Psalms 144:1-15 King James Version (KJV)

¹ Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

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.

³ LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

⁴ Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

⁵ Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

⁶ Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

⁷ Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

⁸ Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

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.

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:

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:

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:

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.

¹⁵ Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

Psalms 144:1-15 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

¹ [[A Psalm of David.]] ^H1732 Blessed ^H1288 be the LORD ^H3068 my strength, ^H6697 which teacheth ^H3925 my hands ^H3027 to war, ^H7128 and my fingers ^H676 to fight: ^H4421

² My goodness, ^H2617 and my fortress; ^H4686 my high tower, ^H4869 and my deliverer; ^H6403 my shield, ^H4043 and he in whom I trust; ^H2620 who subdueth ^H7286 my people ^H5971 under me.

³ LORD, ^H3068 what is man, ^H120 that thou takest knowledge ^H3045 of him! or the son ^H1121 of man, ^H582 that thou makest account ^H2803 of him!

⁴ Man ^H120 is like ^H1819 to vanity: ^H1892 his days ^H3117 are as a shadow ^H6738 that passeth away. ^H5674

⁵ Bow ^H5186 thy heavens, ^H8064 O LORD, ^H3068 and come down: ^H3381 touch ^H5060 the mountains, ^H2022 and they shall smoke. ^H6225

⁶ Cast forth ^H1299 lightning, ^H1300 and scatter ^H6327 them: shoot out ^H7971 thine arrows, ^H2671 and destroy ^H2000 them.

⁷ Send ^H7971 thine hand ^H3027 from above; ^H4791 rid ^H6475 me, and deliver ^H5337 me out of great ^H7227 waters, ^H4325 from the hand ^H3027 of strange ^H5236 children; ^H1121

⁸ Whose mouth ^H6310 speaketh ^H1696 vanity, ^H7723 and their right hand ^H3225 is a right hand ^H3225 of falsehood. ^H8267

⁹ I will sing ^H7891 a new ^H2319 song ^H7892 unto thee, O God: ^H430 upon a psaltery ^H5035 and an instrument of ten strings ^H6218 will I sing praises ^H2167 unto thee.

¹⁰ It is he that giveth ^H5414 salvation ^H8668 unto kings: ^H4428 who delivereth ^H6475 David ^H1732 his servant ^H5650 from the hurtful ^H7451 sword. ^H2719

¹¹ Rid ^H6475 me, and deliver ^H5337 me from the hand ^H3027 of strange ^H5236 children, ^H1121 whose mouth ^H6310 speaketh ^H1696 vanity, ^H7723 and their right hand ^H3225 is a right hand ^H3225 of falsehood: ^H8267

¹² That our sons ^H1121 may be as plants ^H5195 grown up ^H1431 in their youth; ^H5271 that our daughters ^H1323 may be as corner stones, ^H2106 polished ^H2404 after the similitude ^H8403 of a palace: ^H1964

¹³ That our garners ^H4200 may be full, ^H4392 affording ^H6329 all manner of store: ^H2177 ^H2177 that our sheep ^H6629 may bring forth thousands ^H503 and ten thousands ^H7231 in our streets: ^H2351

¹⁴ That our oxen ^H441 may be strong to labour; ^H5445 that there be no breaking in, ^H6556 nor going out; ^H3318 that there be no complaining ^H6682 in our streets. ^H7339

¹⁵ Happy ^H835 is that people, ^H5971 that is in such a case: ^H3602 yea, happy ^H835 is that people, ^H5971 whose God ^H430 is the LORD. ^H3068

Psalms 144:1-15 American Standard (ASV)

¹ Blessed be Jehovah my rock, Who teacheth my hands to war, `And' my fingers to fight:

² My lovingkindness, and my fortress, My high tower, and my deliverer; My shield, and he in whom I take refuge; Who subdueth my people under me.

³ Jehovah, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?

⁴ Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that passeth away.

⁵ Bow thy heavens, O Jehovah, and come down: Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

⁶ Cast forth lightning, and scatter them; Send out thine arrows, and discomfit them.

⁷ Stretch forth thy hand from above; Rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, Out of the hand of aliens;

⁸ Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

⁹ I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

¹⁰ Thou art he that giveth salvation unto kings; Who rescueth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

¹¹ Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

¹² When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth, And our daughters as corner-stones hewn after the fashion of a palace;

¹³ `When' our garners are full, affording all manner of store, `And' our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;

¹⁴ `When' our oxen are well laden; `When there is' no breaking in, and no going forth, And no outcry in our streets:

¹⁵ Happy is the people that is in such a case; `Yea', happy is the people whose God is Jehovah. Psalm 145 `A' `Psalm' `of' praise; of David.

Psalms 144:1-15 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

¹ By David. Blessed `is' Jehovah my rock, who is teaching My hands for war, my fingers for battle.

² My kind one, and my bulwark, My tower, and my deliverer, My shield, and in whom I have trusted, Who is subduing my people under me!

³ Jehovah, what `is' man that Thou knowest him? Son of man, that Thou esteemest him?

⁴ Man to vanity hath been like, His days `are' as a shadow passing by.

⁵ Jehovah, incline Thy heavens and come down, Strike against mountains, and they smoke.

⁶ Send forth lightning, and scatter them, Send forth Thine arrows, and trouble them,

⁷ Send forth Thy hand from on high, Free me, and deliver me from many waters, From the hand of sons of a stranger,

⁸ Because their mouth hath spoken vanity, And their right hand `is' a right hand of falsehood.

⁹ O God, a new song I sing to Thee, On a psaltery of ten strings I sing praise to Thee.

¹⁰ Who is giving deliverance to kings, Who is freeing David His servant from the sword of evil.

¹¹ Free me, and deliver me From the hand of sons of a stranger, Because their mouth hath spoken vanity, And their right hand `is' a right hand of falsehood,

¹² Because our sons `are' as plants, Becoming great in their youth, Our daughters as hewn stones, Polished -- the likeness of a palace,

¹³ Our garners `are' full, bringing out from kind to kind, Our flocks are bringing forth thousands, Ten thousands in our out-places,

¹⁴ Our oxen are carrying, there is no breach, And there is no outgoing, And there is no crying in our broad places.

¹⁵ O the happiness of the people that is thus, O the happiness of the people whose God `is' Jehovah!

Psalms 144:1-15 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

¹ {[A Psalm] of David.} Blessed be Jehovah my rock, who teacheth my hands to war, my fingers to fight;

² My mercy and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I trust, who subdueth my people under me!

³ Jehovah, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him, the son of man, that thou takest thought of him?

⁴ Man is like to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

⁵ Jehovah, bow thy heavens, and come down; touch the mountains, that they smoke;

⁶ Cast forth lightnings, and scatter them; send forth thine arrows, and discomfit them:

⁷ Stretch out thy hands from above; rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of aliens,

⁸ Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

⁹ O God, I will sing a new song unto thee; with the ten-stringed lute will I sing psalms unto thee:

¹⁰ Who givest salvation unto kings; who rescuest David thy servant from the hurtful sword.

¹¹ Rescue me, and deliver me from the hand of aliens, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

¹² That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; our daughters as corner-columns, sculptured after the fashion of a palace:

¹³ Our granaries full, affording all manner of store; our sheep bringing forth thousands, ten thousands in our pastures;

¹⁴ Our kine laden [with young]; no breaking in and no going forth, and no outcry in our streets.

¹⁵ Blessed the people that is in such a case! Blessed the people whose God is Jehovah!

Psalms 144:1-15 World English Bible (WEB)

¹ > Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, Who teaches my hands to war, And my fingers to battle:

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.

³ Yahweh, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?

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

⁵ Part your heavens, Yahweh, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.

⁶ Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them.

⁷ Stretch out your hand from above, Rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, Out of the hands of foreigners;

⁸ Whose mouths speak deceit, Whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

⁹ I will sing a new song to you, God. On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you.

¹⁰ You are he who gives salvation to kings, Who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword.

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.

¹² Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, Our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace.

¹³ Our barns are full, filled with all kinds of provision. Our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields.

¹⁴ Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, And no outcry in our streets.

¹⁵ Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh.

Psalms 144:1-15 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

¹ <A Psalm. Of David.> Praise be to the God of my strength, teaching my hands the use of the sword, and my fingers the art of fighting:

² He is my strength, and my Rock; my high tower, and my saviour; my keeper and my hope: he gives me authority over my people.

³ Lord, what is man, that you keep him in mind? or the son of man that you take him into account?

⁴ Man is like a breath: his life is like a shade which is quickly gone.

⁵ Come down, O Lord, from your heavens: at your touch let the mountains give out smoke.

⁶ With your storm-flames send them in flight: send out your arrows for their destruction.

⁷ Put out your hand from on high; make me free, take me safely out of the great waters, and out of the hands of strange men;

⁸ In whose mouths are false words, and whose right hand is a right hand of deceit.

⁹ I will make a new song to you, O God; I will make melody to you on an instrument of ten cords.

¹⁰ It is God who gives salvation to kings; and who kept his servant David from the wounding sword.

¹¹ Make me free, and take me out of the hands of strange men, in whose mouths are false words, and whose right hand is a right hand of deceit.

¹² Our sons are like tall young plants; and our daughters like the shining stones of a king's house;

¹³ Our store-houses are full of all good things; and our sheep give birth to thousands and ten thousands in our fields.

¹⁴ Our oxen are well weighted down; our cows give birth safely; there is no going out, and there is no cry of sorrow in our open places.

¹⁵ Happy is the nation whose ways are so ordered: yes, happy is the nation whose God is the Lord.

Commentary on Psalms 144 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Psalm 144

The four preceding psalms seem to have been penned by David before his accession to the crown, when he was persecuted by Saul; this seems to have been penned afterwards, when he was still in trouble (for there is no condition in this world privileged with an exemption from trouble), the neighbouring nations molesting him and giving him disturbance, especially the Philistines, 2 Sa. 5:17. In this psalm,

I. He acknowledges, with triumph and thankfulness, the great goodness of God to him in advancing him to the government (v. 1-4).
II. He prays to God to help him against the enemies who threatened him (v. 5-8 and again v. 11).
III. He rejoices in the assurance of victory over them (v. 9, 10).
IV. He prays for the prosperity of his own kingdom, and pleases himself with the hopes of it (v. 12-15).

In singing this psalm we may give God the glory of our spiritual privileges and advancements, and fetch in help from him against our spiritual enemies; we may pray for the prosperity of our souls, of our families, and of our land; and, in the opinion of some of the Jewish writers, we may refer the psalm to the Messiah and his kingdom.

A psalm of David.

Psa 144:1-8

Here,

I. David acknowledges his dependence upon God and his obligations to him, v. 1, 2. A prayer for further mercy is fitly begun with a thanksgiving for former mercy; and when we are waiting upon God to bless us we should stir up ourselves to bless him. He gives to God the glory of two things:-
- 1. What he was to him: Blessed be the Lord my rock (v. 1), my goodness, my fortress, v. 2. He has in the covenant engaged himself to be so, and encouraged us, accordingly, to depend upon him; all the saints, who by faith have made him theirs, have found him not only to answer but to out do their expectations. David speaks of it here as the matter of his trust, and that which made him easy, as the matter of his triumph, and that which made him glad, and in which he gloried. See how he multiplies words to express the satisfaction he had in God and his interest in him.
  - (1.) "He is my strength, on whom I stay, and from whom I have power both for my work and for my warfare, my rock to build on, to take shelter in.' Even when we are weak we may be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
  - (2.) "My goodness, not only good to me, but my chief good, in whose favour I place my felicity, and who is the author of all the goodness that is in me, and from whom comes every good and perfect gift.'
  - (3.) "My fortress, and my high tower, in whom I think myself as safe as ever any prince thought himself in a castle or strong-hold.' David had formerly sheltered himself in strong-holds at En-gedi (1 Sa. 23:29), which perhaps were natural fastnesses. He had lately made himself master of the strong-hold of Zion, which was fortified by art, and he dwelt in the fort (2 Sa. 5:7, 9), but he depends not on these. "Lord,' says he, "thou art my fortress and my high tower.' The divine attributes and promises are fortifications to a believer, far exceeding those either of nature or art.
  - (4.) My deliverer, and, as it is in the original, very emphatically, my deliverer to me, "not only a deliverer I have interest in, but who is always nigh unto me and makes all my deliverances turn to my real benefit.'
  - (5.) "My shield, to guard me against all the malignant darts that my enemies let fly at me, not only my fortress at home, but my shield abroad in the field of battle.' Wherever a believer goes he carries his protection along with him. Fear not, Abram, I am thy shield.
- 2. What he had done for him. He was bred a shepherd, and seems not to have been designed by his parents, or himself for any thing more. But,
  - (1.) God had made him a soldier. His hands had been used to the crook and his fingers to the harp, but God taught his hands to war and his fingers to fight, because he designed him for Israel's champion; and what God calls men to he either finds them or makes them fit for. Let the men of war give God the glory of all their military skill; the same that teaches the meanest husbandman his art teaches the greatest general his. It is a pity that any whose fingers God has taught to fight should fight against him or his kingdom among men. Those have special reason to acknowledge God with thankfulness who prove to be qualified for services which they themselves never thought of.
  - (2.) God had made him a sovereign prince, had taught him to wield the sceptre as well as the sword, to rule as well as fight, the harder and nobler art of the two: He subdueth my people under me. The providence of God is to be acknowledged in making people subject to their prince, and so preserving the order and benefit of societies. There was a special hand of God inclining the people of Israel to be subject to David, pursuant to the promise God had made him; and it was typical of that great act of divine grace, the bringing of souls into subjection to the Lord Jesus and making them willing in the day of his power.
II. He admires God's condescension to man and to himself in particular (v. 3, 4): "Lord, what is man, what a poor little thing is he, that thou takest knowledge of him, that thou makest account of him, that he falls so much under thy cognizance and care, and that thou hast such a tender regard to any of that mean and worthless race as thou hast had to me!' Considering the many disgraces which the human nature lies under, we have reason to admire the honours God has put upon mankind in general (the saints especially, some in a particular manner, as David) and upon the Messiah (to whom those words are applied, Heb. 2:6), who was highly exalted because he humbled himself to be found in fashion as a man, and has authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of man. A question to this purport David asked (Ps. 8:4), and he illustrated the wonder by the consideration of the great dignity God has placed man in (Ps. 8:5), Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour. Here he illustrates it by the consideration of the meanness and mortality of man, notwithstanding the dignity put upon him (v. 4): Man is like to vanity; so frail is he, so weak, so helpless, compassed about with so many infirmities, and his continuance here so very short and uncertain, that he is as like as may be to vanity itself. Nay, he is vanity, he is so at his best estate. His days have little substance in them, considering how many of the thoughts and cares of an immortal soul are employed about a poor dying body; they are as a shadow, dark and flitting, transitory and finishing with the sun, and, when that sets, resolving itself into all shadow. They are as a shadow that passeth away, and there is no loss of it. David puts himself into the number of those that are thus mean and despicable.
III. He begs of God to strengthen him and give him success against the enemies that invaded him, v. 5-8. He does not specify who they were that he was in fear of, but says, Scatter them, destroy them. God knew whom he meant, though he did not name them. But afterwards he describes them (v. 7, 8): "They are strange children, Philistines, aliens, bad neighbours to Israel, heathens, whom we are bound to be strange to and not to make any leagues with, and who therefore carry it strangely towards us.' Notwithstanding the advantages with which God had blessed David's arms against them, they were still vexatious and treacherous, and men that one could put no confidence in: "One cannot take their word, for their mouth speaketh vanity; nay, if they give their hand upon it, or offer their hand to help you, there is no trusting them; for their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.' Against such as these we cannot defend ourselves, but we may depend on the God of truth and justice, who hates falsehood, to defend us from them.
- 1. David prays that God would appear, that he would do something extraordinary, for the conviction of those who preferred their dunghill-deities before the God of Israel (v. 5): "Bow thy heavens, O Lord! and make it evident that they are indeed thine, and that thou art the Lord of them, Isa. 66:1. Let thy providence threaten my enemies, and look black upon them, as the clouds do on the earth when they are thick, and hang very low, big with a storm. Fight against those that fight against us, so that it may visibly appear that thou art for us. Touch the mountains, our strong and stately enemies, and let them smoke. Show thyself by the ministry of thy angels, as thou didst upon Mount Sinai.'
- 2. That he would appear against his enemies, that he would fight from heaven against them, as sometimes he had done, by lightnings, which are his arrows (his fiery darts, against which the hardest steel is no armour of proof, so penetrating is the force of lightning), that he himself would shoot these arrows, who, we are sure, never misses his mark, but hits where he aims.
- 3. That he would appear for him, v. 7. He begs for their destruction, in order to his own deliverance and the repose of his people: "Send thy hand, thy power, from above, for that way we look for help; rid me and deliver me out of these great waters that are ready to overflow me.' God's time to help his people is when they are sinking and all other helps fail.

Psa 144:9-15

The method is the same in this latter part of the psalm as in the former; David first gives glory to God and then begs mercy from him.

I. He praises God for the experiences he had had of his goodness to him and the encouragements he had to expect further mercy from him, v. 9, 10. In the midst of his complaints concerning the power and treachery of his enemies, here is a holy exultation in his God: I will sing a new song to thee, O God! a song of praise for new mercies, for those compassions that are new every morning. Fresh favours call for fresh returns of thanks; nay, we must praise God for the mercies we hope for by his promise as well as those we have received by his providence, 2 Chr. 20:20, 21. He will join music with his songs of praise, to express and excite his holy joy in God; he will praise God upon a psaltery of ten strings, in the best manner, thinking all little enough to set forth the praises of God. He tells us what this new song shall be (v. 10): It is he that giveth salvation unto kings. This intimates,
- 1. That great kings cannot save themselves without him. Kings have their life-guards, and have armies at command, and all the means of safety that can be devised; but, after all, it is God that gives them their salvation, and secures them by those means, which he could do, if there were occasion, without them, Ps. 33:16. Kings are the protectors of their people, but it is God that is their protector. How much service do they owe him then with their power who gives them all their salvations!
- 2. That good kings, who are his ministers for the good of their subjects, shall be protected and saved by him. He has engaged to give salvation to those kings that are his subjects and rule for him; witness the great things he had done for David his servant, whom he had many a time delivered from the hurtful sword, to which Saul's malice, and his own zeal for the service of his country, had often exposed him. This may refer to Christ the Son of David, and then it is a new song indeed, a New-Testament song. God delivered him from the hurtful sword, upheld him as his servant, and brought him off a conqueror over all the powers of darkness, Isa. 42:1; 49:8. To him he gave salvation, not for himself only, but for us, raising him up to be a horn of salvation.
II. He prays for the continuance of God's favour.
- 1. That he might be delivered from the public enemies, v. 11. Here he repeats his prayer and plea, v. 7, 8. His persecutors were still of the same character, false and perfidious, and who would certainly over-reach an honest man and be too hard for him: "Therefore, Lord, do thou deliver me from them, for they are a strange sort of people.'
- 2. That he might see the public peace and prosperity: "Lord, let us have victory, that we may have quietness, which we shall never have while our enemies have it in their power to do us mischief.' David, as a king, here expresses the earnest desire he had of the welfare of his people, wherein he was a type of Christ, who provides effectually for the good of his chosen. We have here,
  - (1.) The particular instances of that public prosperity which David desired for his people.
    - [1.] A hopeful progeny (v. 12): "That our sons and our daughters may be in all respects such as we could wish.' He means not those only of his own family, but those of his subjects, that are the seed of the next generation. It adds much to the comfort and happiness of parents in this world to see their children promising and likely to do well.
      - First, It is pleasant to see our sons as plants grown up in their youth, as olive-plants (Ps. 128:), the planting of the Lord (Isa. 61:3),
        
        -to see them as plants, not as weeds, not as thorns,
        
        -to see them as plants growing great, not withered and blasted,
        
        -to see them of a healthful constitution, a quick capacity, a towardly disposition, and especially of a pious inclination, likely to bring forth fruit unto God in their day,
        
        -to see them in their youth, their growing time, increasing in every thing that is good, growing wiser and better, till they grow strong in spirit.
      - Secondly, It is no less desirable to see our daughters as corner-stones, or corner-pillars, polished after the similitude of a palace, or temple. By daughters families are united and connected, to their mutual strength, as the parts of a building are by the corner-stones; and when they are graceful and beautiful both in body and mind they are then polished after the similitude of a nice and curious structure. When we see our daughters well-established and stayed with wisdom and discretion, as corner-stones are fastened in the building,
        
        -when we see them by faith united to Christ, as the chief corner-stone, adorned with the graces of God's Spirit, which are the polishing of that which is naturally rough, and become women professing godliness,
        
        -when we see them purified and consecrated to God as living temples, we think ourselves happy in them.
    - [2.] Great plenty. Numerous families increase the care, perhaps more than the comfort, where there is not sufficient for their maintenance; and therefore he prays for a growing estate with a growing family.
      - First, That their store-houses might be well-replenished with the fruits and products of the earth: That our garners may be full, like those of the good householder, who brings out of them things new and old (those things that are best new he has in that state, those that are best when they are kept he has in that state),
        
        -that we may have in them all manner of stores, for ourselves and our friends,
        
        -that, living plentifully, we may live not luxuriously, for then we abuse our plenty, but cheerfully and usefully,
        
        -that, having abundance, we may be thankful to God, generous to our friends, and charitable to the poor; otherwise, what profit is it to have our garners full? Jam. 5:3.
      - Secondly, That their flocks might greatly increase: That our sheep may bring forth thousands, and ten thousands, in our folds. Much of the wealth of their country consisted in their flocks (Prov. 27:26), and this is the case with ours too, else wool would not be, as it is, a staple commodity. The increase of our cattle is a blessing in which God is to be acknowledged.
      - Thirdly, That their beasts designed for service might be fit for it: That our oxen may be strong to labour in the plough, that they may be fat and fleshy (so some), in good working case. We were none of us made to be idle, and therefore we should pray for bodily health, not that we may be easy and take our pleasures, but that we may be strong to labour, that we may do the work of our place and day, else we are worse than the beasts; for when they are strong it is for labour.
    - [3.] An uninterrupted peace.
      - First, That there be no war, no breaking in of invaders, no going out of deserters. "Let not our enemies break in upon us; let us not have occasion to march out against them.' War brings with it abundance of mischiefs, whether it be offensive or defensive.
      - Secondly, That there be no oppression nor faction-no complaining in our streets, that the people may have no cause to complain either of their government or of one another, nor may be so peevish as to complain without cause. It is desirable thus to dwell in quiet habitations.
  - (2.) His reflection upon this description of the prosperity of the nation, which he so much desired (v. 15): Happy are the people that are in such a case (but it is seldom so, and never long so), yea, happy are the people whose God is the Lord. The relation of a people to God as theirs is here spoken of either,
    - [1.] As that which is the fountain whence all those blessings flow. Happy are the Israelites if they faithfully adhere to the Lord as their God, for they may expect to be in such a case. National piety commonly brings national prosperity; for nations as such, in their national capacity, are capable of rewards and punishments only in this life. Or,
    - [2.] As that which is abundantly preferable to all these enjoyments. The psalmist began to say, as most do, Happy are the people that are in such a case; those are blessed that prosper in the world. But he immediately corrects himself: Yea, rather, happy are the people whose God is the Lord, who have his favour, and love, and grace, according to the tenour of the covenant, though they have not abundance of this world's goods. As all this, and much more, cannot make us happy, unless the Lord be our God, so, if he be, the want of this, the loss of this, nay, the reverse of this, cannot make us miserable.

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