12 Our sons are like tall young plants; and our daughters like the shining stones of a king's house;
May the Lord give you and your children still greater increase. May you have the blessing of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Like arrows in the hand of a man of war, are the children of the young. Happy is the man who has a good store of them; he will not be put to shame, but his cause will be supported by them against his haters.
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels. The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands. She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away. She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls. After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work. She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong. She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night. She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel. Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need. She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red. She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple. Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land. She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price. Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile. Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue. She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
We have a young sister, and she has no breasts; what are we to do for our sister in the day when she is given to a man? If she is a wall, we will make on her a strong base of silver; and if she is a door, we will let her be shut up with cedar-wood.
Again, the Lord has said, Because the daughters of Zion are full of pride, and go with outstretched necks and wandering eyes, with their foot-chains sounding when they go: The Lord will send disease on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will let their secret parts be seen. In that day the Lord will take away the glory of their foot-rings, and their sun-jewels, and their moon-ornaments, The ear-rings, and the chains, and the delicate clothing, The head-bands, and the arm-chains, and the worked bands, and the perfume-boxes, and the jewels with secret powers, The rings, and the nose-jewels, The feast-day dresses, and the robes, and the wide skirts, and the handbags, The looking-glasses, and the fair linen, and the high head-dresses, and the veils. And in the place of sweet spices will be an evil smell, and for a fair band a thick cord; for a well-dressed head there will be the cutting-off of the hair, and for a beautiful robe there will be the clothing of sorrow; the mark of the prisoner in place of the ornaments of the free.
For I will send water on the land needing it, and streams on the dry earth: I will let my spirit come down on your seed, and my blessing on your offspring. And they will come up like grass in a well-watered field, like water-plants by the streams. One will say, I am the Lord's; and another will give himself the name, Jacob; another will put a mark on his hand, I am the Lord's, and another will take the name of Israel for himself.
Do not let your ornaments be those of the body such as dressing of the hair, or putting on of jewels of gold or fair clothing; But let them be those of the unseen man of the heart, the ever-shining ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the eyes of God. And these were the ornaments of the holy women of the past, whose hope was in God, being ruled by their husbands: As Sarah was ruled by Abraham, naming him lord; whose children you are if you do well, and are not put in fear by any danger.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 144
Commentary on Psalms 144 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 144
Ps 144:1-15. David's praise of God as his all-sufficient help is enhanced by a recognition of the intrinsic worthlessness of man. Confidently imploring God's interposition against his enemies, he breaks forth into praise and joyful anticipations of the prosperity of his kingdom, when freed from vain and wicked men.