Psalm 45/fulltext

Authorship

This Psalm was authored by the Korahites.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. My heart is inditing a good matter. (1)

A. I speak of the things which I have made touching the king.

B. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

II. The King. (2-8)

A. His character:

1. Fairer than the children of men.

2. Grace is poured into Thy lips.

3. God has blessed thee for ever.

B. His conquests:

1. The sword is on His thigh in glory and majesty.

2. He rides prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness.

3. Terrible (awe-inspiring) things are in His right hand.

4. His arrows are sharp in the heart of His enemies; whereby the people fall.

C. His royalty:

1. His throne is for ever.

2. The sceptre of His kingdom is a right sceptre.

D. His rule:

1. He loves righteousness and hates iniquity.

E. His anointing;

1. From God.

2. An anointing of gladness above others.

F. His clothing smells of:

1. Myrrh.

2. Aloes.

3. Cassia.

G. His courts: The ivory palaces.

III. The bride. (9-14)

A. Her clothing is gold and fine needlework.

B. Her commitment:

1. To forget her own people and her father’s house.

2. To worship the king:

a. Because He desires her.

b. Because He is her Lord.

C. Her countenance: Gladness and rejoicing.

IV. The bride’s coming glory. (15-17)

A. She will enter the king’s palace with her followers.

B. Her offspring will be princes in the earth.

C. Her name will be remembered in all generations.

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 45,5(4)A וַהֲדָרֶךָ: וַהֲדָרְךָ {B} MT, σ', Hebr, S, T / / err-voc: G clav וַהֲדָרֶךָ: וְהַדְרֵךְ / hapl: m, s, Hebr

Ps 45,5(4)B וְעִנְוָה {A} MT // facil-styl: G, T clav –וְעַנְוָה וְ, α', Hebr, S clav וְעַנְוַת

Ps 45,10(9) בְּנוֹת מְלָכִים {A} MT, G, Hebr / / theol: S clav בת מלך / midr: T

Ps 45,14(13)A כָּל כְּבוּדָה {B} MT, Hebr, S / / err-voc: G clav כְּבוֹדָהּ / midr: T

Ps 45,14(13)B פְּנִימָה {A}

Ps 45,15 לָךְ {B} MT, G, T // abr-elus: S / lic: Hebr/ facil-styl: m לָהּ