Psalms 144:8

⁷Reach down from on high; set me free and rescue me from the deep waters, from the grasp of foreigners, ⁸whose mouths speak falsehood, whose right hands are deceitful.

Summary

This verse acknowledges God as the source of strength and protection for His people. It reflects the psalmist's trust in God's deliverance in times of trouble, seeking refuge in His guidance and support. The imagery of God's lovingkindness and mercy as a shield signifies His constant presence and care over His children. It serves as a reminder for believers to rely on God's unfailing help and to find peace in His steadfast love amidst life's challenges. Overall, the verse conveys a message of faith, dependence, and gratitude towards God as the ultimate defender and sustainer.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Whose mouth speaketh vanity,.... Vain words, lies, flatteries, and deceit, Psa 12:2; when they speak loftily of themselves, and contemptuously of others; when they deliver out threatenings against some, and make fair promises to others; it is all vanity, and comes to nothing; and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood; their strength and power to perform what they boast of, threaten, or promise, is fallacious, is mere weakness, and cannot effect anything; or their treaties, contracts, and covenants, they enter into and sign with their right hand, are not kept by them; they act the treacherous and deceitful part. The Latin interpreter of the Arabic version renders it, "their oath is an oath of iniquity"; and Ben Balaam in Aben Ezra, and R. Adnim in Ben Melech, say the word so signifies in the Arabic language; and Schultens (m) has observed the same: but the word in that language signifies the right hand as well as an oath, and need not be restrained to that; it is better to take it in the large sense, as Cocceius (n) does; whether they lifted up the hand to pray, or to swear; or gave it to covenant with, to make contracts and agreements; or stretched it out to work with; it was a right hand of falsehood. (m) Observat. Philolog. p. 195. (n) Lexicon, col. 312.

Psalms 144:8

Blessed Be the LORD, My Rock

⁷Reach down from on high; set me free and rescue me from the deep waters, from the grasp of foreigners, ⁸whose mouths speak falsehood, whose right hands are deceitful.