Psalms 144
1 A Psalme of David. Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth mine hands to fight, and my fingers to battell.
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:
2 He is my goodnes and my fortresse, my towre and my deliuerer, my shield, and in him I trust, which subdueth my people vnder me.
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.
3 Lord, what is man that thou regardest him! or the sonne of man that thou thinkest vpon him!
Lord, what is man, that you keep him in mind? or the son of man that you take him into account?
4 Man is like to vanitie: his dayes are like a shadow, that vanisheth.
Man is like a breath: his life is like a shade which is quickly gone.
5 Bow thine heauens, O Lord, and come downe: touch the mountaines and they shall smoke.
Come down, O Lord, from your heavens: at your touch let the mountains give out smoke.
6 Cast forth the lightning and scatter them: shoote out thine arrowes, and consume them.
With your storm-flames send them in flight: send out your arrows for their destruction.
7 Send thine hand from aboue: deliuer me, and take me out of the great waters, and from the hand of strangers,
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;
8 Whose mouth talketh vanitie, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
In whose mouths are false words, and whose right hand is a right hand of deceit.
9 I wil sing a new song vnto thee, O God, and sing vnto thee vpon a viole, and an instrument of ten strings.
I will make a new song to you, O God; I will make melody to you on an instrument of ten cords.
10 It is he that giueth deliuerance vnto Kings, and rescueth Dauid his seruant from the hurtfull sworde.
It is God who gives salvation to kings; and who kept his servant David from the wounding sword.
11 Rescue me, and deliuer me from the hand of strangers, whose mouth talketh vanitie, and their right hand is a right hand of falshood:
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.
12 That our sonnes may be as the plantes growing vp in their youth, and our daughters as the corner stones, grauen after the similitude of a palace:
Our sons are like tall young plants; and our daughters like the shining stones of a king's house;
13 That our corners may be full, and abounding with diuers sorts, and that our sheepe may bring forth thousands and ten thousand in our streetes:
Our store-houses are full of all good things; and our sheep give birth to thousands and ten thousands in our fields.
14 That our oxen may be strong to labour: that there be none inuasion, nor going out, nor no crying in our streetes.
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.
15 Blessed are the people, that be so, yea, blessed are the people, whose God is the Lord.
Happy is the nation whose ways are so ordered: yes, happy is the nation whose God is the Lord.
