Blessed be the Lord my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle ~
He is my loving God and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge…
Lord, what is man,
that You look after him?
Or a son of man, that You think of him?
Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow.
Bend down Your heavens, Lord, and come down;
Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
Send out Your arrows and confuse them.
Reach out with Your hand from on high;
Rescue me and save me from great waters,
From the hand of those
Whose mouths speak deceit,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
I will sing a new song to You, O God;
On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You…
Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!
~ from Psalm 144