Psalm 144:1–12

1 Praise be to the Lord my Rock,l

who trains my hands for war,

my fingers for battle.

2 He is my loving God and my fortress,m

my strongholdn and my deliverer,

my shield,o in whom I take refuge,

who subdues peoplesa p under me.

3 Lord, what are human beingsq that you care for them,

mere mortals that you think of them?

4 They are like a breath;r

their days are like a fleeting shadow.s

5 Part your heavens,t Lord, and come down;u

touch the mountains, so that they smoke.v

6 Send forth lightningw and scatterx the enemy;

shoot your arrowsy and rout them.

7 Reach down your hand from on high;z

deliver me and rescue mea

from the mighty waters,b

from the hands of foreignersc

8 whose mouths are full of lies,d

whose right handse are deceitful.f

9 I will sing a new songg to you, my God;

on the ten-stringed lyreh I will make music to you,

10 to the One who gives victory to kings,i

who delivers his servant David.j

From the deadly swordk 11 deliver me;

rescue mel from the hands of foreignersm

whose mouths are full of lies,n

whose right hands are deceitful.o

12 Then our sons in their youth

will be like well-nurtured plants,p

and our daughters will be like pillarsq

carved to adorn a palace.