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Psalm 144

Blessed strength in war

The psalmist praises the Lord as his strength and deliverer, asks God to bow the heavens and scatter enemies, and sings a new song, seeking salvation and blessing on people and possessions.

15 verses. The 144th of 150 chapters in Psalms, in Poetry and Wisdom.

1By David. Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands to war, and my fingers to battle—

2my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.

3LORD, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?

4Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.

5Part your heavens, LORD, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.

6Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them.

7Stretch out your hand from above, rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hands of foreigners,

8whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9I will sing a new song to you, God. On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you.

10You are he who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword.

11Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hands of foreigners, whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

12Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace.

13Our barns are full, filled with all kinds of provision. Our sheep produce thousands and ten thousands in our fields.

14Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, and no outcry in our streets.

15Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is the LORD.

Matthew Henry on Psalm 144

3,357 words, in 2 passages.

  1. Verses 1–8Grateful Acknowledgments of Divine Goodness; Prayer for Success against Enemies.
  2. Verses 9–15Thanksgiving and Petitions; National Happiness Desired.

World English Bible. Public domain. Set as prose throughout, including the poetry, because the text is published to us without its lines.