Corpus Psalterium · Vol. II
Psalm XLV (45)
Cantillated — Royal Liturgy
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 45 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song.
לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־שֹׁ֭שַׁנִּים לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל שִׁ֣יר יְדִידֹֽת׃
My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
רָ֘חַ֤שׁ לִבִּ֨י ׀ דָּ֘בָ֤ר ט֗וֹב אֹמֵ֣ר אָ֭נִי מַעֲשַׂ֣י לְמֶ֑לֶךְ לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י עֵ֤ט ׀ סוֹפֵ֬ר מָהִֽיר׃
You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever.
יָפְיָפִ֡יתָ מִבְּנֵ֬י אָדָ֗ם ה֣וּצַק חֵ֭ן בְּשְׂפְתוֹתֶ֑יךָ עַל־כֵּ֤ן בֵּֽרַכְךָ֖ אֱלֹהִ֣ים לְעוֹלָֽם׃
Strap your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and your majesty.
חֲגֽוֹר־חַרְבְּךָ֣ עַל־יָרֵ֣ךְ גִּבּ֑וֹר ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ וַהֲדָרֶֽךָ׃
In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds.
וַהֲדָ֬רְךָ֨ ׀ צְלַ֬ח רְכַ֗ב עַֽל־דְּבַר־אֱ֭מֶת וְעַנְוָה־צֶ֑דֶק וְתוֹרְךָ֖ נוֹרָא֣וֹת יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king’s enemies.
חִצֶּ֗יךָ שְׁנ֫וּנִ֥ים עַ֭מִּים תַּחְתֶּ֣יךָ יִפְּל֑וּ בְּ֝לֵ֗ב אוֹיְבֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
כִּסְאֲךָ֣ אֱ֭לֹהִים עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד שֵׁ֥בֶט מִ֝ישֹׁ֗ר שֵׁ֣בֶט מַלְכוּתֶֽךָ׃
You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
אָהַ֣בְתָּ צֶּדֶק֮ וַתִּשְׂנָ֫א רֶ֥שַׁע עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ מְשָׁחֲךָ֡ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֭לֹהֶיךָ שֶׁ֥מֶן שָׂשׂ֗וֹן מֵֽחֲבֵרֶֽיךָ׃
All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
מֹר־וַאֲהָל֣וֹת קְ֭צִיעוֹת כָּל־בִּגְדֹתֶ֑יךָ מִֽן־הֵ֥יכְלֵי שֵׁ֝֗ן מִנִּ֥י שִׂמְּחֽוּךָ׃
Kings’ daughters are among your honorable women. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.
בְּנ֣וֹת מְ֭לָכִים בְּיִקְּרוֹתֶ֑יךָ נִצְּבָ֥ה שֵׁגַ֥ל לִֽ֝ימִינְךָ֗ בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃
Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.
שִׁמְעִי־בַ֣ת וּ֭רְאִי וְהַטִּ֣י אָזְנֵ֑ךְ וְשִׁכְחִ֥י עַ֝מֵּ֗ךְ וּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽיךְ׃
So the king will desire your beauty, honor him, for he is your lord.
וְיִתְאָ֣ו הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יָפְיֵ֑ךְ כִּי־ה֥וּא אֲ֝דֹנַ֗יִךְ וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִי־לֽוֹ׃
The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift. The rich among the people entreat your favor.
וּבַֽת־צֹ֨ר ׀ בְּ֭מִנְחָה פָּנַ֥יִךְ יְחַלּ֗וּ עֲשִׁ֣ירֵי עָֽם׃
The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
כָּל־כְּבוּדָּ֣ה בַת־מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּנִ֑ימָה מִֽמִּשְׁבְּצ֖וֹת זָהָ֣ב לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃
She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.
לִרְקָמוֹת֮ תּוּבַ֪ל לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְ בְּתוּל֣וֹת אַ֭חֲרֶיהָ רֵעוֹתֶ֑יהָ מ֖וּבָא֣וֹת לָֽךְ׃
With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led. They shall enter into the king’s palace.
תּ֭וּבַלְנָה בִּשְׂמָחֹ֣ת וָגִ֑יל תְּ֝בֹאֶ֗ינָה בְּהֵ֣יכַל מֶֽלֶךְ׃
Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You shall make them princes in all the earth.
תַּ֣חַת אֲ֭בֹתֶיךָ יִהְי֣וּ בָנֶ֑יךָ תְּשִׁיתֵ֥מוֹ לְ֝שָׂרִ֗ים בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.
אַזְכִּ֣ירָה שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכָל־דֹּ֣ר וָדֹ֑ר עַל־כֵּ֥ן עַמִּ֥ים יְ֝הוֹדֻ֗ךָ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
My heart overflows
with a good word
I speak
what I have made
for the King
My tongue
like the pen
of a ready writer
You are fairer
than the sons of men
Grace is poured
upon Your lips
Therefore God
has blessed You
forever
Gird Your sword
on Your side
O mighty One
In Your splendor
ride out
for truth
and humility
and righteousness
Ride on
ride on
Your right hand
will show
awesome things
Your arrows
are sharp
Nations fall
before You
Hearts laid low
before the King
Your throne
O God
stands forever
The scepter
of Your kingdom
is upright
You love
what is right
You hate
what is evil
Therefore God
Your God
has anointed You
with the oil of joy
above all others
All Your garments
flow with fragrance
From ivory halls
You are glad
Daughters of kings
stand in honor
At Your right hand
in gold
Listen, O daughter
consider
Incline your ear
Forget your people
and your father’s house
The King
will desire your beauty
He is your Lord
Bow to Him
The rich will seek
your favor
All glorious within
the king’s daughter
Clothed in gold
Led in embroidered garments
she is brought to the King
With joy
with gladness
They enter
the palace
In place of fathers
shall be sons
You will make them princes
in all the earth
Your name
will be remembered
generation
to generation
Therefore the nations
will praise You
forever
and ever
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.