Read Psalms 144 in the King James Bible (opens in a new tab)
Psalm 144 blesses the LORD as the One who trains His servant for battle and becomes his steadfast goodness, fortress, and deliverer. David marvels at human frailty—man is like vanity and his days like a passing shadow—yet still asks God to “bow” the heavens and intervene with power against lying, violent enemies. The psalm includes a vow of renewed worship with a “new song,” trusting God who rescues His king from the “strange children” of deceit. It then paints a public, covenant-shaped vision of a flourishing community: strong sons, fruitful daughters, full barns, thriving livestock, and peace in the streets. The conclusion is clear: true happiness is not mere prosperity, but belonging to the LORD—“happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.”
Psalms 144:1 - 144:15
1 [A Psalm] of David. Blessed [be] the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, [and] my fingers to fight:
2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and [he] in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
3 Lord, what [is] man, that thou takest knowledge of him! [or] the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
4 Man is like to vanity: his days [are] as a shadow that passeth away.
5 Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;
8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand [is] a right hand of falsehood.
9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
10 [It is he] that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand [is] a right hand of falsehood:
12 That 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:
13 [That] our garners [may be] full, affording all manner of store: [that] our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
14 [That] our oxen [may be] strong to labour; [that there be] no breaking in, nor going out; that [there be] no complaining in our streets.
15 Happy [is that] people, that is in such a case: [yea], happy [is that] people, whose God [is] the Lord.