Psalm 144

O blessed ever be the Lord,

who is my strength and might,

Who doth instruct my hands to war,

my fingers teach to fight.

My goodness, fortress, my high tow'r,

deliverer, and shield,

In whom I trust: who under me

my people makes to yield.

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?

Man is like vanity; his days,

as shadows, pass away.

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

the hills, and smoke shall they.

Cast forth thy lightning, scatter them;

thine arrows shoot, them rout.

Thine hand send from above, me save;

from great depths draw me out;

And from the hand of children strange,

Whose mouth speaks vanity;

And their right hand is a right hand

that works deceitfully.

A new song I to thee will sing,

Lord, on a psaltery;

I on a ten-string'd instrument

will praises sing to thee.

Ev'n he it is that unto kings

salvation doth send;

Who his own servant David doth

from hurtful sword defend.

O free me from strange children's hand,

whose mouth speaks vanity;

And their right hand a right hand is

that works deceitfully.

That, as the plants, our sons may be

in youth grown up that are;

Our daughters like to corner-stones,

carv'd like a palace fair.

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.

That strong our oxen be for work,

that no in-breaking be,

Nor going out; and that our streets

may from complaints be free.

Those people blessed are who be

in such a case as this;

Yea, blessed all those people are,

whose God JEHOVAH is.