1 I praise you, Lord!

You are my mighty rock,*

and you teach me

how to fight my battles.

2 You are my friend, my fortress,

where I am safe.

You are my shield,

and you made me the ruler

of our people.*

3 * Why do we humans mean anything

to you, our Lord?

Why do you care about us?

4 We disappear like a breath;

we last no longer

than a faint shadow.

5 Open the heavens like a curtain

and come down, Lord.

Touch the mountains

and make them send up smoke.

6 Use your lightning as arrows

to scatter my enemies

and make them run away.

7 Reach down from heaven

and set me free.

Save me from the mighty flood

8 of those lying foreigners

who never tell the truth.

9 In praise of you, our God,

I will sing a new song,

while playing my harp.

10 By your power, kings win wars,

and your servant David is saved

from deadly swords.

11 Won't you keep me safe

from those lying foreigners

who never tell the truth?

12 Let's pray that our young sons

will grow like strong plants

and that our daughters

will be as lovely as columns

in the corner of a palace.

13 May our barns be filled

with all kinds of crops.

May our fields be covered

with sheep by the thousands,

14 and every cow have calves.*

Don't let our city be captured

or any of us be taken away,

and don't let cries of sorrow

be heard in our streets.

15 Our Lord and our God,

you give these blessings

to all who worship you.