1.
Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
Title, of David = by David. The Septuagint adds "concerning Goliath." This may be because Psalms 8 , which relates to David and Goliath, has the same words in Psalms 8:4 as in Psalms 144:3 . In any case, Psalms 144 is peculiarly appropriate to David's victory (1 Samuel 17 ). Not a "compilation" of "fragments" of some "lost Psalms", but a perfect whole with a perfect design, as shown by the Structure.
Blessed. Figure of Speech Benedictio ( App-6 .). Not Beatitudo as in Psalms 144:15 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
strength = rock, or fortress. Compare Deuteronomy 32:4 . 1Sa 2:2 ; 2 Samuel 22:47 . 2 Samuel 18:2 , 2 Samuel 18:31 , 2Sa 18:46 ; 2 Samuel 19:14 ; 2Sa 28:1 ; 2Sa 62:2 , 2Sa 62:6 .
to war . . . to fight. Not merely generally, but specially in the case of Goliath (1 Samuel 17 ). See Title.
2.
My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
goodness = lovingkindness. The Syriac reads "refuge".
deliverer = liberator. Hebrew. paLatin Not the same word as in verses: Psalms 144:7 , Psalms 144:10 , Psalms 144:11 . See notes below.
trust = flee for refuge. Hebrew. hasah. App-69 .
my People: A special reading called Sevir (see App-34 ), and some other codices, with Aram, rind Syriac, read "peoples". Compare Psalms 18:47 .
under me. In some codices there is a marginal note: "under Him"; and this is read the text, in some codices.
3.
LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
what . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Compare Psalms 8:4 .
man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
Greek. This word is read in some codices, with one early printed edition.
man. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .
4.
Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
Man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
5.
Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6.
Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
Cast forth = Flash. Hebrew lighten lightnings. Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ). See note on Genesis 26:28 .
arrows. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
7.
Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;
Send = Put forth.
hand. Hebrew text reads "hands" (plural); but some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "hand" (singular), which Authorized Version and Revised Version followed.
Rid = snatch. Hebrew. pazah ; same word as in Psalms 144:11 , and "delivereth", Psalms 144:10 .
deliver = pluck, or rescue. Hebrew. naz al; same word as in Psalms 144:11 , not the same as in verses: Psalms 144:2 , Psalms 144:10 .
strange. Always means foreign, in Hebrew, as in early English.
strange children = aliens. Hebrew = sons of the foreigner.
8.
Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
speaketh. Compare Psalms 144:11 ; and note the words they speak in verses: Psalms 144:12-15 .
9.
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
10.
It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
delivereth = snatcheth; same word as "rid", verses: Psalms 7:11 .
David . . . sword; with special reference to Goliath ' s sword in 1 Samuel 17:50 , 1 Samuel 17:51 .
11.
Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh 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:
That = Who. Hebrew. 'asher . Supply the Ellipsis thus: "Who [say] our sons are, &c. "All the words in italic type in verses: Psalms 144:12-15 - maybe omitted, or the Present Tense may be supplied throughout. The verb "say" or "saying" is very frequently to be thus understood. See note on Psalms 109:5 .
may be. Supply "Are" and omit "That".
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:
sheep = flocks.
streets = open fields. Hebrew that which is outside the house.
14.
That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
strong to labour = well laden.
no breaking in = no invasion.
nor going out = no captivity.
15.
Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
Happy. See App-63 . in such a case: i.e. holding the false view that happiness consists in outward prosperity. Compare Psalms 4:6 , Psalms 4:7 , and Psalms 146:3 and Psalms 146:5 .
Yea. Supply the Ellipsis ( App-6 ), not as in Authorized Version and Revised Version, but [Yea, rather], or [Nay]. The last member (Yea, happy is that People, whose God
is the Lord.) being David ' s own words; denying the vain and false words of the aliens (Psalms 144:8 and Psalms 144:12-15 ), and declaring the truth as to that in which real happiness consists. See note on Psalms 4:6 , Psalms 4:7 .