Prosper our handy work thou gracious God,
And further our endeavours with success:
So, on our knees, shall we thy name applaud,
And night and morn our benefactor bless.
THE PRAISE AND COMMENDATION OF A GOOD WOMAN.
By Rev. Rees Prichard, M.A.
Translated by the Rev. William Evans.
As a wise child excells the sceptr’d fool
Who of conceit and selfishness is full—
As a good name exceeds the best perfume,
And richest balms that from the Indies come.
A virtuous, cheerful, and obliging wife
Is better far than all the pomp of life,
Better than houses, tenements and lands,
Than pearls and precious stones, and golden sands.
She is a ship with costly wares well-stow’d,
A pearl, with virtues infinite endow’d,
A gem, beyond all value and compare:
Happy the man, who has her to his share!
She is a pillar with rich gildings grac’d,
And on a pedestal of silver plac’d,
She is a turret of defence, to save
A weak and sickly husband from the grave,
She is a gorgeous crown, a glorious prize,
And ev’ry grace, in her, concent’red lies!
TWENTY THIRD PSALM.
By Rev. Rees Prichard, M.A.