Psalm 45

Overview

"Royal wedding song"

Purpose: To celebrate the king (on the occasion of his wedding) for his just and eternal rule.

Content: The king's throne is forever and ever. The king is attractive, wise, powerful, and righteous. The king is due loyalty from his new bride and honour from foreign nations. The king's descendants will be princes. Therefore, the king's throne is forever and ever!

Message: God's chosen king and his descendants rule forever with wisdom, righteousness, and joy.

Author: Anonymous

Translation

Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 45.

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1. For the director. According to “Lilies.” By the Korahites.

A maskil. An ode.

2. My heart has been stirred by a good theme;

I am about to recite my verses to the king.

My tongue is a pen of a skilful scribe.

3. You are the most attractive of all people;

kindness has been poured out by your speech.

Therefore, God has commended you forever.

4. Strap your sword upon your thigh, great one,

in your splendour and your majesty.

5. And in your majesty, victoriously ride

for the cause of truth and humility, righteousness,

and let your right hand show you awesome things.

6. Your arrows are sharp.

Peoples will fall under you;

in the heart of the enemies of the king.

7. Your throne, God, is forever and ever;

the sceptre of your kingdom is the sceptre of righteousness.

8. You love righteousness, and you hate wickedness.

Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you

with the oil, which is rejoicing, more than your companions.

9. All your clothes are myrrh and aloes [and] cassia.

From ivory palaces, stringed instruments have caused you to rejoice.

10. Princesses are among your treasures;

a queen has taken a stand at your right hand in the gold of Ophir.

11. Hear, daughter, and see and incline your ear,

and forget your people and your father’s household,

12. so that the king will desire your beauty,

because he is your husband, and bow down to him,

13. and Daughter Tyre, the richest of people, will seek your favour with a gift.

14. The princess is in her chamber with all kinds of valuable goods;

her clothing [is made] from gold settings.

15. In embroidered cloth she will be led to the king;

young women after her, her female companions,

being brought to you.

16. They will be led with joy and gladness;

they will go into the king’s palace.

17. In the place of your ancestors, your sons will be [princes];

you will appoint them as princes over all the earth.

18. I shall profess your name in all generations.

Therefore peoples will praise you forever and ever.

The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.

For links to other translations of Psalm 45, click here.

Videos

Poetic Features Video

Video forthcoming

Verse-by-Verse

Click the link to view all of Psalm 45 Verse-by-Verse, or click on an individual verse below.

• v. 1
• v. 2
• v. 3
• v. 4
• v. 5
• v. 6
• v. 7
• v. 8
• v. 9
• v. 10
• v. 11
• v. 12
• v. 13
• v. 14
• v. 15
• v. 16
• v. 17
• v. 18

Layer-by-Layer

Psalm Overview

• Grammar
• Semantics
• Story behind the Psalm
• Discourse
• Poetics

Exegetical Issues

• The Division and Syntax of Ps. 45:6
• The Referent of God (Elohim) in Ps. 45:7
• The Identity of the Daughter of Tyre in Ps. 45:13