Psalms 144

1 A Psalm. Of David. Praise be to the God of my strength, teaching my hands the use of the sword, and my fingers the art of fighting:

Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

2 He is my strength, and my Rock; my high tower, and my saviour; my keeper and my hope: he gives me authority over my people.

My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdues my people under me.

3 Lord, what is man, that you keep him in mind? or the son of man that you take him into account?

LORD, what is man, that you take knowledge of him! or the son of man, that you make account of him!

4 Man is like a breath: his life is like a shade which is quickly gone.

Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passes away.

5 Come down, O Lord, from your heavens: at your touch let the mountains give out smoke.

Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6 With your storm-flames send them in flight: send out your arrows for their destruction.

Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out your arrows, and destroy them.

7 Put out your hand from on high; make me free, take me safely out of the great waters, and out of the hands of strange men;

Send your hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

8 In whose mouths are false words, and whose right hand is a right hand of deceit.

Whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9 I will make a new song to you, O God; I will make melody to you on an instrument of ten cords.

I will sing a new song to you, O God: on a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises to you.

10 It is God who gives salvation to kings; and who kept his servant David from the wounding sword.

It is he that gives salvation to kings: who delivers David his servant from the hurtful sword.

11 Make me free, and take me out of the hands of strange men, in whose mouths are false words, and whose right hand is a right hand of deceit.

Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

12 Our sons are like tall young plants; and our daughters like the shining stones of a king's house;

That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

13 Our store-houses are full of all good things; and our sheep give birth to thousands and ten thousands in our fields.

That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

14 Our oxen are well weighted down; our cows give birth safely; there is no going out, and there is no cry of sorrow in our open places.

That our oxen may be strong to labor; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.

15 Happy is the nation whose ways are so ordered: yes, happy is the nation whose God is the Lord.

Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yes, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.