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 king’s 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 father’s 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.

Psalm 45

There rises in my heart a song of joy,

A poem to my king, I will employ

My tongue to sing a song to honour you.

You are the fairest of them all, my Lord;

By God Himself you’re honoured and adored.

Your words are full of grace and they are true.

O Mighty One, take up your armour strong

Humility and truth to you belong:

Defend them, Glorious One, in your great might.

No enemy can stand before your face:

Your sharpened arrows pierce them in disgrace

Removing them forever from your sight.

O God, you rule eternal from your throne,

Your royal sceptre, justice, truth alone;

No evil there, yes, loving only good.

You’re drenched with gladness more than anyone,

The gift of God, the Father to His son:

Your joy has every evil thing withstood.

The fragrance of your garments draws me near

And in your palace, music soothes my ear;

Your beauty, love and peace embraces me.

Your queen, in splendour, stands beside her spouse:

“Fret not, O daughter, for your father’s house –

Your royal husband loves you passionately.”

Submit, then, to His love, O fairest one:

Let all your qualms and fears for aye be gone.

He is your Lord, submit to His embrace.

Your Bride, your princess, waits within her room,

So lovely, robed in splendour for her groom,

With eager longing yearns to see His face.

The festal train moves through the palace gates:

The king, in joyful expectation, waits

To seal their union, never more to part.

Your sons will some day rule the nations too:

The people of the world will honour you;

They’ll lift your name in praise with all their heart.