Psalm 45-47

New Living Translation

Psalm 45

For the choir director: A love song to be sung to the tune “Lilies.” A psalm^[a] of the descendants of Korah.

¹Beautiful words stir my heart.
I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

²You are the most handsome of all.
    Gracious words stream from your lips.
    God himself has blessed you forever.
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,^[b] endures forever and ever.
    You rule with a scepter of justice.
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.
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.
¹¹For your royal husband delights in your beauty;
    honor him, for he is your lord.
¹²The princess of Tyre^[c] will shower you with gifts.
    The wealthy will beg your favor.
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.

Psalm 46

For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.^[d]

¹God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
²So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
³Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude

⁴A river brings joy to the city of our God,
    the sacred home of the Most High.
⁵God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
    From the very break of day, God will protect it.
⁶The nations are in chaos,
    and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
    and the earth melts!
⁷The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel^[e] is our fortress. Interlude

⁸Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
    See how he brings destruction upon the world.
⁹He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
    He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.

¹⁰“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”

¹¹The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude

Psalm 47

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

¹Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
    Shout to God with joyful praise!
²For the Lord Most High is awesome.
    He is the great King of all the earth.
³He subdues the nations before us,
    putting our enemies beneath our feet.
⁴He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance,
    the proud possession of Jacob’s descendants, whom he loves. Interlude

⁵God has ascended with a mighty shout.
    The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring.
⁶Sing praises to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises!
⁷For God is the King over all the earth.
    Praise him with a psalm.^[f]
⁸God reigns above the nations,
    sitting on his holy throne.
⁹The rulers of the world have gathered together
    with the people of the God of Abraham.
For all the kings of the earth belong to God.
    He is highly honored everywhere.