Psalms — Chapter 144

Of David.Blessed is GOD, my rock,who trains my hands for battle,my fingers for warfare;

my faithful one, my fortress,my haven and my deliverer,my shield, in whom I take shelter,who makes peoplesapeoples So Targum, Saadia; in contrast to others “my people.” subject to me.

O ETERNAL One, what are mortals that You should care about them,human beings, that You should think of them?

They are like a breath;their days are like a passing shadow.

O ETERNAL One, bend Your sky and come down;touch the mountains and they will smoke.

Make lightning flash and scatter them;shoot Your arrows and rout them.

Reach Your hand down from on high;rescue me, save me from the mighty waters,from the hands of foreigners,

whose mouths speak lies,and whose oathsboaths With Rashi; lit. “right hand.” are false.

O God, I will sing You a new song,sing a hymn to You with a ten-stringed harp—

to the One who gives victory to kings,who rescues David—God’s servant—from the deadly sword.

Rescue me, save me from the hands of foreigners,whose mouths speak lies,and whose oathscoaths See note at v. 8. are false.

dThe meaning of several phrases in these verses is uncertain. For our sons are like saplings,well-tended in their youth;our daughters are like cornerstonestrimmed to give shape to a palace.

Our storehouses are full,supplying produce of all kinds;our flocks number thousands,even myriads, in our fields;

our cattle are well cared for.There is no breaching and no sortie,and no wailing in our streets.

Happy the people who have it so;happy the people whose God is the ETERNAL.