Psalm 144 – Blessed Be the LORD My Strength
David praises God as his rock and asks for rescue from deceitful enemies.
Psalm 144 opens with David blessing the LORD who trains his hands for battle, a theme echoed in Psalms 18:34. He marvels that God even notices mortal man, whose days pass like a shadow.
> Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, Who teaches my hands to war, And my fingers to battle:
My loving kindness, my fortress, My high tower, my deliverer, My shield, and he in whom I take refuge; Who subdues my people under me.
Yahweh, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?
Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.
Part your heavens, Yahweh, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.
Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them.
Stretch out your hand from above, Rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, Out of the hands of foreigners;
Whose mouths speak deceit, Whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
I will sing a new song to you, God. On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you.
You are he who gives salvation to kings, Who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword.
Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hands of foreigners, Whose mouths speak deceit, Whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, Our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
Our barns are full, filled with all kinds of provision. Our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields.
Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, And no outcry in our streets.
Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh.