Of David. Blessed be the Lord my rock, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

A psalm of David. Blessed is the L rd, my Rock, who teaches my hands for battle, my fingers for war.

my gracious one, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdues my people under me.

Who does lovingkindness with me, who is my fortress, my stronghold, my rescuer, my shield. And I take refuge in Him, who spreads out peoples beneath Him.

Lord, what is man, that Thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that Thou makest account of him!

O L rd, what is man [(Paras and Yishmael)] to You that You have known him [to aggrandize him]; the son of man, that You dignify him?

Man is like a breath: his days are like a shadow that passes away.

Man is likened to breath. His days are as a passing shadow [(the shadow of a bird in flight)].

Bow Thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, that they may smoke.

O L rd, lower Your heavens and descend. Strike the mountains [(the gentile kings)] and let them smoke!

Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out Thy arrows, and destroy them.

Flash lightning and scatter them; shoot Your arrows [(thunderbolts)] and confound them.

Send Thy hand from above; rescue me, and deliver me out of many waters, from the hand of strangers;

Send Your hands from the heights. Free me and rescue me from the multitude of waters, from the hand of strangers.

whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

Whose mouths speak vanity and whose right hand is the right hand of falsehood [i.e., raised to swear falsely].

I will sing a new song to Thee, O God: upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to Thee.

O G d, I will sing You a new song. With lyre and ten-stringed harp I will sing to You.

It is he who gives salvation to kings: who delivers David his servant from the hurtful sword.

Who gives salvation to kings [(Saul being saved from killing David, and David, from being killed, viz. I Samuel 23:27)], who frees His servant David from the evil sword.

Rescue me, and deliver me from the hand of strangers, whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

[(As You did then, so)] free me and rescue me from the hand of strangers, whose mouths speak vanity, and whose right hand is the right hand of falsehood.

For our sons are as plants grown up in their youth; our daughters as corner stones, polished after the fashion of a palace:

[(For now, too, our generation is worthy of Your providence.)] For our sons are like young plants [unblemished (with sin)], grown up [with the same good name that was theirs] in their youth. Our daughters [are tall and stately], like the perfectly aligned corners of the edifice [-stones] of the sanctuary.

our garners are full, affording all manner of store: our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

The corners [of our store-houses] are full [of grain], supplying [(ample bread)] from one harvest to the next. Our sheep increase in the thousands and ten thousands in our demesne.

our oxen are heavy laden: there is no breach or migration: and there is no loud cry in our streets.

Our leaders are borne [i.e., respected (by their charges), so that] there is no breach [in us] and no [evil report] spread abroad and no outcry [(of the tumult of war)] in our thoroughfares.

Happy is that people, that is in such a case: happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

Fortunate is the people who have it so. Fortunate is the people whose G d is the L rd.