Psalms 45
What Happens in This Chapter
This psalm is a song written for a royal wedding. The first part praises the king, his strength, his fairness, and his fine robes. The second part speaks to the bride, telling her to leave her old home and come to the king. It ends by promising that the king's name will be remembered for a long time.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
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.
1My heart is full of good words. I am writing a song for the king. My tongue moves like the pen of a quick, skilled writer.
2Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
2You are the finest looking of all men. Kind words come from your lips. God has blessed you forever.
3Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
3Put your sword at your side, mighty warrior. Show how great and grand you are.
4And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
4Ride out and win, because you stand for truth. You are gentle, and you do what is right. Your strong right hand will do amazing things.
The King James Version says "terrible things." In 1611 that meant things so great they filled people with awe, not things that were bad.
5Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
5Your arrows go straight into the hearts of your enemies. Whole nations fall down at your feet.
6Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
6Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever. You rule your kingdom in a fair way.
A scepter is a special rod a king holds. It shows that he is the ruler. Here the psalm says the king rules fairly.
7Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
7You love what is right, and you hate what is wrong. So God, your God, has poured oil of joy on you. He has lifted you above your friends.
Pouring oil on someone's head was how a person was chosen for a special job, like being king. Here the oil stands for joy.
8All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
8All your clothes smell sweet with myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Those are costly spices. From rooms trimmed with ivory, music makes you glad.
9Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
9Daughters of other kings are among the women who honor you. The queen stands at your right side. She wears gold from a land called Ophir.
10Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;
10Listen, daughter. Think hard about this and pay attention. Say goodbye to your own people and your father's house.
11So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
11Then the king will delight in how beautiful you are. He is your lord, so bow down to him.
12And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
12The people of the city of Tyre will come with a gift. Rich people will want you to like them.
13The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
13The king's daughter looks full of glory in her room. Her gown is sewn with gold thread.
14She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
14She is led to the king in bright, stitched clothes. Her young friends come along with her to you.
15With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.
15They are brought in with joy and happy shouting. They walk into the king's palace.
16Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
16Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You will make them princes all over the land.
17I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
17I will keep your name alive for all time. So people everywhere will praise you forever and ever.
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