Psalm 45

Psalm 45
English Window quoting verse 3,
"Full of grace are thy lips"
Other name
  • Psalm 44
  • "Eructavit cor meum"
Language Hebrew (original)

Psalm 45 is the 45th psalm of the Book of Psalms. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 44 in a slightly different numbering system. In Latin, it is known as "Eructavit cor meum".[1] It was composed by the sons of Korach on (or "according to") the shoshanim–either a musical instrument or the tune to which the psalm should be sung. The psalm has been interpreted as a wedding song, or epithalamium, written to a king on the day of his wedding to a foreign woman, and is one of the royal psalms.[2]

The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant liturgies.

Background

The verse marking for this psalm in the Revised Standard Version (RSV) differs from that used in other translations.[3]

Themes

In the 19th century, Franz Delitzsch argued that the poem was written on the occasion of Jehoram of Judah's marriage with Athaliah, while Alexander Kirkpatrick maintained that it referred rather to the marriage of Solomon with an Egyptian princess.[4]

The psalm has frequently been interpreted as a Messianic prophecy.[5] In Hebrews 1:8–9, verses 6–7 are quoted as allusions to Jesus, and among Jews as well the king has been identified with the Messiah and the bride with Israel.[6]

Contents

The Psalm consists of two sections framed by an introduction (vss. 1–2) and final blessing (vss. 17–18). Verses 3–10 enumerate the virtues of the king,[7] while verses 11–16 describe the queen's wedding procession and urge her to forget her family and her own country and to submit to her husband.[8] In verse 3, the poet tells the king that "God has blessed you from eternity," a concept taken by some to imply predestination.[9] The most controversial passage is verse 7 (6 in the RSV), traditionally translated "thy throne, O god, is for ever and ever,"[10][11] because it seems as if the poet is addressing the king as "god," which is theologically problematic.[10][11] Alternate translations include "your divine throne endures for ever and ever"[12] and "the eternal and everlasting God has enthroned you."[13] The last two verses of the psalm assure the king that he will have a long line of descendents and "peoples will praise you from age to age."[14]

It is a Psalm by the sons of Korah[15] and represents a song for the wedding of the king. The sons of Korach, to which the psalm is attributed in the 1st verse, were probably a race of temple singers.[16][1] Psalm 45 is the only example of profane poetry in the Psalms and was composed and sung by a minstrel or cult prophets on occasion of the marriage of the king.[17]

Text

Hebrew Bible version

Following is the Hebrew text and an English translation of Psalm 45:[18]

Verse Hebrew English
1 לַֽמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־שֽׁ֖שַֹׁנִּים לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח מַ֜שְׂכִּ֗יל שִׁ֣יר יְדִידֹֽת For the conductor on shoshannim, of the sons of Korah, a maskil a song of loves.
2 רָ֘חַ֚שׁ לִבִּ֨י | דָּ֘בָ֚ר ט֗וֹב אֹמֵ֣ר אָ֖נִי מַֽעֲשַׂ֣י לְמֶ֑לֶךְ לְ֜שׁוֹנִ֗י עֵ֚ט | סוֹפֵ֬ר מָהִֽיר My heart is astir with a good theme; I say, "My works are for a king; my tongue is a pen of an expert scribe."
3 יָפְיָפִ֡יתָ מִבְּנֵ֣י אָדָ֗ם ה֣וּצַק חֵ֖ן בְּשִׂפְתוֹתֶ֑יךָ עַל־כֵּ֚ן בֵּֽרַכְךָ֖ אֱלֹהִ֣ים לְעוֹלָֽם You are more handsome than [other] men; charm is poured into your lips. Therefore, God blessed you forever.
4 חֲגֽוֹר־חַרְבְּךָ֣ עַל־יָרֵ֣ךְ גִּבּ֑וֹר הֽ֜וֹדְךָ֗ וַֽהֲדָרֶֽךָ Gird a sword on your thigh, O mighty one, your majesty and your glory.
5 וַֽהֲדָֽ֬רְךָ | צְלַ֬ח רְכַ֗ב עַל־דְּבַר־אֱ֖מֶת וְעַנְוָה־צֶּ֑דֶק וְתֽוֹרְךָ֖ נֽוֹרָא֣וֹת יְמִינֶֽךָ And your glory is that you will pass and ride for the sake of truth and righteous humility, and it shall instruct you so that your right hand shall perform awesome things.
6 חִצֶּ֗יךָ שְׁנ֫וּנִ֥ים עַ֖מִּים תַּחְתֶּ֣יךָ יִפְּל֑וּ בְּ֜לֵ֗ב אֽוֹיְבֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ Your arrows are sharpened, nations shall fall under you, in the heart of the king's enemies.
7 כִּסְאֲךָ֣ אֱ֖לֹהִים עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד שֵׁ֥בֶט מִ֜ישֹׁ֗ר שֵׁ֣בֶט מַלְכוּתֶֽךָ Your throne, O judge, [will exist] forever and ever; the scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
8 אָהַ֣בְתָּ צֶּדֶק֘ וַתִּשְׂנָא־רֶ֗שַׁע עַל־כֵּ֚ן | מְשָֽׁחֲךָ֡ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֖לֹהֶיךָ שֶׁ֥מֶן שָׂשׂ֗וֹן מֵֽחֲבֵרֶֽךָ You loved righteousness and you hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, anointed you with oil of joy from among your peers.
9 מֹ֤ר וַֽאֲהָל֣וֹת קְ֖צִיעוֹת כָּל־בִּגְדֹתֶ֑יךָ מִן־הֵ֥יכְלֵי שֵׁ֜֗ן מִנִּ֥י שִׂמְּחֽוּךָ Myrrh and aloes and cassia are all your garments; more than ivory palaces, those that are Mine will cause you to rejoice.
10 בְּנ֣וֹת מְ֖לָכִים בִּיקְּרוֹתֶ֑יךָ נִצְּבָ֖ה שֵׁגָ֥ל לִ֜ימִֽינְךָ֗ בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִֽיר The daughters of kings will visit you; the queen will stand at your right [bedecked] with golden jewelry from Ophir.
11 שִׁמְעִי־בַ֣ת וּ֖רְאִי וְהַטִּ֣י אָזְנֵ֑ךְ וְשִׁכְחִ֥י עַ֜מֵּ֗ךְ וּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽיךְ Hearken, daughter, and see, and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father's house.
12 וְיִתְאָ֣ו הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יָפְיֵ֑ךְ כִּי־ה֥וּא אֲ֜דֹנַ֗יִךְ וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִי־לֽוֹ And the King shall desire your beauty, for He is your Lord, and prostrate yourself to Him.
13 וּבַת־צֹ֨ר | בְּ֖מִנְחָה פָּנַ֥יִךְ יְחַלּ֗וּ עֲשִׁ֣ירֵי עָֽם And the daughter of Tyre shall seek your presence with tribute, those who are the richest of the people.
14 כָּל־כְּבוּדָּ֣ה בַת־מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּנִ֑ימָה מִמִּשְׁבְּצ֖וֹת זָהָ֣ב לְבוּשָֽׁהּ All honor [awaits] the King's daughter who is within; her raiment is superior to settings of gold.
15 לִרְקָמוֹת֘ תּוּבַ֪ל לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְ בְּתוּל֣וֹת אַֽ֖חֲרֶיהָ רֵֽעוֹתֶ֑יהָ מ֖וּבָא֣וֹת לָֽךְ With embroidered garments, she will be brought to the King; and virgins in her train who are her companions will be brought to You.
16 תּ֖וּבַלְנָה בִּשְׂמָחֹ֣ת וָגִ֑יל תְּ֜בוֹאֶ֗ינָה בְּהֵ֣יכַל מֶֽלֶךְ They shall be brought with joy and exultation; they shall come forth into the King's palace.
17 תַּ֣חַת אֲ֖בֹתֶיךָ יִֽהְי֣וּ בָנֶ֑יךָ תְּשִׁיתֵ֥מוֹ לְ֜שָׂרִ֗ים בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ Instead of your forefathers will be your sons; you shall appoint them as princes throughout the land.
18 אַזְכִּ֣ירָה שִׁ֖מְךָ בְּכָל־דֹּ֣ר וָדֹ֑ר עַל־כֵּ֚ן עַמִּ֥ים יְ֜הוֹד֗וּךָ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד I will mention Your name in every generation; therefore peoples shall thank You forever and ever.

King James Version

  1. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
  2. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
  3. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
  4. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
  5. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
  6. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
  7. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
  8. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
  9. Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
  10. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
  11. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
  12. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
  13. The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
  14. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
  15. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.
  16. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
  17. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

Uses

Judaism

In the Siddur Avodas Yisrael, Psalm 45 is recited as a Song of the Day on Shabbat Chayei Sarah and Shabbat Pekudei.[19]

This psalm is said as a general prayer for the end of the exile and the coming of the Mashiach.[20]

New Testament

Verses 6 and 7 are used in the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 1, verses 8–9.[21]

Catholicism

Since the early Middle Ages monasteries have traditionally performed this psalm during the celebration of matins lundi, according to the Rule of St Benedict of Nursia (530).[22][23] In modern times in the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 45 is sung or recited, in two parts, with the Vespers on Monday of the second week[24] and office midday Saturday of the fourth week.

Notes

  1. ↑ Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 44 (45) Archived 2017-09-30 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Dahood 1966, p. 270.
  3. ↑ Dahood 1966, p. 269.
  4. ↑ Kirkpatrick 1901, pp. 243–44.
  5. ↑ Kirkpatrick 1901, p. 244.
  6. ↑ Rhodes 1960, p. 78.
  7. ↑ Dahood 1966, p. 270.
  8. ↑ Rhodes 1960, p. 79.
  9. ↑ Dahood 1966, p. 271.
  10. 1 2 Kirkpatrick 1901, p. 247.
  11. 1 2 Dahood 1966, p. 273.
  12. ↑ Rhodes 1960, p. 78.
  13. ↑ Dahood 1966, p. 269.
  14. ↑ Dahood 1966, pp. 270, 276.
  15. ↑ 2 Chronicles 20:19.
  16. ↑ Stuttgarter Erklärungsbibel (in German), 2, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, Aufl. 1992, pp. 697, 699, ISBN 3-438-01121-2 Check date values in: |date= (help) .
  17. ↑ Die Bibel mit Erklärungen (in German), Berlin: Evangelische Haupt-Bibelgesellschaft, 1993, p. 3, ISBN 3-7461-0069-0 .
  18. ↑ "Tehillim - Psalms - Chapter 45". Chabad.org. 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  19. ↑ Brauner, Reuven (2013). "Shimush Pesukim: Comprehensive Index to Liturgical and Ceremonial Uses of Biblical Verses and Passages" (PDF) (2nd ed.). p. 38.
  20. ↑ "End of Exile/Mashiach". Daily Tehillim. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  21. ↑ Steyn, Gert J. (2004). "The Vorlage of Psalm 45: 6-7 (44: 7-8) in Hebrews 1: 8-9". HTS. academia.edu. pp. 1085–1103.
  22. ↑ Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique, p. 167, 1938/2003
  23. ↑ Guéranger, Prosper (2007), Règle de saint Benoît (in French) (réimpression ed.), Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, p. 46 .
  24. ↑ [archive of abbaye-montdescats

References

  • Dahood, Mitchell (1966), Psalms I: 1–50, Anchor Bible Series, Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co .
  • Kirkpatrick, A.F. (1901), The Book of Psalms, The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, Cambridge University Press .
  • Rhodes, Arnold B. (1960), The Book of Psalms, The Layman's Bible Commentary, Richmond, VA: John Knox Press .

Further reading

  • Brooke Lemmons Deal (2007). Divine Queenship and Psalm 45. ProQuest. ISBN 978-1-109-08292-0.
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