Psalm 144

(from Day 30/31 Morning Prayer)

Benedictus Dominus

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