(By David.)
A Prayer for the Nation
1I praise you, Lord!
You are my mighty rock,#144.1 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.
and you teach me
how to fight my battles.
2You are my friend, my fortress,
where I am safe.
You are my shield,
and you made me the ruler
of our people.#144.2 of our people: Some Hebrew manuscripts and ancient translations have “of the nations.”
3 # Job 7.1718Ps 8.4 Why do we humans mean anything
to you, our Lord?
Why do you care about us?
4We disappear like a breath;
we last no longer
than a faint shadow.
5Open the heavens like a curtain
and come down, Lord.
Touch the mountains
and make them send up smoke.
6Use your lightning as arrows
to scatter my enemies
and make them run away.
7Reach down from heaven
and set me free.
Save me from the mighty flood
8of those lying foreigners
who never tell the truth.
9In praise of you, our God,
I will sing a new song,
while playing my harp.
10By your power, kings win wars,
and your servant David is saved
from deadly swords.
11Won't you keep me safe
from those lying foreigners
who never tell the truth?
12Let's pray that our young sons
will grow like strong plants
and that our daughters
will be as lovely as columns
in the corner of a palace.
13May our barns be filled
with all kinds of crops.
May our fields be covered
with sheep by the thousands,
14and every cow have calves.#144.14 have calves: Or “grow fat.”
Don't let our city be captured
or any of us be taken away,
and don't let cries of sorrow
be heard in our streets.
15Our Lord and our God,
you give these blessings
to all who worship you.
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