Add parallel Print Page Options

This is a special song that the sons of Korah wrote for the music leader. Sing it to the music that they call ‘Lilies.’

A love song[a]

45 This beautiful song makes my heart very happy.
    I will sing this special poem to the king.
My voice is ready to sing it very well,
    as well as a clever writer can write with a pen.

You are the most handsome man that there is.
    You speak kind words in a beautiful way.
And so God will continue to bless you for ever.
Brave soldier, wear your sword at your side!
    Show what a great king you are!
Wear your royal clothes
    and ride out to win against your enemies!
Win the war on behalf of truth and justice!
Then your strong right hand will do powerful things!
Your sharp arrows will cut into the heart of your enemies.
    Nations will fall down under your feet.
God, you will continue to rule as king
    always and for ever.
Your authority as king will bring justice to your people.
You love people to do what is right,
    and you hate anything that is evil.
So God, your God, has chosen you
    to be greater than all your people.
He has put special olive oil on you,
    to make you happy.
All your clothes have the beautiful smell
    of myrrh, aloes and cassia.
You hear the music of stringed instruments
    that comes from beautiful palaces.
That makes you happy.
The daughters of kings are among your visitors.
Your royal bride stands at your right hand.
    She is wearing gold from Ophir.

10 Royal daughter, listen to me.
Listen carefully to what I am saying.
Forget your people and your family.
11 You are very beautiful
    and the king will want to be with you.
He is your master, so respect him.
12 Rich people will come from Tyre to give gifts to you.
    They will want you to help them.

13 The king's bride is in the palace,
    and she looks beautiful!
Her dress has gold threads in it.[b]
14 Now they lead her to the king in her beautiful clothes.
Her young friends follow after her
    to bring her to the king.
15 They are very happy as they walk together
    and they go into the king's palace.

16 You will have sons to become kings,
    as your ancestors were kings before you.
You will make them princes
    to rule over all the land.
17 In future years I will cause people to remember
    that you are a great king!
Then people will praise you always and for ever.

Footnotes

  1. 45:1 The king in verses 2-9 was the king of Judah or Israel. A king like this was called ‘Messiah’, because God had chosen him to rule his people. The queen in verses 10-15 was the woman that the king married. Christians also know that Jesus is the true Messiah. His ‘queen’ or ‘bride’ is the church, the people that belong to him. Verses 2-9 are words that the writer says to the king. Verses 10-12 are words that the writer says to the queen.
  2. 45:13 ‘threads’ are very thin strings of material.

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)

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.

You are the most excellent of men
    and your lips have been anointed with grace,(B)
    since God has blessed you forever.(C)

Gird your sword(D) on your side, you mighty one;(E)
    clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.(F)
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)
Let your sharp arrows(K) pierce the hearts(L) of the king’s enemies;(M)
    let the nations fall beneath your feet.
Your throne, O God,[c] will last for ever and ever;(N)
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
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)
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.
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)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 45:1 In Hebrew texts 45:1-17 is numbered 45:2-18.
  2. Psalm 45:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 45:6 Here the king is addressed as God’s representative.
  4. Psalm 45:12 Or A Tyrian robe is among the gifts