Psalms 144

Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

1I praise the LORD. He is my rock and my strength. He teaches my hands to fight in battle.

2My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

2He loves me and keeps me safe like a strong wall. He saves me and guards me like a shield. I trust him. He puts nations under my rule.

NoteThe KJV says "my goodness." Here that old word means God's steady, faithful love, not something good that David owns.

3LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

3LORD, people are so small. Why do you even think about us?

4Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

4A person's life is like a puff of breath. Our days pass like a shadow moving away.

NoteThe KJV word "vanity" here does not mean being proud. It means something light and empty, like a breath of air.

5Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

5LORD, open the sky and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.

6Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

6Send lightning and scatter my enemies. Shoot your arrows and drive them away.

7Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

7Reach down to me from up above. Pull me out of the deep water. Save me from people from other lands.

Note"Strange children" in the KJV does not mean odd kids. It means people from other lands who fight against David.

8Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

8They say things that are not true. Even their promises are lies.

9I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

9God, I will sing you a brand-new song. I will play music for you on a harp with ten strings.

10It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

10You are the one who gives kings the win. You saved your servant David from the deadly sword.

11Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

11Save me from people from other lands. They say things that are not true. Even their promises are lies.

12That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

12Then our sons will grow strong, like healthy young plants. Our daughters will be lovely, like carved pillars in a palace.

NoteA "corner stone" here is a carved pillar at the corner of a palace. It was made to be strong and beautiful.

13That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

13Our storehouses will be full of every kind of food. Our sheep will have thousands and thousands of lambs in our fields.

14That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.

14Our oxen will carry heavy loads. No enemy will break through our walls. No one will be taken away. No one will cry out in our streets.

15Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

15People who live like this are happy. Yes, people whose God is the LORD are happy.