign over Israel thy servant; 24 And gird him with strength that he may break in pieces them that rule unjustly. 25 Purge Jerusalem from the heathen that trample her down to destroy her, with wisdom and with righteousness. 26 He shall thrust out the sinners from the inheritance, utterly destroy the proud spirit of the sinners, and as potter’s vessels with a rod of iron shall he break in pieces all their substance. 27 He shall destroy the ungodly nations with the word of his mouth, so that at his rebuke the nations may flee before him, and he shall convict the sinners in the thoughts of their hearts. 28 And he shall gather together a holy people, whom he shall lead in righteousness; and shall judge the tribes of the people that hath been sanctified by the LORD his God. 29 And he shall not suffer iniquity to lodge in their midst ; and none that knoweth wickedness shall dwell with them. 30 For he shall take knowledge of them, that they be all the sons of their God, and shall divide them upon the earth according to their tribes. 31 And the sojourner and the stranger shall dwell with them no more. He shall judge the nations and the peoples with the wisdom of his righteousness. Selah. 32 And he shall possess the nations of the heathen to serve him beneath his yoke; and he shall glorify the LORD in a place to be seen of the whole earth; 33 And he shall purge Jerusalem and make it holy, even as it was in the days of old. 34 So that the nations may come from the ends of the earth to see his glory, bringing as gifts her sons that had fainted, 35 And may see the glory of the LORD, wherewith God hath glorified her. And a righteous king and taught of God is he that reigneth over them; 36 And there shall be no iniquity in his days in their midst, for all shall be holy and their king is the Lord Messiah. 37 For he shall not put his trust in horse and rider and bow, nor shall he multiply unto himself gold and silver for war, nor by ships shall he gather confidence for the day of battle. 38 The LORD himself is his King, and the hope of him that is strong in the hope of God. And he shall have mercy upon all the nations that come before him in fear. 39 For he shall smite the earth with the word of his mouth even for evermore. 40 He shall bless the people of the LORD with wisdom and gladness. 41 He himself also is pure from sin, so that he may rule a mighty people, and rebuke princes and overthrow sinners by the might of his word. 42 And he shall not faint all his days, because he leaneth upon his God; for God shall cause him to be mighty through the spirit of holiness, and wise through the counsel of understanding, with might and righteousness. 43 And the blessing of the LORD is with him in might, and his hope in the LORD shall not faint. 44 And who can stand up against him? he is mighty in his works and strong in the fear of God, 45 Tending the flock of the LORD with faith and righteous- ness; and he shall suffer none among them to faint in their pasture. 46 In holiness shall he lead them all, and there shall no pride be among them that any should be oppressed. 47 This is the majesty of the king of Israel, which God hath appointed to raise him up over the house of Israel, to instruct him. 48 His words shall be purified above fine gold, yea, above the choicest gold. In the congregations will he judge among the peoples, the tribes of them that have been sanctified. 49 His words shall be as the words of the holy ones in the midst of the peoples that have been sanctified. 50 Blessed are they that shall be born in those days, to behold the blessing of Israel which God shall bring to pass in the gathering together of the tribes. 51 May God hasten his mercy toward Israel! may he deliver us from the abomination of unhallowed adversaries ! The LORD, he is our king from henceforth and even for evermore.