Psalm 45: A Song for the King's Wedding

A wedding song celebrating the king's righteous reign and his bride.

Psalm 45 - A Song for the King's Wedding

Psalm 45 is described as 'a song of loves,' and the psalmist's tongue becomes 'the pen of a ready writer' to describe a king fairer than the children of men. Verse 6 declares, 'Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever,' a line quoted of Christ in Hebrews 1:9.


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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The second half turns to the daughter, instructed to forget her own people and incline her ear to the king who desires her beauty. See the lament of <a href="/bible/jps/psalms/chapter-44">Psalms 44</a> before it and the confident refuge of <a href="/bible/jps/psalms/chapter-46">Psalms 46</a> that follows.