Psalm 89 Story Behind

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Psalm 89

Please note: Resources for Psalm 89 are in the process of being reformatted for visual consistency and improved functionality.

About the Story Behind Layer

The Story Behind the Psalm shows how each part of the psalm fits together into a single coherent whole. Whereas most semantic analysis focuses on discrete parts of a text such as the meaning of a word or phrase, Story Behind the Psalm considers the meaning of larger units of discourse, including the entire psalm.

The goal of this layer is to reconstruct and visualize a mental representation of the text as the earliest hearers/readers might have conceptualized it. We start by identifying the propositional content of each clause in the psalm, and then we identify relevant assumptions implied by each of the propositions. During this process, we also identify and analyze metaphorical language (“imagery”). Finally, we try to see how all of the propositions and assumptions fit together to form a coherent mental representation. The main tool we use for structuring the propositions and assumptions is a story triangle, which visualizes the rise and fall of tension within a semantic unit. Although story triangles are traditionally used to analyze stories in the literary sense of the word, we use them at this layer to analyze “stories” in the cognitive sense of the word—i.e., a story as a sequence of propositions and assumptions that has tension.

  Story Behind Explainer

Summary Triangle

The story triangle below summarises the story of the whole psalm. We use the same colour scheme as in Participant Analysis. The star icon along the edge of the story-triangle indicates the point of the story in which the psalm itself (as a speech event) takes place. We also include a theme at the bottom of the story. The theme is the main message conveyed by the story-behind.

  Legend

Story Triangles legend
Propositional content (verse number)	Propositional content, the base meaning of the clause, is indicated by bold black text. The verse number immediately follows the correlating proposition in black text inside parentheses.
Common-ground assumption	Common-ground assumptions are indicated by gray text.
Local-ground assumption	Local-ground assumptions are indicated by dark blue text.
Playground assumption	Playground assumptions are indicated by light blue text.
	The point of the story at which the psalm takes place (as a speech event) is indicated by a gray star.
	If applicable, the point of the story at which the psalm BEGINS to take place (as a speech event) is indicated with a light gray star. A gray arrow will travel from this star to the point at which the psalm ends, indicated by the darker gray star.
	A story that repeats is indicated by a circular arrow. This indicates a sequence of either habitual or iterative events.
	A story or event that does not happen or the psalmist does not wish to happen is indicated with a red X over the story triangle.
	Connections between propositions and/or assumptions are indicated by black arrows with small text indicating how the ideas are connected.
Note: In the Summary triangle, highlight color scheme follows the colors of participant analysis.

• Background
• Paraphrase
• Story Triangles
• Imagery

Background ideas

Following are the common-ground assumptionsCommon-ground assumptions include information shared by the speaker and hearers. In our analysis, we mainly use this category for Biblical/Ancient Near Eastern background. which are the most helpful for making sense of the psalm.

Background situation

The background situation is the series of events leading up to the time in which the psalm is spoken. These are taken from the story triangle – whatever lies to the left of the star icon.

Expanded Paraphrase

The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

  Legend

Expanded paraphrase legend
Close but Clear (CBC) translation	The CBC, our close but clear translation of the Hebrew, is represented in bold text.
Assumptions	Assumptions which provide background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences are represented in italics.

Text (Hebrew)	Verse	Expanded Paraphrase
מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְאֵיתָ֥ן הָֽאֶזְרָחִֽי׃	1	A maskil. By Ethan, the prominent Levite and temple musician who worked under David's leadership. He lived among the clan of Zerah and is thus known as Ethan the Ezrahite.
חַֽסְדֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה עוֹלָ֣ם אָשִׁ֑ירָה לְדֹ֥ר וָדֹ֓ר ׀ אוֹדִ֖יעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בְּפִֽי׃	2	I will commit to sing ing forever and ever about YHWH's acts of covenant loyalty, especially the acts of loyalty that he has done and will do for our king, David. YHWH, you are supremely reliable, and I will make your reliability known to others with my mouth for generations to come.
כִּֽי־אָמַ֗רְתִּי ע֭וֹלָם חֶ֣סֶד יִבָּנֶ֑ה שָׁמַ֓יִם ׀ *תִּכֹּן* אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בָהֶֽם׃	3	I am committed to singing about YHWH's loyalty forever. For I said to myself, being fully convinced, " YHWH's loyalty to David will be built up forever and ever, like a house built on an unshakable foundation, never to fall. Each act of covenant loyalty is like another stone in the building, making it more and more beautiful and stable. And no one can threaten this house, because it is established in the most secure place imaginable: the sky—your reliability will be established in it, YHWH." And so, because YHWH's loyalty and reliability to David will never end, they deserve to be celebrated with singing that will never end.
כָּרַ֣תִּֽי בְ֭רִית לִבְחִירִ֑י נִ֝שְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי לְדָוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃	4	This is a summary of what YHWH promised to David, which he revealed to Nathan the prophet in a vision (2 Sam 7):"I have made a covenant, an enduring agreement sealed with an oath, with my chosen one, David. I have sworn an oath to David, my servant.
עַד־ע֭וֹלָם אָכִ֣ין זַרְעֶ֑ךָ וּבָנִ֨יתִי לְדֹר־וָד֖וֹר כִּסְאֲךָ֣ סֶֽלָה׃	5	I have sworn to him,'I will securely establish your descendants so that your dynasty lasts forever and you always have a descendant sitting on your throne, and I will build your throne, a symbol of your kingdom, so that it endures for generations to come.'" Selah.
וְי֘וֹד֤וּ שָׁמַ֣יִם פִּלְאֲךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה אַף־אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בִּקְהַ֥ל קְדֹשִֽׁים׃	6	And not only is YHWH supremely loyal and reliable, committed to keeping his promises, but there is nothing that can stop YHWH from doing so. There is no one like him! So let the heavenly beings in the sky praise your wonders, YHWH! [Let them praise] your reliability, too, in the heavenly assembly of angelic holy ones, who gather around you to serve you and carry out your will!
כִּ֤י מִ֣י בַ֭שַּׁחַק יַעֲרֹ֣ךְ לַיהוָ֑ה יִדְמֶ֥ה לַ֝יהוָ֗ה בִּבְנֵ֥י אֵלִים׃	7	They should praise you because you are far superior to them and worthy of their praise. For who in heaven can compare to YHWH? No one![Who] among the divine beings is like YHWH? None of them!
אֵ֣ל נַ֭עֲרָץ בְּסוֹד־קְדֹשִׁ֣ים רַבָּ֑ה וְ֝נוֹרָ֗א עַל־כָּל־סְבִיבָֽיו׃	8	[He is] a god who is terrifying in the heavenly council of angelic holy ones, and he is great and fearful above and beyond everyone around him.
יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י צְבָא֗וֹת מִֽי־כָֽמ֖וֹךָ חֲסִ֥ין ׀ יָ֑הּ וֶ֝אֱמֽוּנָתְךָ֗ סְבִיבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃	9	YHWH, God of armies, who is like you? No one! Mighty Yah, [who is like you] with your reliability around you? No one!
אַתָּ֣ה מ֭וֹשֵׁל בְּגֵא֣וּת הַיָּ֑ם בְּשׂ֥וֹא גַ֝לָּ֗יו אַתָּ֥ה תְשַׁבְּחֵֽם׃	10	You, and you alone, rule over the swelling of the sea, a symbol of chaos and unruly disorder. Who can rule over something as untamed and powerful as the sea? When its waves rise up, you and you alone are able to control them.
אַתָּ֤ה דִכִּ֣אתָ כֶחָלָ֣ל רָ֑הַב בִּזְר֥וֹעַ עֻ֝זְּךָ֗ פִּזַּ֥רְתָּ אוֹיְבֶֽיךָ׃	11	You and you alone created the world, bringing order out of chaos. You are the one who crushed the chaotic sea monster Rahab, defeating him like those who are slain in battle. You spoke the word, and darkness became light; dry land emerged out of the chaotic waters. With your strong arm you scattered your enemies, every force of chaos and disorder.
לְךָ֣ שָׁ֭מַיִם אַף־לְךָ֥ אָ֑רֶץ תֵּבֵ֥ל וּ֝מְלֹאָ֗הּ אַתָּ֥ה יְסַדְתָּֽם׃	12	As the victorious creator of the world, everything belongs to you. The sky is yours and yours alone; the earth also is yours and yours alone. The world and all that is in it—you are the one who founded them in the same way that a king might found and build a palace after defeating all of his enemies and securing peace for his land.
צָפ֣וֹן וְ֭יָמִין אַתָּ֣ה בְרָאתָ֑ם תָּב֥וֹר וְ֝חֶרְמ֗וֹן בְּשִׁמְךָ֥ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃	13	You are the creator and king not only of Israel, but of the whole world. North and south—you are the one who created them. They are not the territory of another god; they belong to you. Tabor and Hermon, these great mountains in the north, associated with the worship of other gods, rejoice at your name, not at the name of other gods like Baal, for you are the one who created them.
לְךָ֣ זְ֭רוֹעַ עִם־גְּבוּרָ֑ה תָּעֹ֥ז יָ֝דְךָ֗ תָּר֥וּם יְמִינֶֽךָ׃	14	You are the supreme king over the whole world, and you exhibit the best qualities of a king: strength and power, righteousness and faithfulness. You have a strong arm, together with might. Your hand will be powerful, your strong right hand exalted in victoryover your enemies.
צֶ֣דֶק וּ֭מִשְׁפָּט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֶ֑ךָ חֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת יְֽקַדְּמ֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃	15	The base of your throne, the foundation of your kingdom, is secure because it consists of righteousness and justice. Your rule is characterized by loyalty and faithfulness. These attributes come and stand in front of your presence like servants in your royal court. Truly, there is no one like you!
אַשְׁרֵ֣י הָ֭עָם יוֹדְעֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה יְ֝הוָ֗ה בְּֽאוֹר־פָּנֶ֥יךָ יְהַלֵּכֽוּן׃	16	Because you are a supremely just and powerful king, Israel is blessed to be your people! How fortunate and happy are the people of Israel, whom you have chosen for yourself, those who know and recognize the sound used to signal YHWH's presence with them on the battlefield, fighting for them and guaranteeing their victory! YHWH, happy are those who go about in the light of your presence and live under your blessing!
בְּ֭שִׁמְךָ יְגִיל֣וּן כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ יָרֽוּמוּ׃	17	They are always celebrating with glad ness because of your name, because of who you are, and they are always exalted over their enemies in battle because of your righteousness, the quality by which you do what is right and give your people victory.
כִּֽי־תִפְאֶ֣רֶת עֻזָּ֣מוֹ אָ֑תָּה וּ֝בִרְצֹנְךָ֗ תָּר֥וּם קַרְנֵֽנוּ׃	18	They rejoice and exalt in you, for you are the ir source of strength in which they glory, and our horn will be exalted in victory, not because of our strength, but because of your favor.
כִּ֣י לַֽ֭יהוָה מָֽגִנֵּ֑נוּ וְלִקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מַלְכֵּֽנוּ׃	19	For we are not left to protect ourselves. Rather, our shield, our means of protection and source of victory, belongs to YHWH. YHWH is responsible for protecting us, and he does so by means of his anointed king. And our king is under YHWH's care; he belongs to the holy one of Israel. As long as YHWH is our God and our king is in his care, who can stand against us? Nothing can stop YHWH from keeping his promises.
אָ֤ז דִּבַּ֥רְתָּֽ־בְחָ֡זוֹן לַֽחֲסִידֶ֗יךָ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר שִׁוִּ֣יתִי עֵ֭זֶר עַל־גִּבּ֑וֹר הֲרִימ֖וֹתִי בָח֣וּר מֵעָֽם׃	20	And YHWH's promises to David are unconditional. Long ago, YHWH, you spoke in a vision to your loyal ones, the prophets – in this case, to Nathan the prophet – and said, "I have chosen someone to be king over my people. I have granted help to a warrior, the young boy David. I helped him kill Goliath and win many victories as the leader of Saul's armies. I have set him apart and exalted him as someone chosen to be king from among the people.
מָ֭צָאתִי דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֑י בְּשֶׁ֖מֶן קָדְשִׁ֣י מְשַׁחְתִּֽיו׃	21	I have found David, my servant. Through the prophet Samuel, I found him in Bethlehem tending his father's sheep; and through Samuel, I have anointed him with my holy oil, consecrating him for special service to me, to rule over my people, Israel.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָ֭דִי תִּכּ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ אַף־זְרוֹעִ֥י תְאַמְּצֶֽנּוּ׃	22	My strong hand will always be with him; my powerful arm will also strengthen him. And because of my strength, he will be able to stand strong against his enemies.
לֹֽא־יַשִּׁ֣א אוֹיֵ֣ב בּ֑וֹ וּבֶן־עַ֝וְלָ֗ה לֹ֣א יְעַנֶּֽנּוּ׃	23	No enemy nation will conquer him and exact tribute from him, and no unjust person, no foreign king, will afflict him by imposing a tribute upon him.
וְכַתּוֹתִ֣י מִפָּנָ֣יו צָרָ֑יו וּמְשַׂנְאָ֥יו אֶגּֽוֹף׃	24	But I will crush and totally defeat his adversaries from before him, and strike down those who are hostile to him.
וֶֽאֶֽמוּנָתִ֣י וְחַסְדִּ֣י עִמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בִשְׁמִ֗י תָּר֥וּם קַרְנֽוֹ׃	25	I have made a covenant with him, and so I will be loyal to him. My reliability and my loyalty will be with him, and his horn will be exalted in victory because of my name, because of who I am—a God who is faithful and powerful.
וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י בַיָּ֣ם יָד֑וֹ וּֽבַנְּהָר֥וֹת יְמִינֽוֹ׃	26	And just as I rule over the chaotic sea, so I will put his hand on the sea and give him control over its swelling waves, and I will put his right hand on the ocean's currents. He, too, will be master over chaos, subduing his enemies and bringing peace and order to his kingdom, just as I did at creation.
ה֣וּא יִ֭קְרָאֵנִי אָ֣בִי אָ֑תָּה אֵ֝לִ֗י וְצ֣וּר יְשׁוּעָתִֽי׃	27	He will acknowledge his dependence on me and call out to me, "You are my father, and I am your son, who represents your heavenly rule on earth and resembles your character. You are my god and the giant rock who gives me shelter from my enemies and saves me."
אַף־אָ֭נִי בְּכ֣וֹר אֶתְּנֵ֑הוּ עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן לְמַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃	28	What's more, he will not be a king like any other king. I will make him supreme, the firstborn son and heir to my universal kingdom. I will make him the highest of the kings of the earth, even as I am "the Most High" and there is no one in heaven who compares to me.
לְ֭עוֹלָ֗ם אֶשְׁמָור־ל֣וֹ חַסְדִּ֑י וּ֝בְרִיתִ֗י נֶאֱמֶ֥נֶת לֽוֹ׃	29	Other earthly kingdoms rise and fall, but his will never fall. I will keep my loyalty for him forever, and my covenant will be enduring for him through his line of descendants.
וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י לָעַ֣ד זַרְע֑וֹ וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ כִּימֵ֥י שָׁמָֽיִם׃	30	I will securely establish his descendants so that his dynasty lasts forever, and his throne, the symbol of his kingdom, will last as long as the sky endures. For the same covenant loyalty that upholds the sky upholds my covenant with David.
אִם־יַֽעַזְב֣וּ בָ֭נָיו תּוֹרָתִ֑י וּ֝בְמִשְׁפָּטַ֗י לֹ֣א יֵלֵכֽוּן׃	31	My promises to him are unconditional. Even if his descendants reject my instruction and do not walk according to my rules;
אִם־חֻקֹּתַ֥י יְחַלֵּ֑לוּ וּ֝מִצְוֺתַ֗י לֹ֣א יִשְׁמֹֽרוּ׃	32	if they dishonor my decrees and do not keep my commands,
וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י בְשֵׁ֣בֶט פִּשְׁעָ֑ם וּבִנְגָעִ֥ים עֲוֺנָֽם׃	33	then, yes, to be sure, I will punish their rebellion with a rod and their iniquity with wounds, just as any father would discipline his son for disobedience.
וְ֭חַסְדִּי לֹֽא־אָפִ֣יר מֵֽעִמּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־אֲ֝שַׁקֵּ֗ר בֶּאֱמוּנָתִֽי׃	34	But even then, I will not annul my covenant. I will not remove my loyalty from being with him, and I will not break faith with him and renounce my reliability.
לֹא־אֲחַלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתִ֑י וּמוֹצָ֥א שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י לֹ֣א אֲשַׁנֶּֽה׃	35	I will not dishonor my covenant with him or change what I promised him, what has come from my lips.
אַ֭חַת נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי בְקָדְשִׁ֑י אִֽם־לְדָוִ֥ד אֲכַזֵּֽב׃	36	Once and for all I hereby swear an oath to David, and I swear it by my own holiness, for there is nothing higher by which I can swear: 'I will not lie to David. If I lie to him, may I be accursed!
זַ֭רְעוֹ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִהְיֶ֑ה וְכִסְא֖וֹ כַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ נֶגְדִּֽי׃	37	I swear that his descendants will be forever, and his throne [will be] enduring like the sun before me, which is sustained by my power and my covenant loyalty.
כְּ֭יָרֵחַ יִכּ֣וֹן עוֹלָ֑ם וְעֵ֥ד בַּ֝שַּׁ֗חַק נֶאֱמָ֥ן סֶֽלָה׃	38	Like the moon it, i.e., David's kingdom, will be securely established forever, and [like] the moon, the enduring and reliable witness in heaven,[it will be] enduring. The moon, which was there on the night that I spoke to Nathan the prophet in a vision, is a witness to my oath and evidence of my faithfulness. "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).'" Selah.
וְאַתָּ֣ה זָ֭נַחְתָּ וַתִּמְאָ֑ס הִ֝תְעַבַּ֗רְתָּ עִם־מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃	39	But you are not doing what you said you would do! You have rejected your anointed one and refused to keep your promises! Your anointed one has sinned against you, and you have become furious with your anointed one. You said you would discipline him and that your covenant loyalty would not leave him. But when will the discipline end? It feels like you have gone too far.
נֵ֭אַרְתָּה בְּרִ֣ית עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ חִלַּ֖לְתָּ לָאָ֣רֶץ נִזְרֽוֹ׃	40	It seems like you have renounced the"unending" covenant you made with your servant. You have thrown his crown down to the ground as though it were something profane.
פָּרַ֥צְתָּ כָל־גְּדֵרֹתָ֑יו שַׂ֖מְתָּ מִבְצָרָ֣יו מְחִתָּה׃	41	You have not strengthened him in battle like you said you would. Instead, you have breached all of his defensive walls. You have made his strongholds a ruin. He is completely vulnerable to attacks.
שַׁ֭סֻּהוּ כָּל־עֹ֣בְרֵי דָ֑רֶךְ הָיָ֥ה חֶ֝רְפָּ֗ה לִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃	42	And so, because he is defenseless, all who pass by have plundered him. He has become an object of scorn to his neighbors. Everyone makes fun of our king, because he is weak and defenseless!
הֲ֭רִימוֹתָ יְמִ֣ין צָרָ֑יו הִ֝שְׂמַ֗חְתָּ כָּל־אוֹיְבָֽיו׃	43	You promised to exalt him and make him victorious, but instead, you have done the exact opposite! You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have caused all of his enemies to rejoice in their victory over him.
אַף־תָּ֭שִׁיב צ֣וּר חַרְבּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א הֲ֝קֵימֹת֗וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃	44	What's worse, not only did you fight for his enemies, you actually fought against your anointed! You turn ed back his sharp sword so that he could not strike his enemies, and when he fell down injured, you did not even help him up in the battle.
הִשְׁבַּ֥תָּ מִטְּהָר֑וֹ וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ לָאָ֥רֶץ מִגַּֽרְתָּה׃	45	You have put an end to his once radiant splendor and hurled his throne, the symbol of his kingdom, down to the ground.
הִ֭קְצַרְתָּ יְמֵ֣י עֲלוּמָ֑יו הֶֽעֱטִ֨יתָ עָלָ֖יו בּוּשָׁ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃	46	You have cut short the days of his youth. He is no longer young and strong like he once was. Instead, he is like a weak old man. You have covered him with shame. Selah.
עַד־מָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תִּסָּתֵ֣ר לָנֶ֑צַח תִּבְעַ֖ר כְּמוֹ־אֵ֣שׁ חֲמָתֶֽךָ׃	47	How long will you fight against him and humiliate him, YHWH? Where are you? Where is the God that we know? Will you hide yourself from us forever? Will your wrath rage like a fire as you discipline your anointed one[forever]? If your wrath continues to burn like this, we will be completely consumed.
זְכָר־*אֲדֹנָי* מֶה־חָ֑לֶד עַל־מַה־שָּׁ֝֗וְא בָּרָ֥אתָ כָל־בְּנֵי־אָדָֽם׃	48	We don't have long, YHWH! Unless you have mercy on us soon, this whole generation will pass away, and we will never get to experience your loyalty and witness you keep your promises. Remember, Lord, what a human lifespan is! Remember how short our lives are! And remember for what futility you created all people, how, in the end, we all die!
מִ֤י גֶ֣בֶר יִֽ֭חְיֶה וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֶה־מָּ֑וֶת יְמַלֵּ֨ט נַפְשׁ֖וֹ מִיַּד־שְׁא֣וֹל סֶֽלָה׃	49	What person can live and not see death, can rescue his life from the power ful hand of Sheol? No one. So, please hurry and keep your promises, before we all die! Selah.
אַיֵּ֤ה ׀ חֲסָדֶ֖יךָ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֥ים ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ לְ֝דָוִ֗ד בֶּאֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃	50	Where are your former acts of loyalty, Lord, which you swore to David in your reliability? They were supposed to last forever, but now they are nowhere to be found.
זְכֹ֣ר אֲ֭דֹנָי חֶרְפַּ֣ת עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ שְׂאֵתִ֥י בְ֝חֵיקִ֗י כָּל־*רִבֵי מֵעַמִּֽים*׃	51	Remember, Lord, how we, your servants, are scorned by our enemies, how I, Israel, carry around in my bosom, a symbol of my deepest, innermost self, all the burdensome insults of the peoples!
אֲשֶׁ֤ר חֵרְפ֖וּ אוֹיְבֶ֥יךָ ׀ יְהוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר חֵ֝רְפ֗וּ עִקְּב֥וֹת מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃	52	[Remember] that your enemies have scorned, YHWH, that they have scorned your anointed king every step of the way; they have scorned the footsteps of your anointed one! Do something, YHWH!
בָּר֖וּךְ יְהוָ֥ה לְ֝עוֹלָ֗ם אָ֘מֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃	53	Yet, despite all this, we do not curse YHWH. We continue to trust him and bless him: Blessed be YHWH forever! Amen and Amen.

Story Triangles

(Click diagram to enlarge)

For I said, "Loyalty will be built up forever. The sky—your reliability will be established in it." (v. 3)
	Building (בַּיִת)	Loyalty/Reliability
Process of creation	building, constructing (בנה; e.g., Gen 33:17)	making and keeping covenant promises
Agent of creation	builder (בונה)	YHWH
Composition	solid materials, e.g., wood and stone (cf. Lev 14:45; 2 Sam 7:2), secured on stone pillars (cf. Judg 16:26)	acts of covenant loyalty? (v. 2a)
Desired quality	stability (Judg 16:26, 29)	stability (cf. v. 34)
Longevity	lasts a long time if built well	lasts forever (v. 3a)
Purpose	provide a place to live, shelter from outside threats (cf. Gen 19:2–4)	basis for divine care and protection (cf. vv. 22–25)
Location	ideally somewhere solid and secure	the sky (v. 3b)
Blend	Building loyalty and reliability
Implicatures	By making and keeping covenant promises, YHWH is building a house of loyalty and reliability. Each act of loyalty is like a stone in the building, making it more magnificent and even more stable. A well-constructed house built somewhere solid and secure might last for a long time, but YHWH's loyalty will last even longer, because it is founded in the sky—the most secure place imaginable.
Prominence	MEDIUM The image of "loyalty" and "reliability" as a building, or a house, is unique and evocative and, therefore, fairly prominent. The image of building a house also alludes to 2 Sam 7, where David wants to build a "house" for YHWH, but YHWH promises to build a house for David. In that passage, the "house" that YHWH builds for David is an image for David's kingdom and dynasty (so Ps 89:5). Here, the image is modified; instead of mapping onto "kingdom/dynasty," "house" maps onto loyalty itself.

"I will establish your descendants forever, and I will build your throne for generations to come." (v. 5)
	Building (בַּיִת)	David's kingdom/dynasty
Process of creation	building, constructing (בנה; e.g., Gen 33:17)	making a covenant (see 2 Sam 7); making and keeping covenant promises
Agent of creation	builder (בונה)	YHWH
Composition	solid materials, e.g., wood and stone (cf. Lev 14:45; 2 Sam 7:2), secured on stone pillars (cf. Judg 16:26)	David's descendants, their well-being, power, wealth, and influence
Desired quality	stability (Judg 16:26, 29)	stability (cf. 2 Kgs 2:46), i.e., free from threats, not easily overthrown
Longevity	lasts a long time if built well	lasts forever, for generations to come (v. 5)
Foundation	ideally, strong, solid, unmovable	YHWH's loyalty and reliability
Blend	The house of David
Implicatures	YHWH will build David's kingdom forever, ensuring its continued stability. David's kingdom and dynasty are founded on YHWH's covenant promises, and they are sustained by the same promises. David's kingdom and dynasty cannot be overthrown unless YHWH's loyalty are reliability are first overthrown.
Prominence	HIGH The image of David's kingdom and dynasty as a house built by YHWH comes straight from 2 Sam 7, to which Ps 89 alludes. The prominence of the image in that passage contributes to its prominence here in Ps 89. Its position within the psalm, in the opening section (vv. 2–5) further contributes to its prominence. Although the "house" image is not explicitly developed in the rest of the psalm, the words "kingdom," "dynasty," and "establish," which are among the most repeated words in the psalm (see Repeated Roots chart), continue to evoke the image.

"You crushed Rahab like those who are slain. With your strong arm you scattered your enemies." (v. 11)
	Slaying an enemy	Defeating Rahab
Slayer	warrior	YHWH
Slain	enemy warrior	Rahab, 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).
Instrument	sharp weapon, esp. a sword (Num 19:16; Ezek 32:26; etc.)	?
Context, frame	battle	creation? (cf. Day 2020; cf. cf. Pss 65:7-8; 74:12-17; 93:1-4; 104:1-9; Job 9:5-14, 26:5-14; 38:8-11)
Result	demonstrates superiority	The victory of the divine warrior is used to justify his dominion (Ballentine 2012, 280; cf. vv. 10–13)
Blend	Slain Rahab
Implicatures	YHWH demonstrated his superiority over chaos when he created the world. His victory over chaos justifies his dominion.
Prominence	MEDIUM The mythical image of a battle at creation occurs several times throughout the OT (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; though some scholars, e.g., Tsumura 2020, reject any connection between this image of divine conflict and creation). Therefore, it is not a unique image. It is, however, an important part of understanding Ps 89, specifically vv. 10–15. These verses activate a well-known literary script, in which a king defeats his enemies in battle (v. 11), builds a palace (vv. 12b–13a), and establishes his rule (vv. 10, 14–15). The defeat of enemies, described in v. 11, is a crucial piece of this script. Furthermore, the image is explicitly marked as a simile: "like those who are slain."

"The base of your throne is righteousness and justice" (v. 15a)
	Base of throne > kingdom	Righteousness and justice
Purpose, necessity	supports the throne > kingdom, enables it to stand	necessary for a lasting kingdom (cf. Prov 11:12–13—Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness)
Blend	Base of righteousness and justice
Implicatures	YHWH's kingdom will endure forever, because it is based on righteousness and justice, the qualities necessary for establishing a kingdom.
Prominence	LOW This image is relatively low in prominence. It is mentioned only in this verse and is not especially complex or developed elsewhere in the psalm. It is, however, part of a larger, more prominent network of imagery: YHWH is KING (on the pervasiveness of this metaphor in the Psalter, see Mays 1994).

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