Psalms – Chapter 144

Old Testament21 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 144 of Psalms begins: "Praise, for David himself. I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever." David stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 21 verses, two threads run through the text: God's kingdom and kingship and worship and praise. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1Praise, for David himself. I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

2Every day will I bless thee: and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

3Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: and of his greatness there is no end.

4Generation and generation shall praise thy works: and they shall declare thy power.

5They shall speak of the magnificence of the glory of thy holiness: and shall tell thy wondrous works.

6And they shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and shall declare thy greatness.

7They shall publish the memory of the abundance of thy sweetness: and shall rejoice in thy justice.

8The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in mercy.

9The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

10Let all thy works, O Lord, praise thee: and let thy saints bless thee.

11They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom: and shall tell of thy power:

12To make thy might known to the sons of men: and the glory of the magnificence of thy kingdom.

13Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all ages: and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words: and holy in all his works.

14The Lord lifteth up all that fall: and setteth up all that are cast down.

15The eyes of all hope in thee, O Lord: and thou givest them meat in due season.

16Thou openest thy hand, and fillest with blessing every living creature.

17The Lord is just in all his ways: and holy in all his works.

18The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: to all that call upon him in truth.

19He will do the will of them that fear him: and he will hear their prayer, and save them.

20The Lord keepeth all them that love him; but all the wicked he will destroy.

21My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name forever; yea, for ever and ever.

Important Verses in Psalms 144

Praise, for David himself. I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

Psalms 144:1

The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in mercy.

Psalms 144:8

Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all ages: and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words: and holy in all his works.

Psalms 144:13

My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name forever; yea, for ever and ever.

Psalms 144:21

Historical Context

Psalms belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for god's people at prayer in every age. Chapter 144 of 150 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a liturgical poem composed for Temple worship and personal prayer with 21 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. David appear at the center of the events recorded here. It opens with the line: "Praise, for David himself. I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever." It concludes: "My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name forever; yea, for ever and ever. " In terms of historical background, The 150 Psalms are the inspired prayer book of Israel and of the Church, spanning every human emotion—praise, lament, thanksgiving, repentance, and hope. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Psalms around Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile.

Who Wrote It

David is credited with many psalms; others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and anonymous psalmists

When It Was Written

Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, the psalmist voices praise, lament, thanksgiving, or petition before God. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Praise, for David himself. I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever." The passage repeatedly touches on God's kingdom and kingship.

Catholic exegesis reads Psalms 144 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589). St. Gregory the Great and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1988).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Psalms 144 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • 'Be holy, for I am holy': God calls His people to be set apart for Him in every area of life.

People in This Chapter

David1 mention

Reflection for Today

Psalms Chapter 144, containing 21 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation, offers a distinct passage for prayer and meditation.

The Magisterium teaches that every biblical passage must be read in light of Christ, the center of Scripture (CIC 1324). Here the emphasis falls on the Eucharist as source and summit, which shapes how the Church understands prayer, praise, and the full range of human emotion before God.

Entrust your meditation to Mary, who pondered God's Word in her heart. Through her intercession, may the message of the Eucharist as source and summit bear fruit in humility, courage, and charity this day.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Psalms Chapter 144 about?

Psalms 144 contains 21 verses. It opens with "Praise, for David himself. I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever." and closes with "My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name forever; yea, for ever and ever. ". The book as a whole is liturgical poetry and prayer.

What is a key verse in Psalms 144?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Praise, for David himself. I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Psalms Chapter 144?

This chapter mentions David.

Who wrote Psalms and when?

David is credited with many psalms; others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and anonymous psalmists. Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile.

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