Psalm CXLIV.
1
For ever blessed be the Lord,
Who is my strength and might:
For he instructs my hands to war,
And fingers how to fight.
2
My comforter, my fortress strong,
My saviour and my tower:
My shield, my trust, and he by whom
I am a conqueror.
3
Lord, what is man, I well may say,
That thou shoul'dst notice take?
Or son of man that thou of him
So great account dost make?
4
Vain man to vanity it self,
Compare we justly may:
Whose days like fleeting shadows are,
That quickly pass away.
5
Lord bow the heavens, and come down,
And make the mountains smoke:
Like arrows shoot thy lightnings out,
And slay them with thy stroke.
6
Send, Lord, and save me from the floods;
That strange and wicked race.
Whose words are nothing else but lies,
And actions false and base.
7
Then will I sing new songs to thee
Upon the psaltery:
And on ten stringed instruments
Thy name will magnifie.
8
To him all kings their safety owe,
And all their victories:
Who sav'd his servant David's life
From all his enemies.
9
Now save me from those children strange,
Whose tongues in lies delight:
Nor do they exercise their hands
In doing what is right.
10
And bless us all, that so our sons
Like thriving plants may be:
Our daughters like the polish'd stones,
In palaces we see.
11
Our garners may be stor'd with corn,
And all good things beside:
To thousands and ten thousand too
Our flocks be multipli'd.
12
Our oxen may be stout and strong,
Their labour to maintain:
No breaking in, nor going out,
Nor any that complain.
13
Happy the people that are thus
With peace and plenty stor'd:
Yea rather happy they that are
The people of the Lord.
