Psalm 144:12
New International Version
Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.

New Living Translation
May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.

English Standard Version
May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace;

Berean Standard Bible
Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters like corner pillars carved to adorn a palace.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; That our daughters may be as pillars, Sculptured in palace style;

New American Standard Bible
When our sons in their youth are like growing plants, And our daughters like corner pillars fashioned for a palace,

NASB 1995
Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;

NASB 1977
Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;

Legacy Standard Bible
That our sons would be as grown-up plants in their youth, And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;

Amplified Bible
Let our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, And our daughters like corner pillars fashioned for a palace;

Christian Standard Bible
Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters, like corner pillars that are carved in the palace style.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters, like corner pillars that are carved in the palace style.

American Standard Version
When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth, And our daughters as corner-stones hewn after the fashion of a palace;

Contemporary English Version
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.

English Revised Version
When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth; and our daughters as corner stones hewn after the fashion of a palace;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
May our sons be like full-grown, young plants. May our daughters be like stately columns that adorn the corners of a palace.

Good News Translation
May our sons in their youth be like plants that grow up strong. May our daughters be like stately columns which adorn the corners of a palace.

International Standard Version
May our sons in their youth be like full-grown plants, and our daughters like pillars destined to decorate a palace.

Majority Standard Bible
Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters like corner pillars carved to adorn a palace.

NET Bible
Then our sons will be like plants, that quickly grow to full size. Our daughters will be like corner pillars, carved like those in a palace.

New Heart English Bible
Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace.

Webster's Bible Translation
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:

World English Bible
Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Because our sons [are] as plants, "" Becoming great in their youth, "" Our daughters as hewn stones, "" Polished—the likeness of a palace,

Young's Literal Translation
Because our sons are as plants, Becoming great in their youth, Our daughters as hewn stones, Polished -- the likeness of a palace,

Smith's Literal Translation
That our sons as plants growing great in their youth, our daughters as corners variegated, the likeness of a temple:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whose sons are as new plants in their youth: Their daughters decked out, adorned round about after the similitude of a temple:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Their sons are like new plantings in their youth. Their daughters are dressed up: adorned all around like the idols of a temple.

New American Bible
May our sons be like plants well nurtured from their youth, Our daughters, like carved columns, shapely as those of the temple.

New Revised Standard Version
May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars, cut for the building of a palace.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as brides richly adorned after the fashion of temples;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Our sons are like plants that grow from their youth and our daughters like brides adorned in the likeness of temples.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
We whose sons are as plants grown up in their youth; Whose daughters are as corner-pillars carved after the fashion of a palace;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
whose children are as plants, strengthened in their youth: their daughters are beautiful, sumptuously adorned after the similitude of a temple.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Blessed Be the LORD, My Rock
11Set me free and rescue me from the grasp of foreigners, whose mouths speak falsehood, whose right hands are deceitful. 12Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters like corner pillars carved to adorn a palace. 13Our storehouses will be full, supplying all manner of produce; our flocks will bring forth thousands, tens of thousands in our fields.…

Cross References
Proverbs 31:28
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:

Isaiah 61:9
Their descendants will be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.

Isaiah 44:3-4
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring. / They will sprout among the grass like willows by flowing streams.

Genesis 49:22
Joseph is a fruitful vine—a fruitful vine by a spring, whose branches scale the wall.

Job 29:5-6
when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, / when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

Zechariah 8:5
And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

Psalm 128:3
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine flourishing within your house, your sons like olive shoots sitting around your table.

Deuteronomy 28:4
The fruit of your womb will be blessed, as well as the produce of your land and the offspring of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

Jeremiah 31:12
They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—the grain, new wine, and oil, and the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like a well-watered garden, and never again will they languish.

1 Samuel 2:21
So the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.

Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. / “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), / “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.” ...

Colossians 3:20-21
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. / Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.

1 Timothy 5:4
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.

Luke 1:17
And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”


Treasury of Scripture

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:

as plants

Psalm 115:14,15
The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children…

Psalm 127:4,5
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth…

Psalm 128:3
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

as corner stones

Job 42:15
And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

Proverbs 31:10-27
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies…

Isaiah 3:16-24
Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: …

polished.

Song of Solomon 8:8,9
We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? …

1 Peter 3:3-6
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; …

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Adorn Carved Corner Corner-Stones Cut Daughters Fashion Fashioned Full Grown Hewn House King's Palace Pillars Plants Polished Similitude Stones Structure Tall Young Youth
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Adorn Carved Corner Corner-Stones Cut Daughters Fashion Fashioned Full Grown Hewn House King's Palace Pillars Plants Polished Similitude Stones Structure Tall Young Youth
Psalm 144
1. David blesses God for his mercy both to him and to man
5. He prays that God would powerfully deliver him from his enemies
9. He promises to praise God
11. He prays for the happy state of the kingdom














Then our sons
The phrase "Then our sons" begins with a focus on the next generation, emphasizing the importance of legacy and continuity in the faith. In the Hebrew context, "sons" (בָּנִים, banim) often represents not just male offspring but the continuation of a family line and the preservation of cultural and spiritual values. Sons were seen as a blessing from God, a theme consistent throughout the Old Testament. This phrase sets the stage for a vision of hope and prosperity, reflecting a desire for the future generations to thrive under God's guidance.

will be like plants
The imagery of "plants" (כִּנְטִעִים, kintaim) suggests growth, vitality, and potential. In ancient Israel, agriculture was a central part of life, and plants were a symbol of life and sustenance. This metaphor implies that the sons will be nurtured and will flourish, deeply rooted in the teachings and traditions of their faith. The comparison to plants also suggests resilience and the ability to withstand challenges, drawing on the natural world's cycle of growth and renewal.

nurtured in their youth
The phrase "nurtured in their youth" highlights the importance of early development and care. The Hebrew word for "nurtured" (מְגֻדָּלִים, megudalim) conveys the idea of being raised or brought up with attention and love. This nurturing is not just physical but also spiritual and moral, ensuring that the young are equipped with the wisdom and values necessary to lead righteous lives. It underscores the role of parents and the community in shaping the character and faith of the young.

our daughters
The mention of "our daughters" (בְּנוֹתֵינוּ, benotenu) alongside sons indicates the inclusive vision of prosperity and blessing. In a patriarchal society, the inclusion of daughters in this vision is significant, suggesting their equal importance in the family and community. Daughters, like sons, are seen as integral to the continuation of faith and tradition, and their roles, though different, are equally valued in the eyes of God.

like corner pillars
The metaphor "like corner pillars" (כְּזָוִיֹּת, kezaviot) evokes strength, beauty, and stability. In ancient architecture, corner pillars were essential for the structural integrity of a building, often ornately designed and highly valued. This imagery suggests that daughters are foundational to the family's spiritual and social structure, providing support and grace. It highlights their role in upholding the family's honor and faith, contributing to the community's overall strength and beauty.

carved to adorn a palace
The phrase "carved to adorn a palace" (מְחֻטָּבוֹת תַּבְנִית הֵיכָל, mechutavot tavnit heikal) suggests artistry, elegance, and purpose. The act of carving implies intentionality and skill, indicating that daughters are crafted by God with care and for a specific purpose. The reference to a palace, a place of royalty and splendor, elevates the status of daughters, portraying them as precious and esteemed. This imagery reflects the belief that every individual, regardless of gender, is created in the image of God and has a unique role in His divine plan.

(12) That our sons.--This rendering of the relative, which so strangely begins this fragment, would be possible after Genesis 11:7; Genesis 13:16, &c, if a finite verb instead of participles followed; or it might mean "because," as in Genesis 30:18, &c, but for the same anomalous construction; or it might, as by the LXX., be rendered whose, if any antecedent for it could be discovered. But all these devices are plainly impossible, and there is nothing for it but to treat the passage which it introduces as a fragment of another poem quite unconnected with the previous part of the psalm. Render, we whose.

As plants.--The Hebrew word seems always to denote a young, vigorous tree lately planted. (See especially Job 14:9, aptly translated by the LXX. ????????. (For the comparison, comp. Isaiah 5:7; Psalm 1:3, Note, Psalm 128:3.) . . .

Verse 12. - That our sons may be as plants. The stanza which these words introduce is a very remarkable one, having nothing at all corresponding to it in the rest of the Psalter. It has been thought by some to be an antique document, quoted by the writer of the psalm, as suited for a festal occasion. Our translation makes it a picture of the condition to which the writer hopes that Israel may one day come; but the best recent critics see in it a description of Israel's actual condition in the writer's day. Professor Cheyne translates, "Because our sons are as plants;" and Dr. Kay, "What time our sons are as plants." Grown up in their youth; literally, grown large. The sons are compared to ornamental trees or shrubs, growing outside a building. That our daughters may be as cornerstones, polished (or, "carved") after the similitude of a palace. The daughters are like carved pillars, lighting up the angular recesses of the structure.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then
אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

our sons
בָּנֵ֨ינוּ ׀ (bā·nê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 1121: A son

will be like plants
כִּנְטִעִים֮ (kin·ṭi·‘îm)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5195: A plant

nurtured
מְגֻדָּלִ֪ים (mə·ḡud·dā·lîm)
Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1431: To grow up, become great

in their youth,
בִּֽנְעוּרֵ֫יהֶ֥ם (bin·‘ū·rê·hem)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5271: Youth, the state, the persons

our daughters
בְּנוֹתֵ֥ינוּ (bə·nō·w·ṯê·nū)
Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 1323: A daughter

like corner pillars
כְזָוִיֹּ֑ת (ḵə·zā·wî·yōṯ)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 2106: An angle, a corner-column

carved
מְ֝חֻטָּב֗וֹת (mə·ḥuṭ·ṭā·ḇō·wṯ)
Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 2404: To cut or gather wood

to adorn
תַּבְנִ֥ית (taḇ·nîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8403: Structure, a model, resemblance

a palace.
הֵיכָֽל׃ (hê·ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1964: A large public building, palace, temple


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OT Poetry: Psalm 144:12 Then our sons will be like well-nurtured (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 144:11
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