Psalmorum 144
1 Psalmus David. Adversus Goliath. Benedictus Dominus Deus meus, qui docet manus meas ad prælium, et digitos meos ad bellum.
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 Misericordia mea et refugium meum; susceptor meus et liberator meus; protector meus, et in ipso speravi, qui subdit populum meum sub 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 Domine, quid est homo, quia innotuisti ei? aut filius hominis, quia reputas eum?
Lord, what is man, that you keep him in mind? or the son of man that you take him into account?
4 Homo vanitati similis factus est; dies ejus sicut umbra prætereunt.
Man is like a breath: his life is like a shade which is quickly gone.
5 Domine, inclina cælos tuos, et descende; tange montes, et fumigabunt.
Come down, O Lord, from your heavens: at your touch let the mountains give out smoke.
6 Fulgura coruscationem, et dissipabis eos; emitte sagittas tuas, et conturbabis eos.
With your storm-flames send them in flight: send out your arrows for their destruction.
7 Emitte manum tuam de alto: eripe me, et libera me de aquis multis, de manu filiorum alienorum:
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 quorum os locutum est vanitatem, et dextera eorum dextera iniquitatis.
In whose mouths are false words, and whose right hand is a right hand of deceit.
9 Deus, canticum novum cantabo tibi; in psalterio decachordo psallam tibi.
I will make a new song to you, O God; I will make melody to you on an instrument of ten cords.
10 Qui das salutem regibus, qui redemisti David servum tuum de gladio maligno,
It is God who gives salvation to kings; and who kept his servant David from the wounding sword.
11 eripe me, et erue me de manu filiorum alienorum, quorum os locutum est vanitatem, et dextera eorum dextera iniquitatis.
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 Quorum filii sicut novellæ plantationes in juventute sua; filiæ eorum compositæ, circumornatæ ut similitudo templi.
Our sons are like tall young plants; and our daughters like the shining stones of a king's house;
13 Promptuaria eorum plena, eructantia ex hoc in illud; oves eorum fœtosæ, abundantes in egressibus suis;
Our store-houses are full of all good things; and our sheep give birth to thousands and ten thousands in our fields.
14 boves eorum crassæ. Non est ruina maceriæ, neque transitus, neque clamor in plateis eorum.
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 Beatum dixerunt populum cui hæc sunt; beatus populus cujus Dominus Deus ejus.
Happy is the nation whose ways are so ordered: yes, happy is the nation whose God is the Lord.
