H4/5 L1 1-7. David's words. Praise and Prayer.
M1 8. Words of foreigners. Vain and false.
L2 9-11. David's words. Praise and Prayer.
M2 12-15-. Words of foreigners. Vain and false.
L3 -15. David's words. Right and true.
(The Sept. adds "concerning Goliath". This may be because Psalm 8, which relates to David and Goliath [see its sub-scription], has the same words as i v.4. In any case Psalm 144 is peculiarly appropriate to David's victory [1 Sam.17].)
Psalm 144)
1 Blessed be the LORD my rock (or fortress. Cp. Deut. 32:4. 1 Sam. 2:2; 2 Sam. 22:47. Ps. 18:2,31,46; 19:14; 28:1; 62:2,6.),
Which teaches my hands to war,
And my fingers to fight: (Not merely generally, but specifically in the case of Goliath [1 Sam. 17].)
2 My loving-kindness, and my fortress;
My high tower, and my liberator;
My shield, and He in whom I flee for refuge;
Who subdues peoples under Him.
3 LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him!
Or the son of man, that You make account of him!
4 Man is like to vanity:
His days are as a shadow that passes away.
5 Bow Your heavens, O LORD, and come down:
Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Flash forth lightning, and scatter them:
Shoot out Your arrows, and destroy them.
7 Put forth Your hand from above;
Snatch me, and pluck (or rescue) me out of great waters,
From the hand of strange (always means foreign) aliens;
8 Whose mouth speaks vanity,
And their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 I will sing a new song to You, O God:
Upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises to You.
10 It is He that gives salvation to kings:
Who snatches David His servant from the hurtful sword. (With special reference to Goliath's sword in 1 Sam. 17:50,51.)
11 Snatch me, and liberate me from the hand of foreign aliens,
Whose mouth speaks vanity,
And their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
12 Who [say] our sons are as plants grown up in their youth;
Our daughters are as corner stones,
Polished after the similitude of a palace:
13 That our garners are full, affording all manner of store:
That our flocks may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our open fields:
14 That our oxen may be well laden;
That there be no invasion, no captivity;
That there be no complaining in our streets.
15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case:
Yes [rather], happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. (This last verse being David's own words, denying the vain and false words of the aliens [vv.8 and 12-15], and declaring the truth as to that in which real happiness consists.)