Psalm 45 Text

From Psalms: Layer by Layer
Psalm 45/Text
Jump to: navigation, search

Choose a PsalmNavigate Psalm 45


Listen & Read: Psalm 45

Read along and listen to our audio recordings for Psalm 45. Choose between simple, unaffected audio recordings (in Hebrew or English), or a dramatized reading that takes into account our emotional, discourse, and poetic analyses. You can also choose between a text-only view, or a view overlaid with our summary At-a-Glance, Expanded Paraphrase, or Participant Analysis tracking.

Listen & Read (tap to collapse/expand)

Simple Reading (Hebrew)
Forthcoming. 		Simple Reading (English)
Forthcoming.
Dramatic Reading (Hebrew)
Forthcoming. 		Dramatic Reading (English)
Forthcoming.

Text Only (Hebrew and English) The text below is divided according to the psalm's poetic lines. For additional information, see our Poetic Structure layer.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC)
לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־שֹׁ֭שַׁנִּים לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל שִׁ֣יר יְדִידֹֽת׃ 1a For the director. According to "Lilies." By the Korahites. A maskil. An ode.
רָ֘חַ֤שׁ לִבִּ֨י ׀ דָּ֘בָ֤ר ט֗וֹב 2a My heart has been stirred by a good theme;
אֹמֵ֣ר אָ֭נִי מַעֲשַׂ֣י לְמֶ֑לֶךְ 2b I am about to recite my verses to the king.
לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י עֵ֤ט ׀ סוֹפֵ֬ר מָהִֽיר׃ 2c My tongue is a pen of a skilful scribe.
יָפְיָפִ֡יתָ מִבְּנֵ֬י אָדָ֗ם 3a You are the most attractive of all people;
ה֣וּצַק חֵ֭ן בְּשְׂפְתוֹתֶ֑יךָ 3b kindness has been poured out by your speech.
עַל־כֵּ֤ן בֵּֽרַכְךָ֖ אֱלֹהִ֣ים לְעוֹלָֽם׃ 3c Therefore, God has commended you forever.
חֲגֽוֹר־חַרְבְּךָ֣ עַל־יָרֵ֣ךְ גִּבּ֑וֹר 4a Strap your sword upon (your) thigh, great one,
ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ וַהֲדָרֶֽךָ׃ 4b in your splendour and your majesty.
וַהֲדָ֬רְךָ֨ ׀ צְלַ֬ח רְכַ֗ב 5a And in your majesty, victoriously ride
עַֽל־דְּבַר־אֱ֭מֶת וְעַנְוָה־צֶ֑דֶק 5b for the cause of truth and humility, righteousness,
וְתוֹרְךָ֖ נוֹרָא֣וֹת יְמִינֶֽךָ׃ 5c and let your right hand show you awesome things.
חִצֶּ֗יךָ שְׁנ֫וּנִ֥ים 6a Your arrows are sharp.
עַ֭מִּים תַּחְתֶּ֣יךָ יִפְּל֑וּ 6b Peoples will fall under you;
בְּ֝לֵ֗ב אוֹיְבֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ 6c in the heart of the enemies of the king.
כִּסְאֲךָ֣ אֱ֭לֹהִים עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד 7a Your throne, God, is forever and ever;
שֵׁ֥בֶט מִ֝ישֹׁ֗ר שֵׁ֣בֶט מַלְכוּתֶֽךָ׃ 7b the sceptre of your kingdom is the sceptre of righteousness.
אָהַ֣בְתָּ צֶּדֶק֮ וַתִּשְׂנָ֫א רֶ֥שַׁע 8a You love righteousness, and you hate wickedness.
עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ מְשָׁחֲךָ֡ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֭לֹהֶיךָ 8b Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you
שֶׁ֥מֶן שָׂשׂ֗וֹן מֵֽחֲבֵרֶֽיךָ׃ 8c with the oil, which is rejoicing, more than your companions.
מֹר־וַאֲהָל֣וֹת קְ֭צִיעוֹת כָּל־בִּגְדֹתֶ֑יךָ 9a All your clothes are myrrh and aloes [and] cassia.
מִֽן־הֵ֥יכְלֵי שֵׁ֝֗ן מִנִּ֥י שִׂמְּחֽוּךָ׃ 9b From ivory palaces, stringed instruments caused you to rejoice.
בְּנ֣וֹת מְ֭לָכִים בְּיִקְּרוֹתֶ֑יךָ 10a Princesses are among your treasures;
נִצְּבָ֥ה שֵׁגַ֥ל לִֽ֝ימִינְךָ֗ בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃ 10b a queen has taken a stand at your right hand in the gold of Ophir.
שִׁמְעִי־בַ֣ת וּ֭רְאִי וְהַטִּ֣י אָזְנֵ֑ךְ 11a Hear, daughter, and see and incline your ear,
וְשִׁכְחִ֥י עַ֝מֵּ֗ךְ וּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽיךְ׃ 11b and forget your people and the house of your father,
וְיִתְאָ֣ו הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יָפְיֵ֑ךְ 12a so that the king will desire your beauty,
כִּי־ה֥וּא אֲ֝דֹנַ֗יִךְ וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִי־לֽוֹ׃ 12b since he is your husband, and bow down to him,
וּבַֽת־צֹ֨ר ׀ בְּ֭מִנְחָה פָּנַ֥יִךְ יְחַלּ֗וּ 13a and Daughter Tyre, the richest of people, will seek your favour with a gift.
עֲשִׁ֣ירֵי עָֽם׃ 13b (the richest of people)
כָּל־כְּבוּדָּ֣ה בַת־מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּנִ֑ימָה 14a The princess is in her chamber with all kinds of valuable goods;
מִֽמִּשְׁבְּצ֖וֹת זָהָ֣ב לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃ 14b her clothing [is made] from gold settings.
לִרְקָמוֹת֮ תּוּבַ֪ל לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְ 15a In embroidered cloth she will be led to the king;
בְּתוּל֣וֹת אַ֭חֲרֶיהָ רֵעוֹתֶ֑יהָ 15b young women after her, her (female) companions,
מ֖וּבָא֣וֹת לָֽךְ׃ 15c being brought to you.
תּ֭וּבַלְנָה בִּשְׂמָחֹ֣ת וָגִ֑יל 16a They will be led with joy and gladness;
תְּ֝בֹאֶ֗ינָה בְּהֵ֣יכַל מֶֽלֶךְ׃ 16b they will go into the king's palace.
תַּ֣חַת אֲ֭בֹתֶיךָ יִהְי֣וּ בָנֶ֑יךָ 17a In the place of your ancestors, your sons will be (princes);
תְּשִׁיתֵ֥מוֹ לְ֝שָׂרִ֗ים בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 17b you will appoint them as princes over all the earth.
אַזְכִּ֣ירָה שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכָל־דֹּ֣ר וָדֹ֑ר 18a I shall profess your name in all generations.
עַל־כֵּ֥ן עַמִּ֥ים יְ֝הוֹדֻ֗ךָ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ 18b Therefore peoples will praise you forever and ever.

Structure Overlay Below, the text has been overlaid with our summary structural analysis. For details on the structure, see the Structure At-a-Glance here.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC)
לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־שֹׁ֭שַׁנִּים לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל שִׁ֣יר יְדִידֹֽת׃ 1a For the director. According to "Lilies." By the Korahites. A maskil. An ode.
רָ֘חַ֤שׁ לִבִּ֨י ׀ דָּ֘בָ֤ר ט֗וֹב 2a My heart has been stirred by a good theme;
אֹמֵ֣ר אָ֭נִי מַעֲשַׂ֣י לְמֶ֑לֶךְ 2b I am about to recite my verses to the king.
לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י עֵ֤ט ׀ סוֹפֵ֬ר מָהִֽיר׃ 2c My tongue is a pen of a skilful scribe.
יָפְיָפִ֡יתָ מִבְּנֵ֬י אָדָ֗ם 3a You are the most attractive of all people;
ה֣וּצַק חֵ֭ן בְּשְׂפְתוֹתֶ֑יךָ 3b kindness has been poured out by your speech.
עַל־כֵּ֤ן בֵּֽרַכְךָ֖ אֱלֹהִ֣ים לְעוֹלָֽם׃ 3c Therefore, God has commended you forever.
חֲגֽוֹר־חַרְבְּךָ֣ עַל־יָרֵ֣ךְ גִּבּ֑וֹר 4a Strap your sword upon (your) thigh, great one,
ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ וַהֲדָרֶֽךָ׃ 4b in your splendour and your majesty.
וַהֲדָ֬רְךָ֨ ׀ צְלַ֬ח רְכַ֗ב 5a And in your majesty, victoriously ride
עַֽל־דְּבַר־אֱ֭מֶת וְעַנְוָה־צֶ֑דֶק 5b for the cause of truth and humility, righteousness,
וְתוֹרְךָ֖ נוֹרָא֣וֹת יְמִינֶֽךָ׃ 5c and let your right hand show you awesome things.
חִצֶּ֗יךָ שְׁנ֫וּנִ֥ים 6a Your arrows are sharp.
עַ֭מִּים תַּחְתֶּ֣יךָ יִפְּל֑וּ 6b Peoples will fall under you;
בְּ֝לֵ֗ב אוֹיְבֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ 6c in the heart of the enemies of the king.
כִּסְאֲךָ֣ אֱ֭לֹהִים עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד 7a Your throne, God, is forever and ever;
שֵׁ֥בֶט מִ֝ישֹׁ֗ר שֵׁ֣בֶט מַלְכוּתֶֽךָ׃ 7b the sceptre of your kingdom is the sceptre of righteousness.
אָהַ֣בְתָּ צֶּדֶק֮ וַתִּשְׂנָ֫א רֶ֥שַׁע 8a You love righteousness, and you hate wickedness.
עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ מְשָׁחֲךָ֡ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֭לֹהֶיךָ 8b Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you
שֶׁ֥מֶן שָׂשׂ֗וֹן מֵֽחֲבֵרֶֽיךָ׃ 8c with the oil, which is rejoicing, more than your companions.
מֹר־וַאֲהָל֣וֹת קְ֭צִיעוֹת כָּל־בִּגְדֹתֶ֑יךָ 9a All your clothes are myrrh and aloes [and] cassia.
מִֽן־הֵ֥יכְלֵי שֵׁ֝֗ן מִנִּ֥י שִׂמְּחֽוּךָ׃ 9b From ivory palaces, stringed instruments caused you to rejoice.
בְּנ֣וֹת מְ֭לָכִים בְּיִקְּרוֹתֶ֑יךָ 10a Princesses are among your treasures;
נִצְּבָ֥ה שֵׁגַ֥ל לִֽ֝ימִינְךָ֗ בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃ 10b a queen has taken a stand at your right hand in the gold of Ophir.
שִׁמְעִי־בַ֣ת וּ֭רְאִי וְהַטִּ֣י אָזְנֵ֑ךְ 11a Hear, daughter, and see and incline your ear,
וְשִׁכְחִ֥י עַ֝מֵּ֗ךְ וּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽיךְ׃ 11b and forget your people and the house of your father,
וְיִתְאָ֣ו הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יָפְיֵ֑ךְ 12a so that the king will desire your beauty,
כִּי־ה֥וּא אֲ֝דֹנַ֗יִךְ וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִי־לֽוֹ׃ 12b since he is your husband, and bow down to him,
וּבַֽת־צֹ֨ר ׀ בְּ֭מִנְחָה פָּנַ֥יִךְ יְחַלּ֗וּ 13a and Daughter Tyre, the richest of people, will seek your favour with a gift.
עֲשִׁ֣ירֵי עָֽם׃ 13b (the richest of people)
כָּל־כְּבוּדָּ֣ה בַת־מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּנִ֑ימָה 14a The princess is in her chamber with all kinds of valuable goods;
מִֽמִּשְׁבְּצ֖וֹת זָהָ֣ב לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃ 14b her clothing [is made] from gold settings.
לִרְקָמוֹת֮ תּוּבַ֪ל לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְ 15a In embroidered cloth she will be led to the king;
בְּתוּל֣וֹת אַ֭חֲרֶיהָ רֵעוֹתֶ֑יהָ 15b young women after her, her (female) companions,
מ֖וּבָא֣וֹת לָֽךְ׃ 15c being brought to you.
תּ֭וּבַלְנָה בִּשְׂמָחֹ֣ת וָגִ֑יל 16a They will be led with joy and gladness;
תְּ֝בֹאֶ֗ינָה בְּהֵ֣יכַל מֶֽלֶךְ׃ 16b they will go into the king's palace.
תַּ֣חַת אֲ֭בֹתֶיךָ יִהְי֣וּ בָנֶ֑יךָ 17a In the place of your ancestors, your sons will be (princes);
תְּשִׁיתֵ֥מוֹ לְ֝שָׂרִ֗ים בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 17b you will appoint them as princes over all the earth.
אַזְכִּ֣ירָה שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכָל־דֹּ֣ר וָדֹ֑ר 18a I shall profess your name in all generations.
עַל־כֵּ֥ן עַמִּ֥ים יְ֝הוֹדֻ֗ךָ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ 18b Therefore peoples will praise you forever and ever.

Expanded paraphrase The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Expanded Paraphrase
לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־שֹׁ֭שַׁנִּים לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל שִׁ֣יר יְדִידֹֽת׃ 1 For the director. According to the tune “Lilies.” By the sons of Korah, who serve in the temple as singers and gatekeepers. A maskil for giving wisdom. Also an ode in praise to the king on the occasion of his wedding.
רָ֘חַ֤שׁ לִבִּ֨י׀ דָּ֘בָ֤ר ט֗וֹב אֹמֵ֣ר אָ֭נִי מַעֲשַׂ֣י לְמֶ֑לֶךְ לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י עֵ֤ט׀ סוֹפֵ֬ר מָהִֽיר׃ 2 My heart has been stirred with strong, positive emotion by a good theme about the king, and this good theme has prompted me to action, to speak about him; I, a court poet am about to recite my verses which I have composed to a king for his wedding. My tongue, my tool for producing excellent work, is like a pen of a skillful scribe, so just as a scribe's pen produces beautiful written words for the elite, I will produce beautiful spoken words for the king, who deserves only the best poetry that can be written.
*יְפֵיפִיתָ* מִבְּנֵ֬י אָדָ֗ם ה֣וּצַק חֵ֭ן בְּשְׂפְתוֹתֶ֑יךָ עַל־כֵּ֤ן בֵּֽרַכְךָ֖ אֱלֹהִ֣ים לְעוֹלָֽם׃ 3 You, king, are the most attractive of all people; in accordance with the royal ideal of wisdom, kindness has been poured out by your speech, which allows all people under your leadership to thrive. Therefore, based on these ideals of royal perfection that you embody, I conclude that God has blessed you forever.
חֲגֽוֹר־חַרְבְּךָ֣ עַל־יָרֵ֣ךְ גִּבּ֑וֹר ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ וַהֲדָרֶֽךָ׃ 4 In accordance with the royal ideal of military power, I encourage you to go out and expand your kingdom through conquest. Strap your sword upon [your] thigh to prepare for action, great one, in your splendor and your majesty.
וַהֲדָ֬רְךָ֨׀ צְלַ֬ח רְכַ֗ב עַֽל־דְּבַר־אֱ֭מֶת וְעַנְוָה־צֶ֑דֶק וְתוֹרְךָ֖ נוֹרָא֣וֹת יְמִינֶֽךָ׃ 5 And in your majesty, victoriously ride for the cause of the things you love: truth and humility [and] righteousness, and let your strong right hand, which represents your unsurpassed military strength, show you awesome deeds of warfare.
חִצֶּ֗יךָ שְׁנ֫וּנִ֥ים עַ֭מִּים תַּחְתֶּ֣יךָ יִפְּל֑וּ בְּ֝לֵ֗ב אוֹיְבֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ 6 Your arrows, prepared to fire at the enemy, are sharp —peoples will fall under you—in the heart of the enemies of the king. You will emerge as the victor.
כִּסְאֲךָ֣ אֱ֭לֹהִים עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד שֵׁ֥בֶט מִ֝ישֹׁ֗ר שֵׁ֣בֶט מַלְכוּתֶֽךָ׃ 7 Your throne and thus your reign, O king, who shares divine attributes, so I will address as God, is forever and ever; the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice, which means that your rule is just.
אָהַ֣בְתָּ צֶּדֶק֮ וַתִּשְׂנָ֫א רֶ֥שַׁע עַל־כֵּ֤ן׀ מְשָׁחֲךָ֡ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֭לֹהֶיךָ שֶׁ֥מֶן שָׂשׂ֗וֹן מֵֽחֲבֵרֶֽיךָ׃ 8 You love righteousness and you hate wickedness, and you always have, showing yourself to be a man according to God's heart (1 Sam 13:14). Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you with oil that results in rejoicing, to the exclusion of your peers, because you are remarkably and uniquely anointed as the king.
מֹר־וַאֲהָל֣וֹת קְ֭צִיעוֹת כָּל־בִּגְדֹתֶ֑יךָ מִֽן־הֵ֥יכְלֵי שֵׁ֝֗ן מִנִּ֥י שִׂמְּחֽוּךָ׃ 9 Here on the day of your wedding, your beauty and justice are accompanied by your splendor, since all your wedding clothes are as delightful and luxurious as international spices of myrrh and aloes [and] cassia, richly perfumed like King Solomon in preparation for his royal wedding. From luxurious ivory palaces, which you have also had imported due to your international renown, stringed instruments have made you glad as you prepare for your wedding ceremony.
בְּנ֣וֹת מְ֭לָכִים בְּיִקְּרוֹתֶ֑יךָ נִצְּבָ֥ה שֵׁגַ֥ל לִֽ֝ימִינְךָ֗ בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃ 10 Daughters of kings, who have sought alliances with you, are among your treasures, which you delight in; the queen mother has taken a stand in the place of honor at your right hand adorned in the particularly pure and fine gold of Ophir.
שִׁמְעִי־בַ֣ת וּ֭רְאִי וְהַטִּ֣י אָזְנֵ֑ךְ וְשִׁכְחִ֥י עַ֝מֵּ֗ךְ וּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽיךְ׃ 11 She has given the following counsel and exhortation to the new bride: "Listen, daughter, and look and incline your ear to this advice, and forget your past loyalty to your people who are not part of your new husband's family and your father's household, in loyalty to your new people, husband, and his family,
וְיִתְאָ֣ו הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יָפְיֵ֑ךְ כִּי־ה֥וּא אֲ֝דֹנַ֗יִךְ 12 and act in such a way so as to let the king desire your beauty as especially treasured by him, because he is your new husband,
*וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ*־לֽוֹ׃ *בַֽת־צֹ֨ר׀* בְּ֭מִנְחָה פָּנַ֥יִךְ יְחַלּ֗וּ עֲשִׁ֣ירֵי עָֽם׃ 13 and the people of your wealthy home city, Tyre, will bow down to him with a gift in loyalty and homage; as a result of your marriage, the richest of people will seek your favor, too—so special are you to the king whom they serve as a vassal state."
כָּל־כְּבוּדָּ֣ה בַת־מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּנִ֑ימָה מִֽמִּשְׁבְּצ֖וֹת זָהָ֣ב לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃ 14 The princess is in her chamber with all kinds of valuable goods including the fine jewelry that was part of the dowry sent by her royal father; her clothing [is made] from gold settings.
לִרְקָמוֹת֮ תּוּבַ֪ל לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְ בְּתוּל֣וֹת אַ֭חֲרֶיהָ רֵעוֹתֶ֑יהָ מ֖וּבָא֣וֹת לָֽךְ׃ 15 In embroidered cloth, clothing worn by virgins, she will be led to the king, with young women after her, her companions, being brought to you as part of the royal wedding procession.
תּ֭וּבַלְנָה בִּשְׂמָחֹ֣ת וָגִ֑יל תְּ֝בֹאֶ֗ינָה בְּהֵ֣יכַל מֶֽלֶךְ׃ 16 They will be led with joy and gladness, since they are delighted for their mistress, the bride, and she could not be happier about marrying you, the king; they will go into the royal palace, where a glorious future awaits you both.
תַּ֣חַת אֲ֭בֹתֶיךָ יִהְי֣וּ בָנֶ֑יךָ תְּשִׁיתֵ֥מוֹ לְ֝שָׂרִ֗ים בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 17 In succession to your ancestors will be your sons who are born as a result of this marriage, co-reigning with you and after you; you will appoint them as governors, expanding your dominion and reign, over all the earth.
אַזְכִּ֣ירָה שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכָל־דֹּ֣ר וָדֹ֑ר עַל־כֵּ֥ן עַמִּ֥ים יְ֝הוֹדֻ֗ךָ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ 18 I shall profess your name in all generations, by means of the handing down and recitation of this poem, so people will remember your justice and majesty, making your honor and reputation endure into perpetuity. Therefore peoples all over the world will praise you forever and ever.

Participant Tracking Text Participant Analysis focuses on the characters in the psalm and asks, “Who are the main participants (or characters) in this psalm, and what are they saying or doing? Our full analysis can be found in the Participant Analysis layer.

  Participant Color-Coding

There are 6 participants/characters in Psalm 45:

Psalmist

God (vv. 3, 8)

The king (vv. 2, 6, 12, 15)
"God" (v. 7)
The king's ancestors (v. 17)
The king's sons (v. 17)

Enemies (v. 6)
"Peoples" (v. 6)

Bride
"Daughter" (v. 11)
"Princess" (v. 14)
The queen mother (v. 10)
Young women/companions (v. 15)

Foreign allies
Peers (v. 8)
The daughter's "people" and "father's house" (v. 11)
"Daughter Tyre, the riches of people" (v. 13)
"Peoples" (v. 18)

  • The psalmist belongs to the "sons of Korah" (v. 1), appearing in first-person speech only in vv. 2, 18.
  • God is mentioned only twice in the psalm, in the similar encouragements "Therefore, God has blessed you forever" (v. 3) and "Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you" (v. 8).
  • The king is unidentified, yet is the addressee throughout the psalm, with the exception of vv. 11-13. He is addressed as divine by the psalmist (v. 7), who promises to profess his name throughout all generations (v. 18), since in place of the king's ancestors, his sons will be appointed as princes (v. 17).
  • The enemy peoples are entirely generic and unspecified. The are only said to fall under the king as his arrows pierce their hearts (v. 6).
  • The bride is exhorted concerning her preparations for marriage in vv. 11-13, which are then described in vv. 14-16. Some scholars have suggested she is the same person as the queen mentioned in v. 10 (see the note accompanying the text table). It is preferable, however, to understand the queen as exhorting the future bride throughout vv. 11-13. Later, the bride also has companions who accompany her in her entrance.
  • The foreign allies consist of the king's peers (other kings), the bride's people and household (v. 11) and Tyre, stereotyped as a rich nation, who will seek both the king's and her favor with a gift (v. 13). The peers are most likely fellow kings of other lands.[1] They were "colleagues,"[2] "associates...of like rank" (BDB), with the significant caveat that the others had not enjoyed YHWH's anointing. ANE kings often referred to themselves as "brothers" in the Late Bronze Age,[3] of which חָבֵר is a comparable term. The peoples in general are then incorporated into this treaty-seeking and praise/tribute-offering people in the last verse. If they are to be identified with the enemy peoples of v. 6, their function in the psalm has radically transformed from those being slain by the king to those who submit to his rule and praise him forever.


Hebrew Verse English
לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־שֹׁ֭שַׁנִּים לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל שִׁ֣יר יְדִידֹֽת׃ 1 For the director. According to "Lilies." By the sons of Korah. A maskil. An ode.
רָ֘חַ֤שׁ לִבִּ֨י ׀ דָּ֘בָ֤ר ט֗וֹב 2a My heart has been stirred by a good theme;
אֹמֵ֣ר אָ֭נִי מַעֲשַׂ֣י לְמֶ֑לֶךְ 2b I am about to recite my verses to a king.
לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י עֵ֤ט ׀ סוֹפֵ֬ר מָהִֽיר׃ 2c My tongue is a pen of a skillful scribe.
יְפֵיפִיתָ מִבְּנֵ֬י אָדָ֗ם 3a You are the most attractive of all people;
ה֣וּצַק חֵ֭ן בְּשְׂפְתוֹתֶ֑יךָ 3b kindness has been poured out by your speech.
עַל־כֵּ֤ן בֵּֽרַכְךָ֖ אֱלֹהִ֣ים לְעוֹלָֽם׃ 3c Therefore, God has blessed you forever.
חֲגֽוֹר־חַרְבְּךָ֣ עַל־יָרֵ֣ךְ גִּבּ֑וֹר 4a Strap your sword upon [your] thigh, great one,
ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ וַהֲדָרֶֽךָ׃ 4b your splendor and your majesty.
וַהֲדָ֬רְךָ֨ ׀ צְלַ֬ח רְכַ֗ב 5a And in your majesty, victoriously ride
עַֽל־דְּבַר־אֱ֭מֶת וְעַנְוָה־צֶ֑דֶק 5b for the cause of truth and humility [and] righteousness,
וְתוֹרְךָ֖ נוֹרָא֣וֹת יְמִינֶֽךָ׃ 5c and let your right hand show you awesome deeds.
חִצֶּ֗יךָ שְׁנ֫וּנִ֥ים 6a Your arrows are sharp
עַ֭מִּים תַּחְתֶּ֣יךָ יִפְּל֑וּ 6b — peoples will fall under you —
בְּ֝לֵ֗ב אוֹיְבֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ 6c in the heart of the enemies of the king.
כִּסְאֲךָ֣ אֱ֭לֹהִים עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד 7a Your throne, God, is forever and ever;
שֵׁ֥בֶט מִ֝ישֹׁ֗ר שֵׁ֣בֶט מַלְכוּתֶֽךָ׃ 7b scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.
אָהַ֣בְתָּ צֶּדֶק֮ וַתִּשְׂנָ֫א רֶ֥שַׁע 8a You love righteousness and you hate wickedness.
עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ מְשָׁחֲךָ֡ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֭לֹהֶיךָ 8b Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you
שֶׁ֥מֶן שָׂשׂ֗וֹן מֵֽחֲבֵרֶֽיךָ׃ 8c with oil that results in rejoicing, to the exclusion of your peers.
מֹר־וַאֲהָל֣וֹת קְ֭צִיעוֹת כָּל־בִּגְדֹתֶ֑יךָ 9a All your clothes are myrrh and aloes [and] cassia.
מִֽן־הֵ֥יכְלֵי שֵׁ֝֗ן מִנִּ֥י שִׂמְּחֽוּךָ׃ 9b From ivory palaces, stringed instruments have made you glad.
בְּנ֣וֹת מְ֭לָכִים בְּיִקְּרוֹתֶ֑יךָ 10a Daughters of kings are among your treasures;
נִצְּבָ֥ה שֵׁגַ֥ל לִֽ֝ימִינְךָ֗ בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃ 10b queen mother has taken a stand at your right hand in the gold of Ophir.
שִׁמְעִי־בַ֣ת וּ֭רְאִי וְהַטִּ֣י אָזְנֵ֑ךְ 11a "Listen, daughter, and look and incline your ear,
וְשִׁכְחִ֥י עַ֝מֵּ֗ךְ וּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽיךְ׃ 11b and forget your people and your father’s household,
וְיִתְאָ֣ו הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יָפְיֵ֑ךְ 12a and let the king desire your beauty,
כִּי־ה֥וּא אֲ֝דֹנַ֗יִךְ 12b because he is your husband,
וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־לֽוֹ׃בַֽת־צֹ֨ר ׀ בְּ֭מִנְחָה 13a and the people of Tyre will bow down to him with a gift;
פָּנַ֥יִךְ יְחַלּ֗וּ עֲשִׁ֣ירֵי עָֽם׃ 13b richest of people will seek your favor."
כָּל־כְּבוּדָּ֣ה בַת־מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּנִ֑ימָה 14a princess is in her chamber with all kinds of valuable goods;
מִֽמִּשְׁבְּצ֖וֹת זָהָ֣ב לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃ 14b her clothing [is made] from gold settings.
לִרְקָמוֹת֮ תּוּבַ֪ל לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְ 15a In embroidered cloth she will be led to the king,
בְּתוּל֣וֹת אַ֭חֲרֶיהָ רֵעוֹתֶ֑יהָ 15b young women after her, her companions,
מ֖וּבָא֣וֹת לָֽךְ׃ 15c being brought to you.
תּ֭וּבַלְנָה בִּשְׂמָחֹ֣ת וָגִ֑יל 16a They will be led with joy and gladness;
תְּ֝בֹאֶ֗ינָה בְּהֵ֣יכַל מֶֽלֶךְ׃ 16b they will go into the royal palace.
תַּ֣חַת אֲ֭בֹתֶיךָ יִהְי֣וּ בָנֶ֑יךָ 17a In succession to your ancestors will be your sons;
תְּשִׁיתֵ֥מוֹ לְ֝שָׂרִ֗ים בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 17b you will appoint them as governors over all the earth.
אַזְכִּ֣ירָה שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכָל־דֹּ֣ר וָדֹ֑ר 18a I shall profess your name in all generations.
עַל־כֵּ֥ן עַמִּ֥ים יְ֝הוֹדֻ֗ךָ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ 18b Therefore peoples will praise you forever and ever.


  1. ↑ Briggs & Briggs 1906-1907, 387; Goldingay 2006, 59; GNT.
  2. ↑ Böhler 2021, 815.
  3. ↑ As discussed at length in Bryce 2003, 90-99.