Psalm 144

All praise be given to the LORD,

Because he is a rock to me;

He trains my hands to fight in war,

To battle with the enemy.

My fortress and my loving God,

My saviour and defence is he;

He is my refuge and my shield,

Subduing peoples under me.

LORD, why should you take note of man?

Why should you hold mankind so dear?

For they are like a fleeting breath;

Their days like shadows disappear.

LORD, part your heavens and come down;

So touch the mountains that they smoke!

Send lightning, rout your enemies;

Shoot arrows, scatter all their folk.

Reach down your hand from heaven on high;

From mighty waters rescue me.

Deliver me from foreign foes

Who speak and act deceitfully.

To God a new song I will sing;

I’ll play on lyre a pleasing chord.

For you give victory to kings;

David you save from deadly sword.

Deliver me from hostile hands;

From foreign forces rescue me.

Their mouths are full of lying words;

Their right hands work deceitfully.

Then will our sons, like nurtured plants,

From early youth grow strong and tall;

Our daughters fair as pillars carved

To beautify a palace wall.

Our barns and stores will then be filled

With harvests which our land will yield;

Our sheep will multiply and grow

By tens of thousands in the field.

Our oxen will draw heavy loads;

Our walls will not be broken down.

We’ll not be led away as slaves—

No cry of anguish in our town.

How bless’d are all the folk of whom

This is a true and faithful word!

How bless’d the people who can say,

“We have no God besides the LORD!”