Psalm 144

Psalm 144

A psalm of David.

1 Praise the LORD, who is my rock.
He trains my hands for war
and gives my fingers skill for battle.2 He is my loving ally and my fortress,
my tower of safety, my rescuer.
He is my shield, and I take refuge in him.
He makes the nationst submit to me.3 O LORD, what are human beings that you should notice them,
mere mortals that you should think about them?4 For they are like a breath of air;
their days are like a passing shadow.5 Open the heavens, LORD, and come down.
Touch the mountains so they billow smoke.6 Hurl your lightning bolts and scatter your enemies!
Shoot your arrows and confuse them!7 Reach down from heaven and rescue me;
rescue me from deep waters,
from the power of my enemies.8 Their mouths are full of lies;
they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.9 I will sing a new song to you, O God!
I will sing your praises with a ten-stringed harp.10 For you grant victory to kings!
You rescued your servant David from the fatal sword.11 Save me!
Rescue me from the power of my enemies.
Their mouths are full of lies;
they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.12 May our sons flourish in their youth
like well-nurtured plants.
May our daughters be like graceful pillars,
carved to beautify a palace.13 May our barns be filled
with crops of every kind.
May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands,
even tens of thousands,14 and may our oxen be loaded down with produce.
May there be no enemy breaking through our walls,
no going into captivity,
no cries of alarm in our town squares.15 Yes, joyful are those who live like this!
Joyful indeed are those 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.