Psalm 144

A Psalm of David.

1        O blessed ever be the Lord,

                   who is my strength and might,

          Who doth instruct my hands to war,

                   my fingers teach to fight.

2        My goodness, fortress, my high tow'r,

                   deliverer, and shield,

          In whom I trust: who under me

                   my people makes to yield.

3        Lord, what is man, that thou of him

                   dost so much knowledge take?

          Or son of man, that thou of him

                   so great account dost make?

4        Man is like vanity; his days,

                   as shadows, pass away.

5        Lord, bow thy heav'ns, come down, touch thou

                   the hills, and smoke shall they.

6        Cast forth thy lightning, scatter them;

                   thine arrows shoot, them rout.

7        Thine hand send from above, me save;

                   from great depths draw me out;

          And from the hand of children strange,

8                 Whose mouth speaks vanity;

          And their right hand is a right hand

                   that works deceitfully.

9        A new song I to thee will sing,

                   Lord, on a psaltery;

          I on a ten-string'd instrument

                   will praises sing to thee.

10      Ev'n he it is that unto kings

                   salvation doth send;

          Who his own servant David doth

                   from hurtful sword defend.

11      O free me from strange children's hand,

                   whose mouth speaks vanity;

          And their right hand a right hand is

                   that works deceitfully.

12      That, as the plants, our sons may be

                   in youth grown up that are;

          Our daughters like to cornerstones,

                   carv'd like a palace fair.

13      That to afford all kind of store

                   our garners may be fill'd;

          That our sheep thousands, in our streets

                   ten thousands they may yield.

14      That strong our oxen be for work,

                   that no in-breaking be,

          Nor going out; and that our streets

                   may from complaints be free.

15      Those people blessed are who be

                   in such a case as this;

          Yea, blessed all those people are,

                   whose God JEHOVAH is.