Thi Thiên 45

A wedding song for the king

¹For the music director. On shoshannim. Of the sons of Korah. A maskil. A love song. ²A lovely theme has set my heart astir; I offer my verses to the king, and my tongue runs like the pen of an expert scribe. ³You are more handsome than anyone else; grace pours from your lips; that is why God has blessed you forever. ⁴Strap your sword to your side, mighty warrior, in your splendor and your majesty! ⁵In your majesty ride out to victory for the sake of truth, humility and justice; let your right hand show you deeds that inspire awe. ⁶Your arrows are sharp; peoples fall beneath you; they pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies. ⁷Your throne, God, lasts for ever and ever; the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter that rules rightly.^{a 8}You love justice and hate evil; that is why God, your God, has anointed you, rather than your companions, with the oil of gladness. ⁹Your robes all breathe out myrrh and aloes and cassia; the sound of strings from ivory-inlaid palaces brings you joy. ¹⁰Princesses are among the ladies of your court; at your right hand stands the queen, adorned with gold from Ophir. ¹¹Hear me, daughter, take note and listen closely: leave behind your own people and your family home, ¹²then the king will long for your beauty. He is your lord; bow down to him. ¹³Tyre’s daughter will come with a gift; the wealthiest of the people will try to win your favor. ¹⁴The princess waits within, all splendid; her gown is woven with gold. ¹⁵In bright embroidered robes she is led to the king, with her maiden companions following, brought to you. ¹⁶Amid joy and celebration they are escorted in, and they go into the king’s palace. ¹⁷Where your fathers once stood, your sons will stand; you will set them up as princes over all the land. ¹⁸I will make your name remembered from one generation to the next; so the nations will give you thanks for all time.