Psalm 144:1-9

1 Salmo 144
Salmo de David.
Alaben al Señor
, mi roca.
Él entrena mis manos para la guerra
y da destreza a mis dedos para la batalla.

2 Él es mi aliado amoroso y mi fortaleza,
mi torre de seguridad y quien me rescata.
Es mi escudo, y en él me refugio.
Hace que las naciones
se sometan a mí.

3 Oh Señor
, ¿qué son los seres humanos para que te fijes en ellos,
los simples mortales para que te preocupes por ellos?

4 Pues son como un suspiro;
sus días son como una sombra pasajera.

5 Abre los cielos, Señor
, y desciende;
toca las montañas para que echen humo.

6 ¡Lanza tus rayos y esparce a tus enemigos!
¡Dispara tus flechas y confúndelos!

7 Alcánzame desde el cielo y rescátame;
sálvame de las aguas profundas,
del poder de mis enemigos.

8 Su boca está llena de mentiras;
juran decir la verdad pero, al contrario, mienten.

9 ¡Te entonaré una nueva canción, oh Dios!
Cantaré tus alabanzas con un arpa de diez cuerdas.

Psalm 144:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 144

\\<>\\. This psalm was written by David; not on account of the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, by a spirit of prophecy, as Theodoret; but on his own account, after he was come to the throne, and was king over all Israel; and was delivered from the was between him and Israel, and from the war of the Philistines, as Kimchi observes, having gained two victories over them: or it was written between the two victories, and before he had conquered all his enemies; since he prays to be delivered from the hand of strange children, Ps 144:7,11. R. Obadiah thinks it was written on the account of his deliverance from Absalom and Sheba; but the former is best. Some copies of the Septuagint, and also the Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions, have in their titles these words, ``against Goliath;'' and so Apollinarius; as if it was written on account of his combat with him, and victory over him; but this clause is not in the Hebrew Bibles; nor could Theodoret find it in the Septuagint in the Hexapla in his time. The Syriac inscription is still more foreign to the purpose, ``a psalm of David, when he slew Asaph the brother of Goliath.'' R. Saadiah Gaon interprets this psalm of the times of the Messiah; and there are several things in it which are applicable to him.