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Psalm 45-49
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 45-49
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 45
Ode for a Royal Wedding
To the leader: according to Lilies. Of the Korahites. A Maskil. A love song.
1 My heart overflows with a goodly theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.(A)
2 You are the most handsome of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.(B)
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your glory and majesty.(C)
4 In your majesty ride on victoriously
for the cause of truth and to defend[a] the right;
let your right hand teach you dread deeds.(D)
5 Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God,[b] endures forever and ever.
Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity;(E)
7 you love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;(F)
8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;(G)
9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.(H)
10 Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;
forget your people and your father’s house,(I)
11 and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him;(J)
12 Daughter Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people(K) 13 with all kinds of wealth.
The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;[c](L)
14 in many-colored robes she is led to the king;
behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.(M)
15 With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.
16 In the place of ancestors you, O king,[d] shall have sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.(N)
17 I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.(O)
Psalm 46
God’s Defense of His City and People
To the leader. Of the Korahites. According to Alamoth. A Song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present[e] help in trouble.(P)
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,(Q)
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah(R)
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.(S)
5 God is in the midst of the city;[f] it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.(T)
6 The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice; the earth melts.(U)
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.[g] Selah(V)
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.(W)
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.(X)
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations;
I am exalted in the earth.”(Y)
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.[h] Selah
Psalm 47
God’s Rule over the Nations
To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.
1 Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with loud songs of joy.(Z)
2 For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.(AA)
3 He subdued peoples under us
and nations under our feet.(AB)
4 He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah(AC)
5 God has gone up with a shout,
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.(AD)
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.(AE)
7 For God is the king of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm.[i](AF)
8 God is king over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.(AG)
9 The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted.(AH)
Psalm 48
The Glory and Strength of Zion
A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites.
1 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain,(AI) 2 beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.(AJ)
3 Within its citadels God
has shown himself a sure defense.(AK)
4 Then the kings assembled;
they came on together.(AL)
5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
they were in panic; they took to flight;(AM)
6 trembling took hold of them there,
pains as of a woman in labor,
7 as when an east wind shatters
the ships of Tarshish.(AN)
8 As we have heard, so have we seen
in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in the city of our God,
which God establishes forever. Selah
9 We ponder your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
10 Your name, O God, like your praise,
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with victory.(AO)
11 Let Mount Zion be glad;
let the towns[j] of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments.(AP)
12 Walk about Zion; go all around it;
count its towers;
13 consider well its ramparts;
go through its citadels,
that you may tell the next generation(AQ)
14 that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
He will be our guide forever.(AR)
Psalm 49
The Folly of Trust in Riches
To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
give ear, all inhabitants of the world,(AS)
2 both low and high,
rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.(AT)
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.(AU)
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,(AV)
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?(AW)
7 Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life;[k]
there is no price one can give to God for it.(AX)
8 For the ransom of life is costly
and can never suffice,(AY)
9 that one should live on forever
and never see the Pit.(AZ)
10 When we look at the wise, they die;
fool and dolt perish together
and leave their wealth to others.(BA)
11 Their graves[l] are their homes forever,
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they named lands their own.(BB)
12 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
they are like the animals that perish.(BC)
13 Such is the fate of the foolhardy,
the end of those[m] who are pleased with their lot. Selah(BD)
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
Death shall be their shepherd;
straight to the grave they descend,[n]
and their form shall waste away;
Sheol shall be their home.[o](BE)
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah(BF)
16 Do not be afraid when some become rich,
when the wealth of their houses increases.(BG)
17 For when they die they will carry nothing away;
their wealth will not go down after them.(BH)
18 Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy
—for you are praised when you do well for yourself—(BI)
19 they[p] will go to the company of their ancestors,
who will never again see the light.(BJ)
20 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
they are like the animals that perish.(BK)
Footnotes
- 45.4 Cn: Heb and the meekness of
- 45.6 Or Your throne is a throne of God, it
- 45.13 Or people.
All glorious is the princess within, gold embroidery is her clothing - 45.16 Heb lacks O king
- 46.1 Or well proved
- 46.5 Heb of it
- 46.7 Or fortress
- 46.11 Or fortress
- 47.7 Heb Maskil
- 48.11 Heb daughters
- 49.7 Or no one can ransom a brother
- 49.11 Gk Syr Compare Tg: Heb their inward thought
- 49.13 Tg: Heb after them
- 49.14 Cn: Heb the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning
- 49.14 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 49.19 Cn: Heb you
Psalm 45-49
New International Version
Psalm 45-49
New International Version
Psalm 45[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[b] A wedding song.(A)
1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,(B)
since God has blessed you forever.(C)
3 Gird your sword(D) on your side, you mighty one;(E)
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.(F)
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously(G)
in the cause of truth, humility and justice;(H)
let your right hand(I) achieve awesome deeds.(J)
5 Let your sharp arrows(K) pierce the hearts(L) of the king’s enemies;(M)
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God,[c] will last for ever and ever;(N)
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness(O) and hate wickedness;(P)
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing(Q) you with the oil of joy.(R)
8 All your robes are fragrant(S) with myrrh(T) and aloes(U) and cassia;(V)
from palaces adorned with ivory(W)
the music of the strings(X) makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings(Y) are among your honored women;
at your right hand(Z) is the royal bride(AA) in gold of Ophir.(AB)
10 Listen, daughter,(AC) and pay careful attention:(AD)
Forget your people(AE) and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;(AF)
honor(AG) him, for he is your lord.(AH)
12 The city of Tyre(AI) will come with a gift,[d](AJ)
people of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious(AK) is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.(AL)
14 In embroidered garments(AM) she is led to the king;(AN)
her virgin companions(AO) follow her—
those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,(AP)
they enter the palace of the king.
16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes(AQ) throughout the land.
17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;(AR)
therefore the nations will praise you(AS) for ever and ever.(AT)
Psalm 46[e]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[f] A song.
1 God is our refuge(AU) and strength,(AV)
an ever-present(AW) help(AX) in trouble.(AY)
2 Therefore we will not fear,(AZ) though the earth give way(BA)
and the mountains fall(BB) into the heart of the sea,(BC)
3 though its waters roar(BD) and foam(BE)
and the mountains quake(BF) with their surging.[g]
4 There is a river(BG) whose streams(BH) make glad the city of God,(BI)
the holy place where the Most High(BJ) dwells.(BK)
5 God is within her,(BL) she will not fall;(BM)
God will help(BN) her at break of day.
6 Nations(BO) are in uproar,(BP) kingdoms(BQ) fall;
he lifts his voice,(BR) the earth melts.(BS)
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,(BX)
the desolations(BY) he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars(BZ) cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow(CA) and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[h] with fire.(CB)
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;(CC)
I will be exalted(CD) among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 47[i]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
2 For the Lord Most High(CI) is awesome,(CJ)
the great King(CK) over all the earth.
3 He subdued(CL) nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance(CM) for us,
the pride of Jacob,(CN) whom he loved.[j]
5 God has ascended(CO) amid shouts of joy,(CP)
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.(CQ)
6 Sing praises(CR) to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;(CS)
sing to him a psalm(CT) of praise.
8 God reigns(CU) over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.(CV)
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[k] of the earth belong to God;(CW)
he is greatly exalted.(CX)
Psalm 48[l]
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 Great is the Lord,(CY) and most worthy of praise,(CZ)
in the city of our God,(DA) his holy mountain.(DB)
2 Beautiful(DC) in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon[m](DD) is Mount Zion,(DE)
the city of the Great King.(DF)
3 God is in her citadels;(DG)
he has shown himself to be her fortress.(DH)
4 When the kings joined forces,
when they advanced together,(DI)
5 they saw her and were astounded;
they fled in terror.(DJ)
6 Trembling seized(DK) them there,
pain like that of a woman in labor.(DL)
7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish(DM)
shattered by an east wind.(DN)
8 As we have heard,
so we have seen
in the city of the Lord Almighty,
in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
forever.[n](DO)
9 Within your temple, O God,
we meditate(DP) on your unfailing love.(DQ)
10 Like your name,(DR) O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;(DS)
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.(DT)
12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,(DU)
13 consider well her ramparts,(DV)
view her citadels,(DW)
that you may tell of them
to the next generation.(DX)
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide(DY) even to the end.
Psalm 49[o]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear(DZ) this, all you peoples;(EA)
listen, all who live in this world,(EB)
2 both low and high,(EC)
rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;(ED)
the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.(EE)
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;(EF)
with the harp(EG) I will expound my riddle:(EH)
5 Why should I fear(EI) when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me—
6 those who trust in their wealth(EJ)
and boast(EK) of their great riches?(EL)
7 No one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them—
8 the ransom(EM) for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough—(EN)
9 so that they should live on(EO) forever
and not see decay.(EP)
10 For all can see that the wise die,(EQ)
that the foolish and the senseless(ER) also perish,
leaving their wealth(ES) to others.(ET)
11 Their tombs(EU) will remain their houses[p] forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,(EV)
though they had[q] named(EW) lands after themselves.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,(EZ)
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[r]
14 They are like sheep and are destined(FA) to die;(FB)
death will be their shepherd
(but the upright will prevail(FC) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;(FD)
he will surely take me to himself.(FE)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing(FF) with them when they die,
their splendor will not descend with them.(FG)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—(FH)
and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,(FI)
who will never again see the light(FJ) of life.
Footnotes
- Psalm 45:1 In Hebrew texts 45:1-17 is numbered 45:2-18.
- Psalm 45:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 45:6 Here the king is addressed as God’s representative.
- Psalm 45:12 Or A Tyrian robe is among the gifts
- Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
- Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
- Psalm 46:9 Or chariots
- Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
- Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 47:9 Or shields
- Psalm 48:1 In Hebrew texts 48:1-14 is numbered 48:2-15.
- Psalm 48:2 Zaphon was the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites.
- Psalm 48:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 49:1 In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
- Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
- Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
- Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.
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