Psalm 144 (As read by Anne)

144:1 Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to battle:

144:2 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.

144:3 Yahweh, what is man, that you care for him?

Or the son of man, that you think of him?

144:4 Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.

144:5 Part your heavens, Yahweh, and come down.

Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.

144:6 Throw out lightning, and scatter them.

Send out your arrows, and rout them.

144:7 Stretch out your hand from above, rescue me,

and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hands of foreigners;

144:8 whose mouths speak deceit,

Whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

144:9 I will sing a new song to you, God.

On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you.

144:10 You are he who gives salvation to kings,

who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword.

144:11 Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hands of foreigners,

whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

144:12 Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants,

our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace.

144:13 Our barns are full, filled with all kinds of provision.

Our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields.

144:14 Our oxen will pull heavy loads.

There is no breaking in, and no going away, and no outcry in our streets.

144:15 Happy are the people who are in such a situation.

Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh.