Psaume 144:1-6

1 De David. Béni soit l'Eternel, mon rocher, Qui exerce mes mains au combat, Mes doigts à la bataille,

2 Mon bienfaiteur et ma forteresse, Ma haute retraite et mon libérateur, Mon bouclier, celui qui est mon refuge, Qui m'assujettit mon peuple!

3 Eternel, qu'est-ce que l'homme, pour que tu le connaisses? Le fils de l'homme, pour que tu prennes garde à lui?

4 L'homme est semblable à un souffle, Ses jours sont comme l'ombre qui passe.

5 Eternel, abaisse tes cieux, et descends! Touche les montagnes, et qu'elles soient fumantes!

6 Fais briller les éclairs, et disperse mes ennemis! Lance tes flèches, et mets-les en déroute!

Psaume 144:1-6 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.