Psalms
Chapter 110
This is a psalm of David about a king whom David calls his own Lord. God tells this king to sit at his right hand until his enemies are defeated, and gives him a royal staff to rule from Zion. God also swears that this king is a priest forever, like Melchizedek. The psalm ends with the king winning battles over kings and nations.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
1The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."
The two words look almost the same in English, but they stand for two different words. "The LORD" in capital letters is God's own name. "My Lord" is the king that this psalm is about.
2The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
2The LORD will hold out your royal staff from Zion. Rule over your enemies who stand all around you.
3Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
3On the day you go to battle, your people will gladly follow you. Dressed in holy beauty, your young men will come to you like dew at daybreak.
"Like dew at daybreak" pictures something fresh and countless appearing all at once, the way dew covers the ground each morning.
4The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
4The LORD has made a promise and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek."
The King James Version says God "will not repent." Here that old word means change his mind, not feel sorry for sin. Melchizedek was a king who was also a priest, and he met Abraham long before this psalm was written.
5The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
5The Lord is at your right hand. On the day of his anger he will crush kings.
6He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
6He will judge the nations. He will pile up the dead. He will crush the rulers of many lands.
7He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
7He will stop and drink from a stream beside the road. Then he will lift his head high.
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