Psalm 144

1 Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war,

A Song to the Lord Who Preserves and Prospers His PeopleA Psalm of David. And my fingers for battle

2 My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.3 Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?4 Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow.5 Bow down Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.6 Flash forth lightning and scatter them; Shoot out Your arrows and destroy them.7 Stretch out Your hand from above; Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, From the hand of foreigners,8 Whose mouth speaks lying words, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.9 I will sing a new song to You, O God; On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,10  The One who gives salvation to kings, Who delivers David His servant From the deadly sword.11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, Whose mouth speaks lying words, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; That our daughters may be as pillars, Sculptured in palace style;13  That our barns may be full, Supplying all kinds of produce; That our sheep may bring forth thousands And ten thousands in our fields;14  That our oxen may be well laden; That there be no breaking in or going out; That there be no outcry in our streets.15 Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

PSALMS 144

A Prayer for the Nation

1 I praise you, [Lord]!
You are my mighty rock, t
and you teach me
how to fight my battles.

2 You are my friend, my fortress,
where I am safe.
You are my shield,
and you made me the ruler
of our people.t

3  t Why do we humans mean anything
to you, our [Lord]?
Why do you care about us?

4 We disappear like a breath;
we last no longer
than a faint shadow.

5 Open the heavens like a curtain
and come down, [Lord].
Touch the mountains
and make them send up smoke.

6 Use your lightning as arrows
to scatter my enemies
and make them run away.

7 Reach down from heaven
and set me free.
Save me from the mighty flood

8 of those lying foreigners
who never tell the truth.

9 In praise of you, our God,
I will sing a new song,
while playing my harp.

10 By your power, kings win wars,
and your servant David is saved
from deadly swords.

11 Won't you keep me safe
from those lying foreigners
who never tell the truth?

12 Let's pray that our young sons
will grow like strong plants
and that our daughters
will be as lovely as columns
in the corner of a palace.

13 May our barns be filled
with all kinds of crops.
May our fields be covered
with sheep by the thousands,

14 and every cow have calves.t
Don't let our city be captured
or any of us be taken away,
and don't let cries of sorrow
be heard in our streets.

15 Our [Lord] and our God,
you give these blessings
to all who worship you.