Psalm 45:1
New International Version
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

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

English Standard Version
My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

Berean Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies.” A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

King James Bible
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. 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.

New King James Version
To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love. My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

New American Standard Bible
For the music director; according to the Shoshannim. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love. My heart is moved with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

NASB 1995
For the choir director; according to the Shoshannim. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love. My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

NASB 1977
My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the choir director. According to Shoshannim. Of the sons of Korah. A Maskil. A Song of Love. My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a skillful scribe.

Amplified Bible
To the Chief Musician; set to the [tune of] “Lilies.” A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem. A Song of Love. My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my psalm to the King. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.

Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: according to “The Lilies.” † A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song. My heart is moved by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: according to “The Lilies.” A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song. My heart is moved by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

American Standard Version
For the Chief Musician; set to Shoshannim. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves. My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter; I speak the things which I have made touching the king: My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
My heart brings forth good accounts and tells the deeds of The King; my tongue is the pen of a ready Scribe,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the end, for alternate strains by the sons of Core; for instruction, a Song concerning the beloved. My heart has uttered a good matter: I declare my works to the king: my tongue is the pen of a quick writer.

Contemporary English Version
My thoughts are filled with beautiful words for the king, and I will use my voice as a writer would use pen and ink.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the sons of Core, for understanding. A canticle for the Beloved. My heart hath uttered a good word I speak my works to the king; My tongue is the pen of a scrivener that writeth swiftly.

English Revised Version
For the Chief Musician; set to Shoshannim; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves. My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter: I speak the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[For the choir director; according to [shoshannim]; a [maskil] by Korah's descendants; a love song.] My heart is overflowing with good news. I will direct my song to the king. My tongue is a pen for a skillful writer.

Good News Translation
Beautiful words fill my mind, as I compose this song for the king. Like the pen of a good writer my tongue is ready with a poem.

International Standard Version
My heart is overflowing with good news; I speak what I have composed to the king; my tongue is like the pen of an articulate scribe.

JPS Tanakh 1917
For the Leader; upon Shoshannim; [a Psalm] of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves. My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter; I say: 'My work is concerning a king'; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Literal Standard Version
TO THE OVERSEER. [SET] ON “LILIES.” AN INSTRUCTION OF THE SONS OF KORAH. A SONG OF LOVES. My heart has stirred a good word, | I am telling my works to the King, | My tongue [is] the pen of a speedy writer.

Majority Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies.” A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

New American Bible
For the leader; according to “Lilies.” A maskil of the Korahites. A love song. [2] My heart is stirred by a noble theme, as I sing my ode to the king. My tongue is the pen of a nimble scribe.

NET Bible
For the music director; according to the tune of "Lilies;" by the Korahites, a well-written poem, a love song. My heart is stirred by a beautiful song. I say, "I have composed this special song for the king; my tongue is as skilled as the stylus of an experienced scribe."

New Revised Standard Version
My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

New Heart English Bible
[For the Chief Musician. Set to "The Lilies." A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song.] My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.

Webster's Bible Translation
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made concerning the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

World English Bible
For the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song. My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.

Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer. -- 'On the Lilies.' -- By sons of Korah. -- An Instruction. -- A song of loves. My heart hath indited a good thing, I am telling my works to a king, My tongue is the pen of a speedy writer.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
My Heart is Stirred by a Noble Theme
1For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies.” A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. 2You are the most handsome of men; grace has anointed your lips, since God has blessed you forever.…

Cross References
Ezra 7:6
this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.

Psalm 42:1
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.


Treasury of Scripture

My heart is gushing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

(Title.

1 Chronicles 17:27
Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.

Shoshannim

Psalm 69:1
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

Psalm 80:1
To the chief Musician upon ShoshannimEduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

Maschil.

Song of Solomon 1:1,2
The song of songs, which is Solomon's…

Isaiah 5:1
Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:

Ephesians 5:32
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

is inditing [heb.

Job 32:18-20
For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me…

Proverbs 16:23
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

Matthew 12:35
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

a good

Psalm 49:3
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

Job 33:3
My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

Job 34:4
Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

touching

Psalm 2:6
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Psalm 24:7-10
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in…

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Chief Choirmaster Contemplation Good Goodly Heart Korah Lilies Love Maskil Matter Musician Noble Overflows Pen Psalm Recite Skillful Song Speak Theme Tongue Wedding Writer
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Chief Choirmaster Contemplation Good Goodly Heart Korah Lilies Love Maskil Matter Musician Noble Overflows Pen Psalm Recite Skillful Song Speak Theme Tongue Wedding Writer
Psalm 45
1. The majesty and grace of Christ's kingdom
10. The duty of the church, and the benefits thereof














(1) Inditing.--A most unhappy rendering of a word, which, though only used here, must, from the meaning of its derivative (a "pot," or "cauldron"), have something to do with a liquid, and means either to "boil over" or to "bubble up." The LXX. and Vulg. have apparently thought of the bursting out of a fountain: eructavit. Symmachus has, "been set in motion." The "spring," or "fountain," is a common emblem of inspired fancy:--

"Ancient founts of inspiration well through all my fancy yet."

TENNYSON: Locksley Hall.

A good matter.--That is, a theme worthy a poet's song. Luther: "A fine song."

I speak of the things which I have made touching the king.--This rendering follows the LXX., Vulg., and most of the older translations. Perhaps, however, we are to understand Aquila and Symmachus as rendering "my poems;" and undoubtedly the true rendering is, I am speaking: my poem is of a king (not the king, as in Authorised Version).

My tongue . . .--So lofty a theme, so august a subject, inspires him with thoughts that flow freely. The ready or expeditious scribe (LXX. and Vulg., "A scribe writing quickly") was, as we learn from Ezra 7:6, a recognised form of praise for a distinguished member of that body, one of whose functions was to make copies of the Law.

Verse 1. - My heart is inditing a good matter; literally, bubbleth with a good matter - is so full of it that the matter will burst forth. I speak of the things which I have made touching the king; or, I utter that which I have composed concerning the king. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. It is noted that only "psalms of high and solemn import" have formal exordia of this kind, announcing the intention of the writer.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For the choirmaster.
לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ (lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5329: To glitter from afar, to be eminent, to be permanent

To the tune of
עַל־ (‘a·lō·šō-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

“The Lilies.”
שֹׁ֭שַׁנִּים (šan·nîm)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 7799: A lily, as a, flower of architectural ornament, a, trumpet

A Maskil
מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל (maś·kîl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4905: Instructive, a didactic poem

of the sons
לִבְנֵי־ (liḇ·nê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Korah.
קֹ֑רַח (qō·raḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7141: Korah -- an Edomite name, also an Israelite name

A love
יְדִידֹֽת׃ (yə·ḏî·ḏōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 3039: Beloved

song.
שִׁ֣יר (šîr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7892: A song, singing

My heart
לִבִּ֨י ׀ (lib·bî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

is stirred
רָ֘חַ֤שׁ (rā·ḥaš)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7370: To keep moving, stir

by a noble
ט֗וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

theme
דָּ֘בָ֤ר (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

as I
אָ֭נִי (’ā·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

recite
אֹמֵ֣ר (’ō·mêr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

my verses
מַעֲשַׂ֣י (ma·‘ă·śay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

to the king;
לְמֶ֑לֶךְ (lə·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

my tongue
לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י (lə·šō·w·nî)
Noun - common singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3956: The tongue

is the pen
עֵ֤ט ׀ (‘êṭ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5842: A stylus, marking stick

of a skillful
מָהִֽיר׃ (mā·hîr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 4106: Quick, prompt, ready, skilled

writer.
סוֹפֵ֬ר (sō·w·p̄êr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate


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OT Poetry: Psalm 45:1 For the Chief Musician (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 44:26
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