PSALMS

The One Hundred Forty Fourth Psalm

Benedictus Dominus.

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BLESSED be the LORD my strength, * who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
 
My hope and my fortress, my castle and deliverer, my defender in whom I trust; * who subdueth my people that is under me.
 
LORD, what is man, that thou hast such respect unto him? * or the son of man, that thou so regardest him?
 
Man is like a thing of nought; * his time passeth away like a shadow.
 
Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down; * touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
 
Cast forth thy lightning, and tear them; * shoot out thine arrows, and consume them.
 
Send down thine hand from above; * deliver me, and take me out of the great waters, from the hand of strangers;
 
Whose mouth talketh of vanity, * and their right hand is a right hand of wickedness.
 
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God; * and sing praises unto thee upon a ten-stringed lute.
 
Thou hast given victory unto kings, * and hast delivered David thy servant from the peril of the sword.
 
Save me, and deliver me from the hand of strangers, * whose mouth talketh of vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity:
 
That our sons may grow up as the young plants, * and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple;
 
That our garners may be full and plenteous with all manner of store; * that our sheep may bring forth thousands, and ten thousands in our fields;
 
That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no decay, * no leading into captivity, and no complaining in our streets.
 
Happy are the people that are in such a case; * yea, blessed are the people who have the LORD for their God.