Psalms 45

1 To the chief music-maker; put to Shoshannim. Of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves. My heart is flowing over with good things; my words are of that which I have made for a king; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

For the Leader; upon Shoshannim; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves. My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter; I say: 'My work is concerning a king'; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

2 You are fairer than the children of men; grace is flowing through your lips; for this cause the blessing of God is with you for ever.

Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured upon thy lips; therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

3 Put on your sword, make it ready at your side, O strong chief, with your glory and power.

Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, thy glory and thy majesty.

4 And go nobly on in your power, because you are good and true and without pride; and your right hand will be teaching you things of fear.

And in thy majesty prosper, ride on, in behalf of truth and meekness and righteousness; and let thy right hand teach thee tremendous things.

5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's haters; because of them the peoples are falling under you.

Thine arrows are sharp — the peoples fall under thee — they sink into the heart of the king's enemies.

6 Your seat of power, O God, is for ever and ever; the rod of your kingdom is a rod of honour.

Thy throne given of God is for ever and ever; a sceptre of equity is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

7 You have been a lover of righteousness and a hater of evil: and so God, your God, has put the oil of joy on your head, lifting you high over all other kings.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

8 Your robes are full of the smell of all sorts of perfumes and spices; music from the king's ivory houses has made you glad.

Myrrh, and aloes, and cassia are all thy garments; out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made thee glad.

9 Kings' daughters are among your noble women: on your right is the queen in gold of Ophir.

Kings' daughters are among thy favourites; at thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

10 O daughter, give thought and attention, and let your ear be open; no longer keep in mind your people, and your father's house;

'Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;

11 So will the king have a great desire for you, seeing how beautiful you are; because he is your lord, give him honour.

So shall the king desire thy beauty; for he is thy lord; and do homage unto him.

12 And the daughters of Tyre will be there with an offering; those who have wealth among the people will be looking for your approval.

And, O daughter of Tyre, the richest of the people shall entreat thy favour with a gift.'

13 In the great house the king's daughter is all shining: her clothing is worked with gold.

All glorious is the king's daughter within the palace; her raiment is of chequer work inwrought with gold.

14 She will come before the king in robes of needlework; the virgins in her train will come before you.

She shall be led unto the king on richly woven stuff; the virgins her companions in her train being brought unto thee.

15 With joy and rapture will they come; they will go into the king's house.

They shall be led with gladness and rejoicing; they shall enter into the king's palace.

16 Your children will take the place of your fathers; so that you may make them rulers over all the earth.

Instead of thy fathers shall be thy sons, whom thou shalt make princes in all the land.

17 I will keep the memory of your name living through all generations; and because of this the people will give you praise for ever.

I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations; therefore shall the peoples praise thee for ever and ever.