1

psalms of david

translations in english

1530 2010

Paul AS Harvey

Penname: Stean Anthony

Paul AS Harvey (Stean Anthony): Lectures on the Psalms in English versions 1535-2010. [rev Lecture June 2016]

Psalm Forty-Five Text and Notes.

Versions of Psalms

Miles Coverdale 1535

King James 1611

Philip Sidney c 1580

Sternhold and Hopkins 1562

Tate and Brady 1696

George Sandys 1636

Scottish Psalter 1650

Charles Wesley c 1730

Isaac Watts c 1710

Spurgeon ed. Our Own Hymn Book 1866 Spirit of the Psalms

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Psalter United Presbyterian Ch. of N. America 1887

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Christopher Webber 1986

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Psalms for All Seasons 2012

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Modern Translation of the Psalm NIV

Footnotes and cross refs found on Bible Gateway website: New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

New American Standard Bible (NASB) New International Version (NIV)

Marot & Beze Genevan Psalms c 1550, 1729 (French)

LXX Septuaginta

Vulgata

Japanese

Hebrew

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Miles Coverdale 1535 Psalm 45 1662 BCP:

(copy used from a PDF file modern-spelling edition of Psalms, the Coverdale translation edited by W. S. Peterson and Valerie Macys.)

Eructavit cor meum

1 My heart is inditing of a good matter; I speak the things which I have made unto the King.

2 My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

3 Thou art fairer than the children of men; full of grace are thy lips, because God hath blessed thee for ever.

4 Gird thee with thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou Most Mighty, according to thy worship and renown.

5 Good luck have thou with thine honor; ride on, because of the word of truth, of meekness, and righteousness, and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

6 Thy arrows are very sharp, and the people shall be subdued unto thee, even in the midst among the Kings enemies.

7 Thy seat, O God, endureth for ever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

8 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

9 All thy garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

10 Kings daughters are among thy honorable women; upon thy right hand doth stand the queen in a vesture of gold, wrought about with divers colors.

11 Hearken, O daughter, and consider; incline thine ear. Forget also thine own people, and thy fathers house.

12 So shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty; for he is thy Lord God, and worship thou him.

13 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, like as the rich also among the people shall make their supplication before thee.

14 The Kings daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold.

15 She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework; the virgins that be her fellows shall bear her company, and shall be brought unto thee.

16 With joy and gladness shall they be brought, and shall enter into the Kings palace.

17 Instead of thy fathers, thou shalt have children, whom thou mayest make princes in all lands.

18 I will remember thy Name from one generation to another; therefore shall the people give thanks unto thee, world without end.

King James 1611 Psalm 45:

1 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made, touching the King: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

2 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee forever.

3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth and meekness, and righteousness: and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the kings enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.

6 Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter.

7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia: out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

9 Kings daughters were among thy honorable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy fathers house.

11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him.

12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favor.

13 The kings daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold.

14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needle work: the virgins her companions that follow her, shall be brought unto thee.

15 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the kings palace.

16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.

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

Sternhold and Hopkins H&S 1562 Psalm 45:

1 My heart doth take in handsome godly song to sing;

The praise that I shall shew thereinpertaineth to the King.

2 My tongue shall be as quick,his honor to indite,

As is the pen of any scribethat useth fast to write.

3 O fairest of all men,thy lips with grace are pure

For God hath blessed thee with giftsfor ever to endure.

4 About thee gird thy sword,O Prince of might elect;

With honor, glory, and renown,thou art most richly decked.

5 Go forth with godly speed,with meekness, truth, and right;

And thy right hand shall thee instructin works of dreadful might.

6 Thy arrows sharp and keentheir heart so sore shall sting,

That they shall crouch and kneel to thee,yea, all thy foes, O King.

7 Thy royal seat, O Lord,for ever shall remain;

Because the scepter of thy realmdoth righteousness maintain.

8 Because thou lovedst the right,and didst the ill detest,

Therefore hath God anointed theewith joy above the rest.

9 With myrrh and savours sweetthy clothes are all bespread,

When thou dost from thy palace pass,thereby to make thee glad.

10 Kings daughters do attendin fine and rich array,

At thy right hand the Queen doth standin gold and garments gay.

The Second Part

11 O daughter, take good heed,incline and give good ear;

Thou must forget thy kindred all, thy fathers house most dear.

12 Then shall the king desirethy beauty more and more.

He is the Lord thy God, whom thoumust worship and adore.

13 The daughters then of Tyre,with gifts full rich to see,

And all the wealthy of the landshall make their suit to thee.

14 The daughter of the Kingis glorious to behold;

Within her closet she doth sitall decked in beaten gold.

15 In robes with needle wrought,and every pleasant thing,

With virgins fair on her to waitshe cometh to the King.

16 Thus are they brought with joyand mirth on every side,

Into the palace of the King, and there they do abide.

17 Instead of fathers, thoushalt children multiply,

Whom thou mayest princes make, to rule all lands successively.

18 Wherefore thy holy Nameall ages shall record,

The people shall give thanks to theefor evermore, O Lord.

Tate and Brady T&B 1696 Psalm 45:

1 While the Kings loud praise rehearse,

Indited by my heart,

My tongue is like the pen of him

That writes with ready art.

2 How matchless is thy form, O King!

Thy mouth with grace oerflows,

Because fresh blessings God on thee

Eternally bestows.

3 Gird on thy sword, most mighty Prince;

And, clad in rich array,

With glorious ornaments of power

Majestic pomp display.

4 Ride on in state, and still protect

The meek, the just, and true;

Whilst thy right hand with swift revenge

Does all thy foes pursue.

5 How sharp thy weapons are to them

That dare thy power despise!

Down, down they fall, while thro their heart

The feathered arrow flies.

6 But thy firm throne, O God, is fixed

For ever to endure;

They sceptres sway shall always last

By righteous laws secure.

7 Because thy heart, by justice led,

Did upright ways approve,

And hated still the crooked paths

Where wandering sinners rove.

Therefore did God, thy God, on thee

The oil of gladness shed;

And hath, above thy fellows round,

Advanced thy lofty head.

8 With cassia, aloes, and myrrh,

Thy royal robes abound;

Which, from the stately wardrobe brought,

Spread grateful odors round.

9 Among the honorable train

Did princely virgins wait;

The queen was placed at thy right hand

In golden robes of state.

The Second Part

10 But thou, O royal bride, give ear,

And to my words attend.

Forget thy native country now,

And every former friend.

11 So shall thy beauty charm the King;

Nor shall his love decay.

For he is now become thy Lord,

To him due reverence pay.

12 The Tyrian matrons, rich and proud,

Shall humble presents make.

And all the wealthy nations sue

Thy favor to partake.

13 The Kings fair daughters fairer soul

All inward graves fill.

Her raiment is of purest gold,

Adorned with costly skill.

14 She, in her nuptial garments dressed,

With needles richly wrought,

Attended by her virgin train,

Shall to the King be brought.

15 With all the state of solemn joy

The triumph moves along,

Till with wide gates the royal court

Receives the pompous throng.

16 Thou, in thy royal fathers room,

Must princely sons expect;

Whom thou to different realms mayest send

To govern and protect.

17 Whilst this my song to future times

Transmits thy glorious Name,

And makes the world, with one consent,

Thy lasting praise proclaim.

Philip Sidney Psalm 45 c. 1580:

1 My heart indites an argument of worth

The praise of him that doth the sceptre sway:

My tongue the pen to paint his praises forth

Shall write as swift as swiftest writer may.

Then to the king these are the words I say

Fairer art thou than sons of mortal race

Because high God hath blessd thee for aye,

Thy lips, as springs, do flow, with speaking grace.

First verse only the other verses inferior.

George Sandys (1578-1644) Psalm 45 from Paraphrases Upon the Psalms (1636) p. 154:

1 With heat divine inspired, I sing

A panegyric to the King.

High raptures in a numerous style

I with a ready pen compile.

Much fairer than our human race

Whose lips like fountains flow with grace

For this the Lord thy soul shall bless

With everlasting happiness.

Gird, O most Mighty, on thy thigh

Thy sword of awe and majesty.

In triumph, armed with truth, ride on

By clemency and justice drawn.

No mortal vigor shall withstand

The fury of thy dreadful hand.

Thy piercing arrows in the kings

Opposers hearts shall dye their wings.

Thy throne on waste of time decays

Thy sceptre sacred justice sways.

Thou virtue lovest; but hast abhorred

Deformed vice; for this the Lord

Hath thee alone preferred, and shed

The oil of joy upon thy head.

Thy garments, which in grace excel

Of aloes, myrrh and cassia smell

Brought from the ivory palaces

Which more than other odors please.

Kings daughters to augment thy state

Among thy noble damsels wait;

Thy queen enthroned on thy right hand

Adorned with Ophirs golden sand.

II

Hark, daughter! And by me be taught

Thy country banish from thy thought

Thy house and family forget

His joy upon thy beauty set.

He is thy Lord; O bow before

And Him eternally adore!

The daughters of sea-circled Tyre

Shall bring their purple, and desire

Even they whom wealth and honor grace

To see the sweetness of thy face.

Her mind all beauties doth enfold

Her fair limbs clad in purfled gold

She shall unto the king be brought

In robes with Phrygian needle wrought;

While virgins on her train attend

Whose faith and friendship know no end

Whom they with joy shall lead along,

Eternized in a nuptial song

And with renewed applauses bring

Unto the palace of the king.

Thou in thy royal fathers place

Of sons shalt see a numerous race

Who over all the earth shall sway

While the clear sun directs the day.

My song shall celebrate thy name

And to the world divulge thy fame.

Isaac Watts Psalm 45:

S. M. The glory of Christ, the success of the Gospel,

and the Gentile church. [Watts interpreting the psalm

as a Christian hymn]

1 My Savior and my King,

Thy beauties are divine;

Thy lips with blessings overflow,

And every grace is thine.

2 Now make thy glory known,

Gird on thy dreadful sword,

And ride in majesty to spread

The conquests of thy word.

3 Strike through thy stubborn foes,

Or melt their hearts t obey,

While justice, meekness, grace, and truth,

Attend thy glorious way.

4 Thy laws, O God, are right;

Thy throne shall ever stand;

And thy victorious gospel proves

A sceptre in thy hand.

5 Thy Father and thy God

Hath without measure shed

His Spirit, like a joyful oil,

T anoint thy sacred head.

6 Behold, at thy right hand

The Gentile church is seen,

Like a fair bride in rich attire,

And princes guard the queen.

7 Fair bride, receive his love,

Forget thy fathers house;

Forsake thy gods, thy idol gods,

And pay thy Lord thy vows.

8 O let thy God and King

Thy sweetest thoughts employ;

Thy children shall his honors sing

In palaces of joy.

Isaac Watts Psalm 45 (another version):

L. M. Christ and his church; or,

The mystical marriage. [Watts interpreting the psalm

as a Christian hymn]

1 The King of saints, how fair his face,

Adorned with majesty and grace!

He comes with blessings from above,

And wins the nations to his love.

2 At his right hand our eyes behold

The queen arrayed in purest gold;

The world admires her heavenly dress,

Her robe of joy and righteousness.

3 He forms her beauties like his own;

He calls and seats her near his throne:

Fair stranger, let thine heart forget

The idols of thy native state.

4 So shall the King the more rejoice

In thee, the favorite of his choice;

Let him be loved, and yet adored,

For hes thy Maker and thy Lord.

5 O happy hour, when thou shalt rise

To his fair palace in the skies,

And all thy sons (a numerous train)

Each like a prince in glory reign!

6 Let endless honors crown his head;

Let every age his praises spread;

While we with cheerful songs approve

The condescensions of his love.

Charles Wesley Psalm 45:

1 My heart is full of Christ, and longs

Its glorious matter to declare!

Of him I make my loftiest songs

I cannot from his praise forbear;

My ready tongue makes haste to sing

The beauties of my Heavenly King.

2 Fairer than all the earth-born race,

Perfect in comeliness thou art;

Replenished are thy lips with grace

And full of love thy tender heart;

God ever blessed, we bow the knee,

And own all fullness dwells in thee.

3 Gird on thy thigh the Spirits sword

And take to thee thy power Divine,

Stir up thy strength, Almighty Lord!

All power and majesty are thine.

Assert thy worship and renown

O all-redeeming God, come down!

4 Come, and maintain thy righteous cause

And let thy gracious toil succeed.

Dispread the victory of thy cross

Ride on, and prosper in thy deed.

Through earth triumphantly ride on,

And reign in all our hearts alone.

5 Still let the word of truth prevail

The gospel of thy general grace

Of mercy mild that neer shall fail,

Of everlasting righteousness

Into the faithful soul brought in

To root out all the seeds of sin.

6 Terrible things thine own right hand

Shall teach thy greatness to perform

Who in the vengeful day can stand

Unshaken by thine angers storm

While, riding on the whirlwinds wings,

They meet the thundering King of Kings?

7 Sharp are the arrows of thy love

And pierce the most obdurate heart.

Their point thine enemies shall prove

And, strangely filled with pleasing smart

Fall down before the cross subdued

And feel thine arrows dipped in blood.

8 O God of love, thy sway we own

Thy dying love doth all control

Justice and grace support thy throne

Set up in every faithful soul.

Steadfast it stands in them, and sure

When pure, as thou our God art pure.

9 Lover thou art of purity

And hatest every spot of sin

Nothing profane can dwell with thee

Nothing unholy or unclean.

And therefore doth thy Father own

His glorious likeness in his Son.

10 Therefore he hath his Spirit shed

Spirit of joy, and power, and grace

Immeasurably on thy head;

First-born of all the chosen race

From thee the sacred unction springs

That makes thy fellows priests and kings.

11 Sweet is the odor of thy name

Through all the means a fragrance comes

Thy garments hide the sinners shame

Thy garments shed Divine perfumes,

That through the ivory palace flow,

The church in which thou reignest below.

12 Thy heavenly charms the virgins move

And bow them to thy pleasing sway

They triumph in thy princely love

Thy will with all their hearts obey.

Revere thine honorable word,

The glorious handmaids of the Lord.

13 High above all, at thy right hand

Adorned with each diviner grace

Thy favorite queen exults to stand

Thy church her heavenly charms displays,

Clothed with the sun, for glory meet

She sees the moon beneath her feet.

14 Daughter of Heaven, though born on earth

Incline thy willing heart and ear;

Forget thy first ignoble birth

Thy people and thy kinsfolk here,

So shall the King delight to see

His beauties copied out on thee.

15 He only is thy God and Lord

Worship Divine to him be given

By all the host of heaven adored

By every creature under heaven;

And all the Gentile world shall know

And freely to his service flow.

16 The rich shall lay their riches down

And poor become, for Jesus sake

Kings at his feet shall cast their crown

And humble suit for mercy make

(Mercy alike on all bestowed)

And languish to be great in God.

17 Are not his servants king? And rule

They not oer hell and earth and sin?

His daughter is divinely full

Of Christ, and glorious all within.

All glorious inwardly she reigns

And not one spot of sin remains.

18 Clothed with humility and love

With every dazzling virtue bright

With faith which God vouchsafes to approve

Precious in her great Fathers sight.

The royal maid with joy shall come

Triumphant, to her heavenly home.

19 Brought by his sweet attracting grace

She first shall in his sight appear

In holiness before his face

Made perfect with her fellows here;

Spotless and pure, a virgin train

They all shall in his palace reign.

20 In lieu of seers and patriarchs old

Of whom she once did make her boast

The virgin-mother shall behold

Her numerous sons a princely host.

Installed oer all the earth abroad

Anointed kings and priests to God.

21 Thee, Jesus, King of Kings, and Lord

Of Lords, I glory to proclaim;

From age to age thy praise record

That all the world may learn thy Name.

And all shall soon thy grace adore,

When time and sin shall be no more.

Scottish Psalter 45 (1650 revised 1880):

1 My heart brings forth a goodly thing,

My words that I indite

Concern the King; my tongues a pen

Of one that swift doth write.

2 Thou fairer art than sons of men:

Into thy lips is store

Of grace infused; God therefore thee

Hath blessed for evermore.

3 O thou that art the Mighty One,

Thy sword girt on thy thigh.

Even with thy glory excellent

And with thy majesty.

4 For meekness, truth, and righteousness

Ride prosperously in state.

And thee thine own right hand shall teach

Things terrible and great.

5 Thine arrows sharply pierce the heart

Of the enemies of the King;

And under thy dominion they

The people down do bring.

6 For ever and for ever is,

O God, thy throne of might;

The scepter of thy kingdom is

A scepter that is right.

7 Thou lovest right and hatest ill.

Hence God, thy God, even he

Above thy fellows hath with oil

Of joy anointed thee.

8 Of aloes, myrrh, and cassia

A smell thy garments had,

Out of the ivory palaces,

Whereby they made thee glad.

9 Among thy women honorable

Kings daughters were at hand:

Upon thy right hand did the queen

In gold of Ophir stand.

10 O daughter, hearken and regard,

And do thine ear incline:

Likewise forget thy fathers house,

And people that are thine.

11 And so thy beauty by the King

Greatly desired shall be;

Because he is thy Lord, do thou

Him worship reverently.

12 The daughter there of Tyre shall be

With gifts and offerings great.

Those of the people that are rich

Thy favour shall entreat.

13 Behold, the daughter of the King

All glorious is within;

And with embroideries of gold

Her garments wrought have been.

14 She shall be brought unto the King

In robes with needle wrought.

Here fellow-virgins following

Shall unto thee be brought.

15 They shall be brought with gladness great,

And mirth on every side,

Into the palace of the King,

And there they shall abide.

16 Thy fathers place thy sons shall fill

Whom thou to thee shalt take,

And in all places of the earth

Them noble princes make.

17 Thy name remembered I will make

Through ages all to be:

The people therefore evermore

Shall praises give to thee.

Scottish Psalter 45 (1650 revised 1880):

2nd version select verses

1 My heart inditing is

Good matter in a song:

I speak the things that I have made,

Which to the King belong:

My tongue shall be as quick,

His honor to indite,

As is the pen to any scribe

That useth fast to write.

10 O daughter, take good heed,

Incline, and give good ear.

Thou must forget thy kindred all,

And fathers house most dear.

11 Thy beauty by the King

Shall then desired be;

And do thou humbly worship him,

Because thy Lord is he.

Christopher L. Webber, A New Metrical Psalter (Church Hymnal Corp., 1986) Psalm 45:

Omitted.

Psalms for All Seasons (Faith Alive, 2012). Psalm 45:

Nothing here this time.

Handel Coronation Anthem No.4 part 1 (Composed for the Coronation of King George II in 1727)

My heart is Inditing. This beautiful piece sets a text developed by Henry Purcell for the 1685 coronation, consisting of a shortened adaptation of verses from Psalm 45 (verses 1, 10, 12) and Book of Isaiah (chapter 49, verse 23).

My heart is inditing of a good matter:

I speak of the things which I have made unto the King.

Kings daughters were among thy honourable women

Upon thy right hand did stand the Queen in vesture of gold

and the King shall have pleasure in thy beauty.

Kings shall be thy nursing fathers and queens thy nursing mothers.

Todays New International Version TNIV Psalm 45:

For the director of music. To the tune of Lilies. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song.

1 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.

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

3 Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.

4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice; let your right hand achieve awesome deeds.

5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the kings enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet.

6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.

8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad.

9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.

10 Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your fathers house.

11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.

12 The city of Tyre will come with a gift, people of wealth will seek your favor.

13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold.

14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her those brought to be with her.

15 Led in with joy and gladness, they enter the palace of the king.

16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land.

17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

1 Notes: words and phrases & general interpretation & meaning

General note: It is possible that the first verse is a later addition, as at the beginning of Ps 18. The verse serves to preface the psalm, and also provides us with a clue as to the general meaning and purpose of the Book of Psalms. In a sense, all the psalms are sacred odes to the Divine King, who is God. The psalmist in his heart is ready at all times to compose extemporary, a praise-song for God. It is his job and his skill. The psalm relates to Ps 2 in the image of the triumphant king. The palaces and the strings, this applies both to the palace of the king and the temple of God. It is a central allegory of the Old Testament, and continued in the Gospels in Christ and His teaching about the kingdom of God. For the early church, the daughters of kings are your honored women the early church appealed especially to the royal courts of Europe, which produced many of the early saints, such as Saint Hilda, who married Christ and led a monastery in Whitby.

TNIV: Shoshannim literally, Lilies, either descriptive of an instrument so shaped, or denoting some tune or air so called, after which the song of loves, or, of beloved ones (plural and feminine) a conjugal song. Psalm; that it gives instruction, the song being of allegorical, and not literal, import. It was originally a psalm for the Davidic king and was retained in the collection of the psalms when there was no king, and assumed a Messianic prophetic significance. The union and glories of Christ and his Church are described. He is addressed as a king possessed of all essential graces, as a conqueror exalted on the throne of a righteous and eternal government, and as a bridegroom arrayed in nuptial splendor. The Church is portrayed in the purity and loveliness of a royally adorned and attended bride, invited to forsake her home and share the honors of her affianced lord. The picture of an Oriental wedding is completed by representing the description of the gifts of the wealth with which the occasion is honored, the procession of the bride clothed in splendid raiment, attended by her virgin companions, and the entrance of the joyous throng into the palace of the king. A prediction of a numerous and distinguished progeny, instead of the complimentary wish for it usually expressed (compare Genesis 24:60, Ruth 4:11-2), and an assurance of a perpetual fame, closes the Psalm. All ancient Jewish and Christian interpreters regarded this Psalm as an allegory of the purport above named. In the Song of Songs the allegory is carried out more fully. Hosea (Hosea 1:1-3:5) treats the relation of God and His people under the same figure, and its use to set forth the relation of Christ and His Church runs through both parts of the Bible (compare Isaiah 54:5, Isaiah 62:4 Isaiah 62:5, Matthew 22:3, 25:1, John 3:29, Ephesians 5:25-32). Other methods of exposition have been suggested. Several Jewish monarchs, from Solomon to the wicked Ahab, and various foreign princes, have been named as the hero of the song. But to none of them can the terms here used be shown to apply, and it is hardly probable that any mere nuptial song, especially of a heathen king, would be permitted a place in the sacred songs of the Jews. The quotation of Psalms 45:6; Psalms 45:7 by Paul (Hebrews 1:8-9), as applicable to Christ.

NAB: A song for the Davidic kings marriage to a foreign princess from Tyre in Phoenicia. The court poet sings of Gods choice of the king, of his role in establishing divine rule, and of his splendor as he waits for his bride. The woman is to forget her own house when she becomes wife to the king. Her majestic beauty today is a sign of the future prosperity of the royal house. The Psalm was retained in the collection when there was no reigning king, and came to be applied to the king who was to come, the messiah.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges: argues that the psalm most probably refers to an actual reign, and that it is considered messianic. If an actual king then Jehoram or Solomon. Whatever may have been the original occasion of the Ps., its Messianic significance has been almost universally recognised. The marriage-song of the Jewish monarch laid open thoughts which could only be realised in the relation of the Divine King to His Church. The Targum paraphrases Psalm 45:2; Thy beauty, O King Messiah, exceeds that of the children of men; a spirit of prophecy is bestowed upon thy lips: and Psalm 45:10, Hear, O congregation of Israel, the law of his mouth, and consider his wondrous works. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews quotes Psalm 45:6-7 as a description of the moral and eternal sovereignty of Christ (Hebrews 1:8-9). Song also understood as Bride & Christ the Bride being the Church as with God and His people.

The kings daughter is all glorious within = within the palace. within used often with the Holy Sanctuary.

James L. Mays: composed for a royal wedding. The psalm is unique in addressing the king with the title of Elohim (reserved for God) [different addressee, not the earthly king obviously but the heavenly King in this instance. The Targum reads it as an allegory] comments on the scribe who sings the psalm. A man who has composed the song and offers it.

Robert Alter: points out the difficulty of translation v. 14 kevudah trans. as majestic also means riches. Taken to mean all glorious, i.e. richly adorned within the palace or chamber. This word Strongs 3520 only occurs thrice. Deriving from Kabad meaning weightiness, i.e. wealth & riches, this word used often, found in the Lev 10.3 ek-k- I will be honored. Moses then said to Aaron, This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.

Craigie and Tate: a messianic psalm par excellence.

Hans Joachim: the psalm is unique in its praise-song for the king. There is no other parallel to this song. It has parallels with other praise-songs for kings in the Middle Eastern courts, with similar extravagant epithets. The beauty of the psalm is the prophetically viewed beauty of the eternal kingdom 2 Sam 7.16.

Notes on words:

Indite: 1 To utter, suggest, or inspire a form of words which is to be repeated or written down 2 To dictate to, enjoin (a person). 3 To put into words, compose (a poem, tale, speech, etc.); to give a literary or rhetorical form to [OED]

Purfled: Bordered; esp. having a decorative or ornamental border; bordered with embroidery, gold lace, fur, etc.; fringed; in vaguer use, embroidered, decorated. [OED]

Dispread: To spread abroad or out; to extend, expand, dilate, open out. [OED] an archaic word used often by Edmund Spenser.

Right hand shall Teach thee: demonstrate or give evidence, show right hand = His most powerful servant i.e. Archangel Michael

Seat: throne, place of abode

Sceptre: An ornamental rod or wand (often of gold and jewelled) borne in the hand as a symbol of regal or imperial authority. In England the royal assent to a bill passed by Parliament is signified by the sovereign's touching it with a sceptre. [OED] from OF

Aloes: OE. aluwan, pl. of aluwe, alue, ad. L. alo, a. Gr. , properly the drug and plant described in senses 25 OED; but used also in the Septuagint and N.T. to translate Heb. akhlm, akhlth (cf. Skr. aguru, Hind. aghil) the Agalloch, probably from the similarity of the words. In consequence of this confusion, the word came to be applied in the modern languages, both to the fragrant resin or aloes of the Bible, and the bitter drug or aloes proper. The former is indeed the earliest use in Eng., where also the word was orig. always plural.] [OED] therefore the original meaning is fragrant resin or wood of the agalloch (q.v.), derived from species of two East Indian genera, Aloexylon and Aquilaria. See lign-aloes.

Cassia: An inferior kind of cinnamon, esp. the bark obtained from Cinnamomum Cassia; thicker, coarser, less delicate in flavour, and cheaper than the true cinnamon. More fully cassia-bark. . L. casia (cassia), a. Gr. , ad. Heb. q'tsh a bark resembling cinnamon, but less aromatic. Cassia also used for another kind of tree and fruit used as a medicine (cassia-pods).

Divers: various

Ophir: The name of a place or region mentioned in the OT, whence fine gold was obtained, the locality of which is still uncertain; hence gold of Ophir, Ophir-gold, and Ophir alone (as in Heb. Job xxii. 24), in the sense fine gold. OED

Worship: word formation unique to English from OE. Weorscipe (weorthship). trans. To honour; to regard or treat with honour or respect (as ones parents) Obs. & trans. To honour or revere as a supernatural being or power, or as a holy thing; to regard or approach with veneration; to adore with appropriate acts, rites, or ceremonies (as to worship God).

Bespread: To cover, mark, or diversify (a surface) with (things spread over it); to spread with. OED

Tyre: name originally means rock, Phoenician city on the coast of Palestine (now in Lebanon), important ancient centre of civilization, long independent and a prinicipal rival to Israel in the days of David and the Kings, eventually conquered by Babylon, then Greeks under Alexander then the Romans. Originally an island city, the Phoenicians were the original great sea-power of the Mediterranean cp Mozia & Carthage. Both Tyre and Sidon "were crowded with glass-shops, dyeing and weaving establishments; and among their cunning workmen not the least important class were those who were celebrated for the engraving of precious stones." (2 Chronicles 2:7, 14). Solomon obtained materials to build the Temple from Tyre (which was not a Jewish city!)

Panegyric: A public speech or writing in praise of some person, thing, or achievement; a laudatory discourse, a formal or elaborate encomium or eulogy. OED

Phrygia: an ancient country of Asia Minor. Kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now Turkey, centered around the Sakarya River. Legendary importance to the Greeks. King Midas.

Obdurate: Hardened in wickedness or sin; persistently impenitent; stubbornly resisting, or insensible to, moral influence.

Lieu: in the place, room, or stead of (from French)

Let us learn a couple of Hebrew words for each psalm.

v. 7 Oil of gladness: shemen: fat, oil & sason: exultation, rejoicing

v. 6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

v. 6 kis lhm lm we; e mr, e male.

kisse or kisseh: seat of honor, throne

olam: long duration, antiquity, futurity

ad: perpetuity

shebet: rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe

mishor: a level place, uprightness, equity, justice

malkuth: royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom from the same root as melek

2 Notes: literary comparison & evaluation. Which of these versions communicates the Psalmists feelings?

Psalm 45 Japanese

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amen

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References & Websites

Peter Craigie & Marvin Tate Psalms 1-50 Word Biblical Comm.

Robert Alter The Book of Psalms Translation with Comment.

James L. Mays Psalms Interpretation Commentary

http://psalms.schechter.edu/Rabbi Benjamin J. Segal

http://biblehub.com/Various commentaries found here

http://www.missionstclare.com/english/psalm/psalters.html Anglican Psalters included 1662 BCP also Liturgical Psalter 1977

http://www.cgmusic.org/workshop/allpsalm.htm Music for the Church of God Various Psalters S&H T&B texts in English USEFUL

http://ba.21.free.fr/septuaginta/psaumes/psaumes_1.html Septuagint Psalms

http://www.latinvulgate.com/ parallel English Vulgata Latin ed (Vulgate Douay-Rheims)

http://psautierdegeneve.blogspot.jp/2012/09/psaume-42.html Geneva Psalms French 1587 & 1729

http://www.clementmarot.com/psalms_texts.htm Psalm poems of Clement Marot 1543

http://www.genevanpsalter.com/ Metrical French (Marot) influential melodies (Bourgeois) transl. into Eng and still in use

http://www.covenantofgrace.com/index.htm Scottish Presbyterian Psalter

http://www.medievalist.net/hourstxt/home.htm Book of Hours many Latin Psalms

http://soundcloud.com/john-ross10 Scottish Versions good!

http://www.psalm-singing.org/ Scottish Metrical Psalms sung good!

On YouTube there are beautiful settings of Genevan Psalm melodiesGeneefs psalter

http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm103.htm useful list of articles etc

http://www.chabad.org/ some interesting notes from the Jewish point of view

For English Translations of psalms from the earlier period consult: William J. Chamberlin, Catalogue of English Bible Translations: a Classified Bibliography of Versions and Editions (Greenwood Publishing Group, 1991) 900 pages. Can be seen on Google Books.

Geneva Psalms 1729 (1543 version also available)

Two verses from 1729

5. Des plus grands rois les filles les mieux nes

Sont devant toi, de tes prsents ornes;

L, ton pouse est seule ton ct,

Qui dor dOphir couronne sa beaut.

coute donc, fille sans pareille;

mes conseils daigne prter loreille;

Pre, et patrie, il faut tout oublier,

Pour dautres nuds dont tu dois te lier.

6. Le Roi, touch de ta grce divine,

Pour son pouse unique te destine;

Et puisquil est ton Seigneur et ton Roi,

Ton cur lui doit son hommage et sa foi.

Tyr tes pieds portera ses richesses,

Les nations te seront des largesses;

Mais tous ces dons, ces dehors clatants

Ngalent pas la gloire du dedans.

Vulgata Psalm 45 (44 in Vulgate)

VERSIO VULGATA.

1. In finem, pro iis qui commutabuntur, filiis Core, ad intellectum, Canticum pro dilecto.

2.Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum; dico ego opera mea regi.

Lingua mea calamus scrib, velociter scribentis.

3.Speciosus forma pr filiis hominum, diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis: propterea benedixit te Deus in ternum.

VERSIO S. HIERONYMI.

1 Victori, pro liliis filiorum Core, eruditionis Canticum amantissimi.

2 Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum; dico ego opera mea regi:

lingua mea stylus scrib velocis.

3 Decore pulchrior es filiis hominum, effusa est gratia in labiis tuis: propterea benedixit tibi Deus in ternum.

4.Accingere gladio tuo super femur tuum, potentissime.

5.Specie tuo, et pulchritudine tua intende, prospere procede, et regna.

Propter veritatem et mansuetudinem, et justitiam;

et deducet te mirabiliter dextera tua.

6. Sagitt tu acut, populi sub te cadent, in corda inimicorum regis.

4 Accingere gladio tuo super femur, fortissime, gloria tua et decore tuo.

5 Et decore tuo prospere ascende, propter verbum veritatis(a)et mansuetudinem justiti,

et docebit te terribilia dextera tua.

6 Sagitt tu acut, populi sub te cadent: in corde inimicorum regis.

7. Sedes tua, Deus, in sculum sculi; virga directionis,

virga regni tui.

8. Dilexisti justitiam, et odisti iniquitatem; propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo ltiti pr consortibus tuis.

9. Myrrha, et gutta, et casia a vestimentis tuis, a domibus eburneis: ex quibus delectaverunt te.

10. Fili regum in honore tuo. Astitit regina a dextris tuis in vestitu deaurato; circumdata varietate.

11. Audi, filia, et vide, et inclina aurem tuam, et obliviscere populum tuum, et domum patris tui.

7 Thronus tuus, Deus, in sculum, et in ternum: sceptrum quitatis, sceptrum regni tui.

8 Dilexisti justitiam, et odisti iniquitatem; propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo exultationis pr participibus tuis.

9 Myrrha et stacte et cassia in cunctis vestimentis tuis, de domibus eburneis quibus ltificaverunt te

10 Fili regum in honore tuo: stetit conjux(c)in dextera tua, in diademate aureo.

11 Audi, filia, et vide, et inclina aurem tuam, et obliviscere populi tui et domus patris tui.

12.Et concupiscet rex decorem tuum; quoniam ipse est Dominus Deus tuus, et adorabunt eum.

13.Et fili Tyri in muneribus vultum tuum deprecabuntur, omnes divites plebis.

14.Omnis gloria ejus fili regis ab intus, in fimbriis aureis

15. Circumamicta varietatibus.

Adducentur regi virgines post eam; proxim ejus afferentur tibi.

16.Afferentur in ltitia et exultatione; adducentur in templum regis.

17. Pro patribus tuis nati sunt tibi filii: constitues eos principes super omnem terram.

18. Memores erunt nominis tui in

12 Et concupiscet rex decorem tuum: quia ipse est Dominus Deus tuus, et adora eum.

13 Et filia fortis, in muneribus faciem tuam deprecabuntur divites populi.

14 Omnis gloria fili regis intrinsecus; fasciis aureis vestita est.

15 In scutulatis ducetur ad regem: virgines sequentur eam, amic ejus ducentur illuc.

16 Ducentur in laetitiis et exultatione; ingredientur thalamum regis.

17 Pro patribus tuis erunt filii tui: pones eos principes in universa terra.

18 Recordabor nominis tui in

LXX Septuaginta Ps 45 (44 in LXX)

1 , .

1 Jusqu' la Fin, avec chants alterns, une instruction des fils de Kor, un cantique au sujet du bien-aim.

2 , , .

2 Mon cur a exhal une bonne parole ; je ddie mes uvres au Roi. Ma langue est le roseau d'un scribe crivant avec rapidit.

3 , .

3 Tu es plus beau que les fils des hommes ; la grce est rpandue sur tes lvres. A cause de cela, Dieu t'a bni jamais.

4 , ,

4 Ceins l'pe qui s'appuie sur ta cuisse, Puissant !

5 , .

5 En ta jeunesse et en ta beaut, tends ton arc, marche et prospre, et rgne par l'amour de la vrit, de la douceur et de la justice, et ta droite te guidera merveilleusement.

6 , , .

6 Tes traits sont aiguiss, Puissant ; ils renverseront les peuples ; ils perceront le cur des ennemis du Roi.

7 , , , .

7 Ton trne, mon Dieu, sera dans les sicles des sicles ; ton sceptre de roi est le sceptre de la justice.

8 .

8 Tu aimes la justice et tu hais l'iniquit ; cause de cela, Dieu, ton Dieu a fait de toi son Christ ; il a rpondu sur toi plus que sur tes compagnons l'huile de l'allgresse.

9 , .

9 La myrrhe, les essences et la casse s'exhalent de tes vtements et de tes palais d'ivoire, et, runies en ton honneur, elles te rjouissent,

10 .

10 Les filles des rois. La reine s'est place ta droite, revtue d'un manteau d'or diversement orn.

11 , , ,

11 coute, ma fille, et vois, et incline ton oreille ; oublie ton peuple et la maison de ton pre ;

12 , .

12 Car le roi s'est pris de ta beaut, lui qui est ton seigneur :

13 , .

13 Et les filles de Tyr t'adoreront avec des prsents ; les riches du peuple de la terre prieront devant ta face.

14 .

14 Toute sa gloire est comme celle de la fille du roi d'Esebon, revtue d'une parure de franges d'or,

15 ,

15 Et diversement orne. Les vierges de sa suite sont amenes au roi ; ses compagnes te seront amenes.

16 , .

16 Elles te seront amenes avec joie et allgresse ; elles seront conduites en la demeure du Roi.

17 .

17 A la place de tes frres, des fils te sont ns ; tu les institueras chefs de toute la terre.

18 .

18 Ils se souviendront de ton nom de gnration en gnration ; cause de cela, les peuples te rendront grces ternellement et dans les sicles des sicles.

Note the Septuagint use of the terms

Parthenoi virgins virgin companions

Thygatos daughter the daughter

In the gospel of Luke, Mary is bride for the King (in the spiritual unity with the Holy Spirit). We may take this as an allegory for Mary. The terms converge in her, daughter Israel, virgin Israel, bride of God.

Is it possible to argue that Mary is daughter of the king? Through her lineage? A daughter of the Temple and of David?