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Psalms 45

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[1]The majesty and grace of Christ's kingdom. [10]The duty of the church, and the benefits thereof.

To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.

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 for ever.

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 king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.

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

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 honourable 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 father's 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 favour.

13. The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

14. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: 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 king's 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.

Metrical version

Psalm 45

C.M. Praetorius

My heart brings forth a goodly thing;
my words that I indite
Concern the King: my tongue's a pen
of one that swift doth write.

Thou fairer art than sons of men:
into thy lips is store
Of grace infused; God therefore thee
hath blessed for evermore.

O thou that art the mighty One,
thy sword gird on thy thigh;
Ev'n with thy glory excellent,
and with thy majesty.

For meekness, truth, and righteousness,
in state ride prosp'rously;
And thy right hand shall thee instruct
in things that fearful be.

Thine arrows sharply pierce the heart
of th' en'mies of the King;
And under thy subjection
the people down do bring.

For ever and for ever is,
O God, thy throne of might;
The sceptre of thy kingdom is
a sceptre that is right.

Thou lovest right, and hatest ill;
for God, thy God, most high,
Above thy fellows hath with th' oil
of joy anointed thee.

Of aloes, myrrh, and cassia,
a smell thy garments had,
Out of the iv'ry palaces,
whereby they made thee glad.

Among thy women hon'rable
kings' daughters were at hand:
Upon thy right hand did the queen
in gold of Ophir stand.

O daughter, hearken and regard,
and do thine ear incline;
Likewise forget thy father's house,
and people that are thine.

Then of the King desired shall be
thy beauty veh'mently:
Because he is thy Lord, do thou
him worship rev'rently.

The daughter there of Tyre shall be
with gifts and off'rings great:
Those of the people that are rich
thy favour shall entreat.

Behold, the daughter of the King
all glorious is within;
And with embroideries of gold
her garments wrought have been.

She shall be brought unto the King
in robes with needle wrought;
Her fellow-virgins following
shall unto thee be brought.

They shall be brought with gladness great,
and mirth on ev'ry side,
Into the palace of the King,
and there they shall abide.

Instead of those thy fathers dear,
thy children thou may'st take,
And in all places of the earth
them noble princes make.

Thy name remembered I will make
through ages all to be:
The people therefore evermore
shall praises give to thee.
This psalm was perhaps composed on the same occasion as the 60th, and may have a prophetic view to the after distresses of the Jews in the time of Rehoboam, 2 Chron. 12; of Jehoram, 2 Chron. 21; of Ahaz, 2 Chron. 28; of Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18-19; and during the Chaldean captivity, Syro-Grecian oppression, etc.; and all these as typical of the distresses of the gospel church under heathens and Anti- Christians. It relates chiefly to the church, and contains, (1.) Thankful acknowledgments of what the Lord had done for her in former periods, as her God, her king, her joy, her praise, ver. 1-8. (2.) Sorrowful complaints of divine desertion; and of the prevalent power, cruelty, and derisive contempt of enemies, ver. 9-16. (3.) Solemn protestation of continued integrity, and of constant adherence to the Lord's way, amidst these manifold calamities, ver. 17-22. (4.) Strong cries, with supplications and tears to God, for his merciful appearance for and granting her relief, ver. 23-26.


In singing this, let me rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Let me rejoice in what the Lord hath wrought for his people, in any former period; and in all their afflictions let me be afflicted. Let me give the Lord no rest, till he make his church a joy in the whole earth.

Psalm 45 (second version)

S.M. Praetorius

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 honour to indite,
As is the pen of any scribe
that useth fast to write.

Thou 'rt fairest of all men;
grace in thy lips doth flow:
And therefore blessings evermore
on thee doth God bestow.

Thy sword gird on thy thigh,
thou that art most of might:
Appear in dreadful majesty,
and in thy glory bright.

For meekness, truth, and right,
ride prosp'rously in state;
And thy right hand shall teach to thee
things terrible and great.

Thy shafts shall pierce their hearts
that foes are to the King;
Whereby into subjection
the people thou shalt bring.

Thy royal seat, O Lord,
for ever shall remain:
The sceptre of thy kingdom doth
all righteousness maintain.

Thou lov'st right, and hat'st ill;
for God, thy God, most high,
Above thy fellows hath with th' oil
of joy anointed thee.

Of myrrh and spices sweet
a smell thy garments had,
Out of the iv'ry palaces,
whereby they made thee glad.

And in thy glorious train
kings' daughters waiting stand;
And thy fair queen, in Ophir gold,
doth stand at thy right hand.

O daughter, take good heed,
incline, and give good ear;
Thou must forget thy kindred all,
and father's house most dear.

Thy beauty to the King
shall then delightful be:
And do thou humbly worship him,
because thy Lord is he.

The daughter then of Tyre
there with a gift shall be,
And all the wealthy of the land
shall make their suit to thee.

The daughter of the King
all glorious is within;
And with embroideries of gold
her garments wrought have been.

She cometh to the King
in robes with needle wrought;
The virgins that do follow her
shall unto thee be brought.

They shall be brought with joy,
and mirth on ev'ry side,
Into the palace of the King,
and there they shall abide.

And in thy fathers' stead,
thy children thou may'st take,
And in all places of the earth
them noble princes make.

I will show forth thy name
to generations all:
Therefore the people evermore
to thee give praises shall.
In this song of loves, are celebrated, (1.) The glories of Jesus our Redeemer, particularly the transcendant comeliness and blessedness of his person, God-man; his almighty power in conquering his people, and destroying his enemies; the eternity, firmness, and equity of his government: his royal unction with the Holy Ghost above measure; his fitness for his work, and the splendour of his court, ver. 1-9. (2.) The glories of the redeemed; their listening to Jesus' proposals of marriage union with himself; their renunciation of all others for his sake; their reverential submission to, and worship of him, ver. 10-11; their glorious ornaments of righteousness and grace; and their glorious entrance into the new covenant, and the eternal state, ver. 12-15; their glorious succession and work, for perpetuating the fame of the Redeemer, ver. 16-17.


In singing this song of the Lamb, let me with open face behold his glory, and be changed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord. Let my admiration of his excellency swell to the brim, and my love burn with a most vehement flame; and let my hopes of being for ever with him, be strong and lively. Let my heart be all wonder at his excellency, fulness, and grace - all subjection to his government and laws; and let my lips be filled with his praise and honour all the day.