Psalm 144
David acknowledges the great goodness of God, and prays for help. · He prays for the prosperity of his kingdom.
1A Psalm of David. Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: 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. 3Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 4Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. 5Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. 7Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children; 8Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
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. 10It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful 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: 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: 13That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: 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. 15Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.
King James Version (1769) · public domain
1Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 2He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. He is my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. 3O LORD, what is man, that You regard him, the son of man that You think of him? 4Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. 5Part Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, that they may smoke. 6Flash forth Your lightning and scatter them; shoot Your arrows and rout them. 7Reach down from on high; set me free and rescue me from the deep waters, from the grasp of foreigners, 8whose mouths speak falsehood, whose right hands are deceitful.
9I will sing to You a new song, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will make music to You— 10to Him who gives victory to kings, who frees His servant David from the deadly sword. 11Set me free and rescue me from the grasp of foreigners, whose mouths speak falsehood, whose right hands are deceitful. 12Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters like corner pillars carved to adorn a palace. 13Our storehouses will be full, supplying all manner of produce; our flocks will bring forth thousands, tens of thousands in our fields. 14Our oxen will bear great loads. There will be no breach in the walls, no going into captivity, and no cry of lament in our streets. 15Blessed are the people of whom this is so; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain
1By David. Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands to war, and my fingers to battle— 2my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me. 3LORD, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him? 4Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away. 5Part your heavens, LORD, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke. 6Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them. 7Stretch out your hand from above, rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hands of foreigners, 8whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9I will sing a new song to you, God. On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you. 10You are he who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword. 11Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hands of foreigners, whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 12Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace. 13Our barns are full, filled with all kinds of provision. Our sheep produce thousands and ten thousands in our fields. 14Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, and no outcry in our streets. 15Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is the LORD.
World English Bible · public domain
Psalm 144 commentary
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706), public domain.
Verses 1-8
Verses 9-15
Key verses in Psalm 144
- Psalms 144:1
A Psalm of David. Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
- Psalms 144:12
That 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:
- Psalms 144:15
Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.
- Psalms 144:2
My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
- Psalms 144:5
Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.