Psalm 144

By David.

1The Lord, my protector, deserves praise –

the one who trains my hands for battle,

and my fingers for war,

2who loves me and is my stronghold,

my refuge and my deliverer,

my shield and the one in whom I take shelter,

who makes nations submit to me.

3O Lord, of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them?

Of what importance is mankind, that you should be concerned about them?

4People are like a vapor,

their days like a shadow that disappears.

5O Lord, make the sky sink and come down!

Touch the mountains and make them smolder!

6Hurl lightning bolts and scatter them!

Shoot your arrows and rout them!

7Reach down from above!

Grab me and rescue me from the surging water,

from the power of foreigners,

8who speak lies,

and make false promises.

9O God, I will sing a new song to you!

Accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, I will sing praises to you,

10the one who delivers kings,

and rescued David his servant from a deadly sword.

11Grab me and rescue me from the power of foreigners,

who speak lies,

and make false promises.

12Then our sons will be like plants,

that quickly grow to full size.

Our daughters will be like corner pillars,

carved like those in a palace.

13Our storehouses will be full,

providing all kinds of food.

Our sheep will multiply by the thousands

and fill our pastures.

14Our cattle will be weighted down with produce.

No one will break through our walls,

no one will be taken captive,

and there will be no terrified cries in our city squares.

15How blessed are the people who experience these things!

How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!