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:

[A Psalm] of David concerning Goliad. Blessed [be] the Lord my God, who instructs my hands for battle, [and] my fingers for war.

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 mercy, and my refuge; my helper, and my deliverer; my protector, in whom I have trusted; 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 are made known to him? or the son of man, that you take 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 pass as a shadow.

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

O Lord, bow your heavens, 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.

Send lightning, and you shall scatter them: send forth your arrows, and you shall discomfit 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 forth your hand from on high; rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of strange children;

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

whose mouth has spoken vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity.

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

O God, I will sing a new song to you: I will play to you on a lute of ten strings.

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

[Even] to him who gives salvation to kings: who redeems his servant David 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.

Deliver me, and rescue me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth has spoken vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity;

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

whose children are as plants, strengthened in their youth: their daughters are beautiful, sumptuously adorned after the similitude of a temple.

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

Their garners are full, and bursting with one kind of store after another; their sheep are prolific, multiplying in their 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.

Their oxen are fat: there is no falling down of a hedge, nor going out, nor cry in their folds.

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

Men bless the people to whom this lot belongs, [but] blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.