A psalm of David.
1Praise the LORD, who is my rock.
He trains my hands for war
and gives my fingers skill for battle.
2He is my loving ally and my fortress,
my tower of safety, my rescuer.
He is my shield, and I take refuge in him.
He makes the nations* submit to me.
3O LORD, what are human beings that you should notice them,
mere mortals that you should think about them?
4For they are like a breath of air;
their days are like a passing shadow.
5Open the heavens, LORD, and come down.
Touch the mountains so they billow smoke.
6Hurl your lightning bolts and scatter your enemies!
Shoot your arrows and confuse them!
7Reach down from heaven and rescue me;
rescue me from deep waters,
from the power of my enemies.
8Their mouths are full of lies;
they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.
9I will sing a new song to you, O God!
I will sing your praises with a ten-stringed harp.
10For you grant victory to kings!
You rescued your servant David from the fatal sword.
11Save me!
Rescue me from the power of my enemies.
Their mouths are full of lies;
they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.
12May our sons flourish in their youth
like well-nurtured plants.
May our daughters be like graceful pillars,
carved to beautify a palace.
13May our barns be filled
with crops of every kind.
May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands,
even tens of thousands,
14and may our oxen be loaded down with produce.
May there be no enemy breaking through our walls,
no going into captivity,
no cries of alarm in our town squares.
15Yes, joyful are those who live like this!
Joyful indeed are those whose God is the LORD.