Psalms 144

1 [A Psalm] of David. Blessed be Jehovah my rock, who teacheth my hands to war, my fingers to fight;

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 mercy and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I trust, who subdueth my people 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 Jehovah, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him, the son of man, that thou takest thought 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 to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

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

5 Jehovah, bow thy heavens, and come down; touch the mountains, that they smoke;

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

6 Cast forth lightnings, and scatter them; send forth thine arrows, and discomfit them:

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

7 Stretch out thy hands from above; rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of aliens,

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 speaketh vanity, 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 O God, I will sing a new song unto thee; with the ten-stringed lute will I sing psalms unto thee:

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

10 Who givest salvation unto kings; who rescuest David thy servant from the hurtful 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 from the hand of aliens, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their 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 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; our daughters as corner-columns, sculptured after the fashion of a palace:

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

13 Our granaries full, affording all manner of store; our sheep bringing forth thousands, ten thousands in our pastures;

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

14 Our kine laden [with young]; no breaking in and no going forth, 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 the people that is in such a case! Blessed the people whose God is Jehovah!

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