Psalm 45
Revised Standard Version
Ode for a Royal Wedding
To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song.
45 My heart overflows with a goodly theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
2 You are the fairest of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you for ever.
3 Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one,
in your glory and majesty!
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously
for the cause of truth and to defend[a] the right;
let your right hand teach you dread deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
6 Your divine throne[b] endures for ever and ever.
Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity;
7 you love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness above your fellows;
8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hear, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear;
forget your people and your father’s house;
11 and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him;
12 the people[c] of Tyre will sue your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people 13 with all kinds of wealth.
The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;[d]
14 in many-colored robes she is led to the king,
with her virgin companions, her escort,[e] in her train.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.
16 Instead of your fathers shall be your sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise you for ever and ever.
Footnotes
- Psalm 45:4 Cn: Heb and the meekness of
- Psalm 45:6 Or Your throne is a throne of God, or Thy throne, O God
- Psalm 45:12 Heb daughter
- Psalm 45:13 Or people. All glorious is the princess within, gold embroidery is her clothing
- Psalm 45:14 Heb those brought to you
Psalm 45
American Standard Version
A song celebrating the king’s marriage.
For the Chief Musician; set to [a]Shoshannim. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves.
45 My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter;
[b]I speak the things which I have made touching the king:
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
2 Thou art fairer than the children of men;
Grace is poured [c]into thy lips:
Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one,
Thy glory and thy majesty.
4 And in thy majesty ride on prosperously,
[d]Because of truth and meekness and righteousness:
And [e]thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
5 Thine arrows are sharp;
The peoples fall under thee;
They are in the heart of the king’s enemies.
6 [f]Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:
A sceptre of equity is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
7 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness:
Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee
With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia;
Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made thee glad.
9 Kings’ daughters are among thy honorable women:
At thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear;
Forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house:
11 So will the king desire thy beauty;
For he is thy lord; and reverence thou him.
12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift;
The rich among the people shall entreat thy favor.
13 The king’s daughter [g]within the palace is all glorious:
Her clothing is inwrought with gold.
14 She shall be led unto the king [h]in broidered work:
The virgins her companions that follow her
Shall be brought unto thee.
15 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be led:
They shall enter into the king’s palace.
16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children,
Whom thou shalt make princes in all the earth.
17 I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations:
Therefore shall the peoples give thee thanks for ever and ever.
Footnotes
- Psalm 45:1 That is, Lilies.
- Psalm 45:1 Or, I speak: my work is for a king
- Psalm 45:2 Or, upon
- Psalm 45:4 Or, In behalf of
- Psalm 45:4 Or, let thy right hand teach
- Psalm 45:6 Or, Thy throne is the throne of God etc.
- Psalm 45:13 Or, in the inner part of the palace
- Psalm 45:14 Or, upon
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)