← Chapter 143 Chapter 145 →

Lutheran reading notes

In Psalms chapter 144, the wisdom literature continues to explore prayer, worship, lament, praise, and trust in God. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes humanity’s limitations and the need to rely on God's grace and promises. The chapter highlights the contrast between human striving and the faithfulness of God.

Theme: Wisdom, prayer, and faithful living Key people: Wise figures Key place: Israel Liturgical use: Wisdom lections
1 [{A Psalm} of David.] Blessed {be} the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, {and} my fingers to fight: {strength: Heb. rock} {to war...: Heb. to the war, etc}
Psalms 144:1 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2 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. {My goodness: or, My mercy}
Psalms 144:2 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3 LORD, what {is} man, that thou takest knowledge of him! {or} the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
Psalms 144:3 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4 Man is like to vanity: his days {are} as a shadow that passeth away.
Psalms 144:4 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
Psalms 144:5 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
Psalms 144:6 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children; {hand from: Heb. hands from}
Psalms 144:7 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand {is} a right hand of falsehood.
Psalms 144:8 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9 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.
10 {It is he} that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. {salvation: or, victory}
Psalms 144:10 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11 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:
Psalms 144:11 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12 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: {polished: Heb. cut}
Psalms 144:12 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13 {That} our garners {may be} full, affording all manner of store: {that} our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: {all...: Heb. from kind to kind}
Psalms 144:13 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14 {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. {strong...: Heb. able to bear burdens, or, loaden with flesh}
Psalms 144:14 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15 Happy {is that} people, that is in such a case: {yea}, happy {is that} people, whose God {is} the LORD.
Psalms 144:15 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.