Psalm 45

A Royal Wedding Song

For the choir director: according to “The Lilies.”^(A) A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song.

Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus

⁴³ While^(A) he was still speaking, Judas,^(B) one of the Twelve,^(C) suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes,^(D) and the elders.^{(E) 44} His betrayer had given them a signal. “The one I kiss,” he said, “he’s the one; arrest him and take him away under guard.” ⁴⁵ So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” ^(F) and kissed him. ⁴⁶ They took hold of him and arrested him. ⁴⁷ One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal,^[a] to capture me? ⁴⁹ Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple,^(G) and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures^(H) must be fulfilled.”^(I)

⁵⁰ Then they all deserted him and ran away.^{(J) 51} Now a certain young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following him. They caught hold of him, ⁵² but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.^(K)

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

⁵³ They^(L) led Jesus away to the high priest,^(M) and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes^(N) assembled.^{(O) 54} Peter^(P) followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants,^[b](Q) warming himself by the fire.

⁵⁵ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin^(R) were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death,^(S) but they could not find any. ⁵⁶ For many were giving false testimony^(T) against him, and the testimonies did not agree. ⁵⁷ Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, ⁵⁸ “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands,^(U) and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’” ⁵⁹ Yet their testimony did not agree^(V) even on this.

⁶⁰ Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” ⁶¹ But he kept silent and did not answer.^(W) Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah,^(X) the Son^(Y) of the Blessed^(Z) One?”

⁶² “I am,”^(AA) said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man^(AB) seated at the right hand^(AC) of Power and coming with the clouds^(AD) of heaven.”^[c](AE)

⁶³ Then the high priest^(AF) tore his robes^(AG) and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?^{(AH) 64} You have heard the blasphemy.^(AI) What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.^(AJ)

⁶⁵ Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!” ^(AK) The temple servants^(AL) also took him and slapped him.

Peter Denies His Lord

⁶⁶ While^(AM) Peter^(AN) was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s maidservants came. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”^(AO)

⁶⁸ But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the entryway,^[d] and a rooster crowed.^[e]

⁶⁹ When the maidservant saw him again, she began to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”

⁷⁰ But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean.”^[f](AP)

⁷¹ Then he started to curse and swear,^(AQ) “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

⁷² Immediately a rooster crowed a second time,^(AR) and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.