Psalms 45

A wedding song for the king

eautiful words stir my heart. I will recite a lovely poem about the king, for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.a ²You are the most handsome of all. Gracious words stream from your lips. God himself has blessed you forever.b ³Put on your sword, O mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic!

⁴In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds! ⁵Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts. The nations fall beneath your feet. ⁶Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.c

⁷You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.d ⁸Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes. In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you. ⁹Kings’ daughters are among your noble women. At your right side stands the queen, wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!

¹⁰Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say. Forget your people and your family far away.e ¹¹For your royal husband delights in your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.f ¹²The princess of Tyre will shower you with gifts. The wealthy will beg your favor.g

¹³The bride, a princess, looks glorious in her golden gown. ¹⁴In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king, accompanied by her bridesmaids. ¹⁵What a joyful and enthusiastic procession as they enter the king’s palace!

¹⁶Your sons will become kings like their father. You will make them rulers over many lands. ¹⁷I will bring honor to your name in every generation. Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.h

Commentary

Psalm 45 is a royal wedding song, celebrating the marriage of a king to a foreign bride. It begins with the psalmist’s heart stirring over a good theme, then lavishly praises the king as a warrior and a lover of righteousness, before turning to the bride with a call to forget her pe

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Bible Dictionary· Psalms 45(11)

Father Generation Honor Ivory Lips Ophir Right Sword The Way Throne Tongue

References· Psalms 45

a: v.1 — Psalms 49:3, 2 Samuel 23:2, Job 33:3, Proverbs 16:23, Job 32:18-20, 2 Peter 1:21, Song of Solomon 1:1-7, Isaiah 5:1, Proverbs 8:6-9, Psalms 24:7-10
b: v.2 — Words of grace from your lips: John 1:17, Luke 4:22; Luke 4:22, Song of Solomon 5:10-16, John 7:46, Psalms 21:6, Hebrews 7:26, John 1:14, Song of Solomon 2:3, Psalms 72:17-19, Proverbs 22:11, Revelation 1:13-18
c: v.6 — Title: God or Elohim: Hebrews 1:8; The Throne of the Messiah would be perpetual: Luke 1:31, Hebrews 1:8, John 5:30; Hebrews 1:8-9, Psalms 93:2, John 1:1, Isaiah 9:6-7, Jeremiah 33:15-16, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Psalms 145:13, Daniel 2:44, 1 Timothy 3:16, Luke 1:32-33
d: v.7 — Special anointing by the Holy Spirit: Matthew 3:16, Hebrews 1:9, Luke 2:11; Hebrews 1:9, Psalms 21:6, Isaiah 61:1-3, Psalms 33:5, Ephesians 1:3, Colossians 1:18-19, Luke 4:18-21, John 3:34, Psalms 89:20, Psalms 101:8
e: v.10 — Song of Solomon 2:10-13, Genesis 12:1, Matthew 10:37, Matthew 19:29, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Genesis 2:24, Deuteronomy 21:13, 2 Corinthians 5:16, Deuteronomy 33:9, Luke 14:26
f: v.11 — Psalms 95:6, Isaiah 54:5, Song of Solomon 4:1-5, Zephaniah 3:17, Philippians 2:10-11, Song of Solomon 1:8, Luke 24:52, Philippians 3:8, Psalms 45:6, Jeremiah 23:5-6
g: v.12 — Psalms 22:29, Isaiah 60:3, Isaiah 49:23, Psalms 72:10, Matthew 2:11, Isaiah 60:10-11, Isaiah 23:17-18, Acts 21:3-6, Isaiah 60:6-7, Psalms 68:29
h: v.17 — Your name remembered forever: Ephesians 1:20, Hebrews 1:8; Malachi 1:11, Isaiah 62:3, Psalms 72:17-19, Isaiah 61:9, Matthew 26:13, Psalms 138:4, Song of Solomon 6:9, Psalms 22:30-31, Isaiah 59:21, 1 Corinthians 11:26

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