Psalms 45-47

Psalm 45

¹To the chief music-maker; put to Shoshannim. Of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves. My heart is flowing over with good things; my words are of that which I have made for a king; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

²You are fairer than the children of men; grace is flowing through your lips; for this cause the blessing of God is with you for ever.

³Put on your sword, make it ready at your side, O strong chief, with your glory and power.

⁴And go nobly on in your power, because you are good and true and without pride; and your right hand will be teaching you things of fear.

⁵Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's haters; because of them the peoples are falling under you.

⁶Your seat of power, O God, is for ever and ever; the rod of your kingdom is a rod of honour.

⁷You have been a lover of righteousness and a hater of evil: and so God, your God, has put the oil of joy on your head, lifting you high over all other kings.

⁸Your robes are full of the smell of all sorts of perfumes and spices; music from the king's ivory houses has made you glad.

⁹Kings' daughters are among your noble women: on your right is the queen in gold of Ophir.

¹⁰O daughter, give thought and attention, and let your ear be open; no longer keep in mind your people, and your father's house;

¹¹So will the king have a great desire for you, seeing how beautiful you are; because he is your lord, give him honour.

¹²And the daughters of Tyre will be there with an offering; those who have wealth among the people will be looking for your approval.

¹³In the great house the king's daughter is all shining: her clothing is worked with gold.

¹⁴She will come before the king in robes of needlework; the virgins in her train will come before you.

¹⁵With joy and rapture will they come; they will go into the king's house.

¹⁶Your children will take the place of your fathers; so that you may make them rulers over all the earth.

¹⁷I will keep the memory of your name living through all generations; and because of this the people will give you praise for ever.

Psalm 46

¹To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah; put to Alamoth. A Song. God is our harbour and our strength, a very present help in trouble.

²For this cause we will have no fear, even though the earth is changed, and though the mountains are moved in the heart of the sea;

³Though its waters are sounding and troubled, and though the mountains are shaking with their violent motion. (Selah.)

⁴There is a river whose streams make glad the resting-place of God, the holy place of the tents of the Most High.

⁵God has taken his place in her; she will not be moved: he will come to her help at the dawn of morning.

⁶The nations were angry, the kingdoms were moved; at the sound of his voice the earth became like wax.

⁷The Lord of armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our high tower. (Selah.)

⁸Come, see the works of the Lord, the destruction which he has made in the earth.

⁹He puts an end to wars over all the earth; by him the bow is broken, and the spear cut in two, and the carriage burned in the fire.

¹⁰Be at peace in the knowledge that I am God: I will be lifted up among the nations, I will be honoured through all the earth.

¹¹The Lord of armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our high tower. (Selah.)

Psalm 47

¹To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of the sons of Korah. O make a glad noise with your hands, all you peoples; letting your voices go up to God with joy.

²For the Lord Most High is to be feared; he is a great King over all the earth.

³He will put down the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet.

⁴He will give us our heritage, the glory of Jacob who is dear to him. (Selah.)

⁵God has gone up with a glad cry, the Lord with the sound of the horn.

⁶Give praises to God, make songs of praise; give praises to our King, make songs of praise.

⁷For God is the King of all the earth; make songs of praise with knowledge.

⁸God is the ruler over the nations; God is on the high seat of his holy rule.

⁹The rulers of the peoples have come together, with the people of the God of Abraham; because the powers of the earth are God's: he is lifted up on high.