Psalms 144
1 [By David.] Blessed be YHWH, my Rock, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to battle:
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 my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge; who subdues peoples under 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 YHWH, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of 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 a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.
Man is like a breath: his life is like a shade which is quickly gone.
5 Part your heavens, YHWH, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.
Come down, O Lord, from your heavens: at your touch let the mountains give out smoke.
6 Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them.
With your storm-flames send them in flight: send out your arrows for their destruction.
7 Stretch out your hand from above, rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hands of foreigners;
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 mouths speak deceit, Whose 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 will sing a new song to you, God. On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you.
I will make a new song to you, O God; I will make melody to you on an instrument of ten cords.
10 You are he who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword.
It is God who gives salvation to kings; and who kept his servant David from the wounding sword.
11 Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hands of foreigners, whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
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 Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
Our sons are like tall young plants; and our daughters like the shining stones of a king's house;
13 Our storehouses are full, filled with all kinds of provision. Our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields.
Our store-houses are full of all good things; and our sheep give birth to thousands and ten thousands in our fields.
14 Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, and no outcry in our streets.
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 who are in such a situation. Blessed are the people whose God is YHWH.
Happy is the nation whose ways are so ordered: yes, happy is the nation whose God is the Lord.
