Psalms 45

1 For the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song. My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skilful writer.

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.

2 You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever.

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

3 Strap your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendour and your majesty.

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

4 In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds.

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.

5 Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king’s enemies.

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

6 Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A sceptre of equity is the sceptre of your kingdom.

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

7 You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

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

8 All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.

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

9 Kings’ daughters are amongst your honourable women. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.

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

10 Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.

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

11 So the king will desire your beauty, honour him, for he is your lord.

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

12 The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift. The rich amongst the people entreat your favour.

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

13 The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.

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

14 She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.

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

15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led. They shall enter into the king’s palace.

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

16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You shall make them princes in all the earth.

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

17 I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.

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