Psalm 45

Psalms · Chapter 45

Psalms 45:1

1My 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.2Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.3Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.4And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.5Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.6Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.7Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.8All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.9Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.10Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;11So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.12And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.13The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.14She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.15With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.16Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.17I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
1My 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.For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies.” A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.For the Chief Musician; set to Shoshannim. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves. My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter; I speak the things which I have made touching the king: My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
to the choirmasterלַמְנַצֵּ֣חַlam-na-TZE-achH5329
to conduct

נָצַח (na.tsach) 1) to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring 1a) (Niphal) enduring (participle) 1b) (Piel) to act as overseer or superintendent or director or chief Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsach (נְצַח "to distinguish oneself" H5330)

onעַל־'a-lo-SHO-H5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

Shoshannimשֹׁ֭שַׁנִּיםSHO-sha-nimH7799
lily

שׁוּשַׁן (shu.shan) 1) lily 1a) probably any lily-like flower 1b) Shoshannim, in title of Ps 45:1

of [the] sons ofלִבְנֵי־liv-nei-H1121GNo entry
Korahקֹ֑רַחKO-rachH7141I
Korah

קֹ֫רַח (qo.rach) A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.21; son of: Izhar (H3324); brother of: Nepheg (H5298), Zichri (H2147) and Shelomith (H8019A); father of: Assir (H0617), Elkanah (H0511) and Ebiasaph (H0043) § Korah = "bald" 1) son of Izhar, grandson of Kohath, great grandson of Levi and leader of the rebellion of the Israelites against Moses and Aaron while in the wilderness; punished and died by an earthquake and flames of fire 2) the 3rd son of Esau by Aholibamah and one of the dukes of Edom …

a poemמַ֝שְׂכִּ֗ילmas-KILH4905
Maskil

מַשְׂכִּיל (mas.kil) (Hiphil) poem, song or poem of contemplation

a song ofשִׁ֣ירshirH7892A
song

שִׁיר (shir) 1) song 1a) lyric song 1b) religious song 1c) song of Levitical choirs Also means: shi.rah (שִׁירָה "song" H7892B)

lovesיְדִידֹֽת׃ye-di-DOTH3039B
love

יָדִידָה (ye.di.dah) love

it is arousedרָ֘חַ֤שׁra-CHASHH7370
to overflow

רָחַשׁ (ra.chash) (Qal) to keep moving, stir

heart myלִבִּ֨י׀li-BIH3820A
mind

בָּל (bal) mind, heart Aramaic of lev (לֵב "heart" H3820A)

a wordדָּ֘בָ֤רda-VARH1697I
word

דָּבָר (da.var) : word/speech/command 1) speech, word, speaking, thing 1a) speech 1b) saying, utterance 1c) word, words 1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

goodט֗וֹבTovH2896A
fine

טָב (tav) good Aramaic of tov (טוֹב "pleasant" H2896A)

[am] speakingאֹמֵ֣ר'o-MERH0559
to say

אָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Iאָ֭נִי'A-niH0589
me

אֲנָא (a.na) I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis) Aramaic of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589)

works myמַעֲשַׂ֣יma-'a-SAIH4639K
deed: work

מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) : work/product 1) deed, work 1a) deed, thing done, act 1b) work, labour 1c) business, pursuit 1d) undertaking, enterprise 1e) achievement 1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment) 1g) work, thing made 1h) work (of God) 1i) product

to [the] kingלְמֶ֑לֶךְle-ME-lekhH4428G
king

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) 1) king Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)

tongue myלְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗יle-sho-NIH3956G
tongue

לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) : tongue/words 1) tongue 1a) tongue (of men) 1a1) tongue (literal) 1a2) tongue (organ of speech) 1b) language 1c) tongue (of animals) 1d) tongue (of fire) 1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)

[is] a stylus ofעֵ֤ט׀'etH5842
stylus

עֵט (et) 1) stylus 1a) iron stylus with diamond tip used to write on stone or metal 1b) reed pen used on a roll

a scribeסוֹפֵ֬רso-FERH5608B
secretary

סֹפֵר (so.pher) 1) enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe 1a) enumerator, muster-officer, secretary 1b) learned man, scribe Aramaic equivalent: sa.pher (סָפִר "scribe" H5613)

skilledמָהִֽיר׃ma-HIRH4106
quick

מָהִיר (ma.hir) quick, prompt, skilled, ready

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.