Psalms 144:8-15

8 whose mouth speaks 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 I will sing praises unto thee.

10 Thou, he who gives salvation unto kings, who redeems David his slave from the evil sword.

11 Redeem me, and save me from the hand of strange sons, whose mouth speaks 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 shout of alarm in our streets.

15 Blessed is that people, that is in such a case; yea, blessed is that people, whose God is the LORD.

Psalms 144:8-15 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.