Psalms 144

1Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

1 Praise be to the God of my strength, teaching my hands the use of the sword, and my fingers the art of fighting:

2My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

2He is my strength, and my Rock; my high tower, and my saviour; my keeper and my hope: he gives me authority over my people.

3Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

3Lord, what is man, that you keep him in mind? or the son of man that you take him into account?

4Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

4Man is like a breath: his life is like a shade which is quickly gone.

5Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

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

6Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

6With your storm-flames send them in flight: send out your arrows for their destruction.

7Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

7Put 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;

8Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

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

9I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

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

10It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

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

11Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

11Make 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.

12That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

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

13That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

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

14That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.

14Our 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.

15Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

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