Blessed Be the LORD, My Rock
Psalm 144 summary: what it means
Psalm 144 opens with praise for God as a rock who trains the writer's hands for war and his fingers for battle. It piles up names for God: loving kindness, fortress, high tower, deliverer and shield. Then it pauses to ask why God cares for humans at all, since a person is like a breath and a passing shadow. From there it asks God to come down in storm and rescue him.
After a promise to sing a new song on a ten-stringed lyre, the prayer for rescue from deceitful foreigners is repeated. The ending is unexpected for a psalm that began with battle. It pictures peace: sons like growing plants, daughters like carved pillars, full barns, flocks by the thousand, and no outcry in the streets. Happy are the people whose God is the LORD.
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Psalm 144: Blessed Be the LORD, My Rock
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-144
Psalm 144 commentary: explained verse by verse
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,who trains my hands to war,and my fingers to battle—
Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
The psalm begins by blessing God as a rock and gives an unusual reason: he trains the writer's hands for war and his fingers for battle. Skill in fighting is credited to God. The KJV reads which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.
Also read Isaiah 45:24, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Psalm 44:3-4, 2 Samuel 22:35
my loving kindness, my fortress,my high tower, my deliverer,my shield, and he in whom I take refuge,who subdues my people under me.
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.
A run of titles follows: loving kindness, fortress, high tower, deliverer, shield and refuge. The verse ends by crediting God with subduing the writer's people under him, which fits the royal voice of the psalm.
Also read Psalm 18:2, Psalm 59:9, Psalm 84:9, 2 Samuel 22:40-48
LORD, what is man, that you care for him?Or the son of man, that you think of him?
LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
The praise pauses for a question. Why would God care for man, or think of the son of man at all? The question sets up the humility of the next verse.
Also read Job 15:14, Psalm 8:4, Hebrews 2:6, Job 7:17
Man is like a breath.His days are like a shadow that passes away.
Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
The answer is honest about human weakness. A person is like a breath, and his days are like a shadow that passes away. The KJV has Man is like to vanity.
Also read Job 14:1-3, 1 Chronicles 29:15, Psalm 109:23, 2 Samuel 14:14
Part your heavens, LORD, and come down.Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.
Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
The prayer asks God to part the heavens and come down. Touching the mountains so that they smoke is a picture of God arriving in power.
Also read Hebrews 12:18, Psalm 104:32, Isaiah 64:1-2, Nahum 1:3-6
Throw out lightning, and scatter them.Send out your arrows, and rout them.
Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
The storm imagery continues. Lightning and arrows are asked for, to scatter the enemy and rout them.
Also read Psalm 21:12, 2 Samuel 22:12-15, Psalm 18:13-14, Deuteronomy 32:23
Stretch out your hand from above,rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters,out of the hands of foreigners,
Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;
The request becomes rescue. God's hand is asked to reach down from above and pull the writer out of great waters and out of the hands of foreigners.
Also read Psalm 69:14-15, Malachi 2:11, Psalm 18:16, Revelation 12:15-16
whose mouths speak deceit,whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
Also read Psalm 62:4, Deuteronomy 32:40, Psalm 41:6, Isaiah 59:5-7
I will sing a new song to you, God.On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you.
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.
In the middle of the prayer, the writer promises a new song on a ten-stringed lyre. Praise is pledged before any rescue is described.
Also read Psalm 98:1, 1 Chronicles 25:1-6, Revelation 5:9-10, Psalm 81:1-3
You are he who gives salvation to kings,who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword.
It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
God is named as the one who gives salvation to kings and rescues David his servant from the deadly sword. This is the only verse in the psalm that names David.
Also read Psalm 140:7, Psalm 18:50, 2 Samuel 8:6-14, 2 Kings 5:1
Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hands of foreigners,whose mouths speak deceit,whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
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:
The request of verses 7 and 8 is repeated almost word for word. The foreigners are again described by their deceitful mouths and their right hand of falsehood.
Also read 2 Samuel 10:6-19, 2 Samuel 17:1-14, Psalm 144:7-8, Psalm 12:2
Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants,our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
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:
The psalm turns from battle to a picture of home. Sons are like well nurtured plants and daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace, images of healthy growth and beauty.
Also read Psalm 128:3, 1 Peter 3:3-6, Proverbs 31:10-27, Lamentations 4:2
Our barns are full, filled with all kinds of provision.Our sheep produce thousands and ten thousands in our fields.
That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
Also read Deuteronomy 8:3, Psalm 107:37-38, Deuteronomy 28:8, Leviticus 26:10
Our oxen will pull heavy loads.There is no breaking in, and no going away,and no outcry in our streets.
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.
Also read Zechariah 8:3-5, Jeremiah 13:17-19, Deuteronomy 28:7, Jeremiah 14:2
Happy are the people who are in such a situation.Happy are the people whose God is the LORD.
Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
The last verse sums up both halves. People in such a situation are happy, and happy are the people whose God is the LORD.
Also read Psalm 33:12, Psalm 65:4, Ephesians 1:3, Psalm 89:15
A prayer from Psalm 144
Blessed are you, LORD, my rock, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer and my shield. I take refuge in you. What am I, that you care for me? My days are like a breath, like a shadow that passes away. Stretch out your hand from above. Rescue me from great waters and from those whose mouths speak deceit. I will sing a new song to you. Let our sons be like well nurtured plants and our daughters like carved pillars. Let there be no outcry in our streets. Happy are the people whose God is the LORD. Amen.
Psalm 144 Bible study questions
- In verses 1 and 2, what names does the writer give the LORD?
- In verses 3 and 4, what question does the writer ask, and what pictures does he use for a human life?
- The psalm moves from a short life in verse 4 to full barns and safe streets in verses 12 to 14. What do you make of that change?
- Which of the names for God in verse 2 means the most to you right now, and why?
- Psalm 8:4 asks the same question as Psalm 144:3. What answer does each psalm give in the verses that follow?
Questions about Psalm 144
What does Psalm 144 mean?
It is a prayer for rescue in a royal voice, framed by praise for God as rock and fortress. It ends by picturing a peaceful, prosperous people whose God is the LORD.
Who wrote Psalm 144?
The heading attributes it to David, and verse 10 names David as the servant God rescues from the deadly sword.
What does Psalm 144:1 mean?
It blesses God as a rock and credits him with training the writer's hands for war and fingers for battle. The KJV reads: Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.
What does Psalm 144:4 mean?
It says a person is like a breath and his days like a shadow that passes away. It follows the question of verse 3 about why God cares for humans at all.
What does Psalm 144:12 mean?
It pictures sons like well nurtured plants and daughters like carved pillars adorning a palace, part of the psalm's closing picture of a blessed people.
What does Psalm 144:3 mean?
It asks why the LORD cares for man, or thinks of the son of man, at all. The question sets up the admission of human frailty in verse 4.
Psalm 144 KJV: the King James Version
Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:1
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.2
LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!3
Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.4
Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.5
Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.6
Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;7
Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.8
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.9
It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.10
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:11
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:12
That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:13
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.14
Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.15
Psalm 144 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ בָּ֘ר֤וּךְ יְהוָ֨ה ׀ צוּרִ֗י הַֽמְלַמֵּ֣ד יָדַ֣י לַקְרָ֑ב אֶ֝צְבְּעוֹתַ֗י לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
2 חַסְדִּ֥י וּמְצוּדָתִי֮ מִשְׂגַּבִּ֪י וּֽמְפַלְטִ֫י לִ֥י מָ֭גִנִּי וּב֣וֹ חָסִ֑יתִי הָרוֹדֵ֖ד עַמִּ֣י תַחְתָּֽי׃
3 יְֽהוָ֗ה מָה־אָ֭דָם וַתֵּדָעֵ֑הוּ בֶּן־אֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ וַֽתְּחַשְּׁבֵֽהוּ׃
4 אָ֭דָם לַהֶ֣בֶל דָּמָ֑ה יָ֝מָ֗יו כְּצֵ֣ל עוֹבֵֽר׃
5 יְ֭הוָה הַט־שָׁמֶ֣יךָ וְתֵרֵ֑ד גַּ֖ע בֶּהָרִ֣ים וְֽיֶעֱשָֽׁנוּ׃
6 בְּר֣וֹק בָּ֭רָק וּתְפִיצֵ֑ם שְׁלַ֥ח חִ֝צֶּ֗יךָ וּתְהֻמֵּֽם׃
7 שְׁלַ֥ח יָדֶ֗יךָ מִמָּ֫ר֥וֹם פְּצֵ֣נִי וְ֭הַצִּילֵנִי מִמַּ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים מִ֝יַּ֗ד בְּנֵ֣י נֵכָֽר׃
8 אֲשֶׁ֣ר פִּ֭יהֶם דִּבֶּר־שָׁ֑וְא וִֽ֝ימִינָ֗ם יְמִ֣ין שָֽׁקֶר׃
9 אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים שִׁ֣יר חָ֭דָשׁ אָשִׁ֣ירָה לָּ֑ךְ בְּנֵ֥בֶל עָ֝שׂ֗וֹר אֲזַמְּרָה־לָּֽךְ׃
10 הַנּוֹתֵ֥ן תְּשׁוּעָ֗ה לַמְּלָ֫כִ֥ים הַ֭פּוֹצֶה אֶת־דָּוִ֥ד עַבְדּ֗וֹ מֵחֶ֥רֶב רָעָֽה׃
11 פְּצֵ֥נִי וְהַצִּילֵנִי֮ מִיַּ֪ד בְּֽנֵי־נֵ֫כָ֥ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר פִּ֭יהֶם דִּבֶּר־שָׁ֑וְא וִֽ֝ימִינָ֗ם יְמִ֣ין שָֽׁקֶר׃
12 אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּנֵ֨ינוּ ׀ כִּנְטִעִים֮ מְגֻדָּלִ֪ים בִּֽנְעוּרֵ֫יהֶ֥ם בְּנוֹתֵ֥ינוּ כְזָוִיֹּ֑ת מְ֝חֻטָּב֗וֹת תַּבְנִ֥ית הֵיכָֽל׃
13 מְזָוֵ֣ינוּ מְלֵאִים֮ מְפִיקִ֥ים מִזַּ֗ן אֶ֫ל־זַ֥ן צֹאונֵ֣נוּ מַ֭אֲלִיפוֹת מְרֻבָּב֗וֹת בְּחוּצוֹתֵֽינוּ׃
14 אַלּוּפֵ֗ינוּ מְֽסֻבָּ֫לִ֥ים אֵֽין־פֶּ֭רֶץ וְאֵ֣ין יוֹצֵ֑את וְאֵ֥ין צְ֝וָחָ֗ה בִּרְחֹבֹתֵֽינוּ׃
15 אַשְׁרֵ֣י הָ֭עָם שֶׁכָּ֣כָה לּ֑וֹ אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הָ֝עָ֗ם שֶׁיֲהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽיו׃
Psalm 144 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 143 there.
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1 Blessed be the Lord my God, who teacheth my hands to fight, and my fingers to war.
2 My mercy, and my refuge: my support, and my deliverer: My protector, and I have hoped in him: who subdueth my people under me.
3 Lord, what is man, that thou art made known to him? or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?
4 Man is like to vanity: his days pass away like a shadow.
5 Lord, bow down thy heavens and descend: touch the mountains and they shall smoke.
6 Send forth lightning, and thou shalt scatter them: shoot out thy arrows, and thou shalt trouble them.
7 Put forth thy hand from on high, take me out, and deliver me from many waters: from the hand of strange children:
8 Whose mouth hath spoken vanity: and their right hand is the right hand of iniquity.
9 To thee, O God, I will sing a new canticle: on the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings I will sing praises to thee.
10 Who givest salvation to kings: who hast redeemed thy servant David from the malicious sword:
11 Deliver me, And rescue me out of the hand of strange children; whose mouth hath spoken vanity: and their right hand is the right hand of iniquity:
12 Whose sons are as new plants in their youth: Their daughters decked out, adorned round about after the similitude of a temple:
13 Their storehouses full, flowing out of this into that. Their sheep fruitful in young, abounding in their goings forth:
14 Their oxen fat. There is no breach of wall, nor passage, nor crying out in their streets.
15 They have called the people happy, that hath these things: but happy is that people whose God is the Lord.
Psalm 144 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 143.
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1 Psalmus David. Adversus Goliath. Benedictus Dominus Deus meus, qui docet manus meas ad prælium, et digitos meos ad bellum.
2 Misericordia mea et refugium meum; susceptor meus et liberator meus; protector meus, et in ipso speravi, qui subdit populum meum sub me.
3 Domine, quid est homo, quia innotuisti ei? aut filius hominis, quia reputas eum?
4 Homo vanitati similis factus est; dies ejus sicut umbra prætereunt.
5 Domine, inclina cælos tuos, et descende; tange montes, et fumigabunt.
6 Fulgura coruscationem, et dissipabis eos; emitte sagittas tuas, et conturbabis eos.
7 Emitte manum tuam de alto: eripe me, et libera me de aquis multis, de manu filiorum alienorum:
8 quorum os locutum est vanitatem, et dextera eorum dextera iniquitatis.
9 Deus, canticum novum cantabo tibi; in psalterio decachordo psallam tibi.
10 Qui das salutem regibus, qui redemisti David servum tuum de gladio maligno,
11 eripe me, et erue me de manu filiorum alienorum, quorum os locutum est vanitatem, et dextera eorum dextera iniquitatis.
12 Quorum filii sicut novellæ plantationes in juventute sua; filiæ eorum compositæ, circumornatæ ut similitudo templi.
13 Promptuaria eorum plena, eructantia ex hoc in illud; oves eorum fœtosæ, abundantes in egressibus suis;
14 boves eorum crassæ. Non est ruina maceriæ, neque transitus, neque clamor in plateis eorum.
15 Beatum dixerunt populum cui hæc sunt; beatus populus cujus Dominus Deus ejus.
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Psalm 144 at a glance
| Verses | 15 |
| Heading in the text | By David. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David, and verse 10 names David as God's servant. |
| Type | Royal and Prayer |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 143 |
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Psalm 144 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 144 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 144 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 5 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source