Psalms 45

1 For the leader; on shoshannim. Of the Korahites. A maskil. A love song. My heart is astir with beautiful words: I will sing a song, concerning the king, with tongue like the pen of a ready writer.

Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the sons of Core, for understanding. A canticle for the Beloved. My heart hath uttered a good word I speak my works to the king; My tongue is the pen of a scrivener that writeth swiftly.

2 Your beauty is more than mortal, grace is shed over your lips: therefore God has blessed you forever.

Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.

3 Warrior, strap your sword on your thigh. What glory and splendour!

Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty.

4 Good fortune attend you, as forth you ride in the cause of good faith, and as champion of justice. May your arm instruct you in deeds of dread.

With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign. Because of truth and meekness and justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.

5 Sharp are your arrows; nations fall under you: pierced to the heart are the foes of the king.

Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the hearts of the king’s enemies.

6 Your throne shall endure for ever and ever your royal sceptre a sceptre of equity.

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.

7 Right you love and wrong you hate: therefore the Lord your God anoints you With oil of gladness above your fellows.

Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

8 With myrrh, aloes, and cassia your robes are all fragrant, you are gladdened by music of ivory harps.

Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory houses: out of which

9 King’s daughters stand ready with jewels for you, at your right hand the queen in gold of Ophir.

The daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with variety.

10 Listen, daughter, and see; and incline your ear: forget your folk and your father’s house.

Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father’s house.

11 And when the king desires your beauty, bow to him, for he is your lord.

And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.

12 So shall the Tyrians come with gifts, and the richest of people will do you homage.

And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.

13 The king’s daughter is glorious altogether, with dress of pearls inwrought with gold.

All the glory of the king’s daughter is within in golden borders,

14 In many-coloured robes she is led to the king, with the virgin companions she brought in her train.

Clothed round about with varieties. After her shall virgins be brought to the king: her neighbours shall be brought to thee.

15 The king’s palace they enter with joy and rejoicing.

They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the king.

16 May sons of yours take the place of your fathers, whom you will make princes in all the land.

Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.

17 Your name will I celebrate world without end, so that nations shall praise you for ever and ever.

They shall remember thy name throughout all generations. Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, for ever and ever.