My Heart Overflows
Psalm 45 summary: what it means
Psalm 45 is, in the words of its heading, a wedding song for a king. It begins with the poet saying his heart overflows as he recites his verses for the king. The first half praises the king: his gracious speech, his sword, his rides on behalf of truth, humility and righteousness, and a throne that lasts forever. He is anointed with the oil of gladness, and his robes smell of myrrh, aloes and cassia.
At verse 10 the psalm turns to the bride. She is told to listen, to forget her own people and her father's house, and to honor the king. She is led to the palace in gold and embroidered clothing, with her companions behind her. The last verses turn back to the king, promising sons who will be princes and a name remembered in all generations.
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Psalm 45: My Heart Overflows
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-45
Psalm 45 commentary: explained verse by verse
My heart overflows with a noble theme.I recite my verses for the king.My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
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.
The poet speaks first about himself. His heart overflows with a noble theme, he recites his verses for the king, and his tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
Also read Matthew 12:35, Isaiah 5:1, Psalm 24:7-10, Ephesians 5:32
You are the most excellent of the sons of men.Grace has anointed your lips,therefore God has blessed you forever.
Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
The poet turns from introducing his song to praising the king directly. The king is called the most excellent of the sons of men, and grace has anointed his lips, so his speech is part of what makes him great. God's blessing forever is given as the result. The KJV reads thou art fairer than the children of men.
Also read Philippians 2:9-11, Isaiah 61:1, Song of Songs 5:10-16, Hebrews 7:26
Strap your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,in your splendor and your majesty.
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
The king is urged to strap his sword on his thigh. The verse pairs the weapon with splendor and majesty, so strength and royal glory are praised together.
Also read Hebrews 8:1, Isaiah 9:6-7, Hebrews 1:3, Psalm 104:1
In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness.Let your right hand display awesome deeds.
And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
The king rides out on behalf of truth, humility and righteousness. His victories are praised for the cause they serve, not only for their force.
Also read Revelation 20:15, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, Psalm 60:4, Matthew 11:29
Your arrows are sharp.The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king’s enemies.
Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
Also read Acts 6:7, Acts 5:14, Psalm 66:3-4, Numbers 24:8
Your throne, God, is forever and ever.A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
The psalm speaks directly about the throne: your throne, God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of the kingdom is equity. This verse and verse 7 are quoted in the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 1, verses 8 and 9.
Also read Daniel 2:44, Luke 1:32-33, Psalm 93:2, Psalm 89:29
You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness.Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
The reason for the king's anointing is his character: he has loved righteousness and hated wickedness. God anoints him with the oil of gladness above his companions.
Also read 1 Kings 19:16, Luke 13:27, Luke 3:22, Hebrews 7:26
All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia.Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
The wedding scene begins with scent and sound. The king's garments smell of myrrh, aloes and cassia, and stringed instruments from ivory palaces make him glad.
Also read Song of Songs 1:13, Song of Songs 3:6, John 14:2, John 19:39
Kings’ daughters are among your honorable women.At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.
Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
Also read Song of Songs 4:8-11, Song of Songs 6:8-9, Isaiah 60:10-11, Song of Songs 7:1
Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear.Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;
Here the psalm turns to the bride and calls her daughter. She is told to listen and to forget her own people and her father's house, because she is leaving them to join the king.
Also read Isaiah 55:1-3, Deuteronomy 21:13, Matthew 10:37, Matthew 19:29
So the king will desire your beauty,honor him, for he is your lord.
So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
The verse gives the reason for the bride's new loyalty. The king will desire her beauty, and she is to honor him because he is her lord.
Also read Song of Songs 4:1-5, Song of Songs 1:12-16, Song of Songs 2:14, Philippians 3:8
The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift.The rich among the people entreat your favor.
And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
Gifts arrive from outside. The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift, and the rich among the people seek the bride's favor.
Also read Psalm 68:29, Isaiah 60:3, Isaiah 60:6-7, Psalm 22:29
The princess inside is all glorious.Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
The princess is described inside the palace as all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold, the richest detail in the psalm's picture of her.
Also read Revelation 3:18, 1 Samuel 16:7, Psalm 45:9-10, Romans 3:22
She shall be led to the king in embroidered work.The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.
She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
Also read Judges 5:30, Exodus 28:39, Song of Songs 6:1, Revelation 14:1-4
With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led.They shall enter into the king’s palace.
With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.
The procession ends in celebration. The bride and her companions are led with gladness and rejoicing, and they enter the king's palace.
Also read Isaiah 51:11, Revelation 7:15-17, Isaiah 56:5, Jude 1:24
Your sons will take the place of your fathers.You shall make them princes in all the earth.
Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
Also read Revelation 20:6, 1 Peter 2:9, Isaiah 54:1-5, Matthew 19:29
I will make your name to be remembered in all generations.Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.
I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
The poet closes with his own promise. He will make the king's name remembered in all generations, so that the peoples give thanks forever.
Also read Psalm 138:4, Psalm 145:4-7, Isaiah 62:3, Matthew 26:13
A prayer from Psalm 45
God, my heart overflows with a good theme today, and I want my words to be like the pen of a skillful writer. The psalm says your throne is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of equity. You love righteousness and hate wickedness. Let truth, humility and righteousness go out and win. I pray for all who are joined together in marriage, that they may be led with gladness and rejoicing. Let your name be remembered in all generations, and let the peoples give you thanks forever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 45 Bible study questions
- In verse 1, how does the writer describe his own heart and his tongue as he begins the song?
- In verse 4, on behalf of which three things is the king told to ride out?
- Verse 7 links loving righteousness with being anointed with the oil of gladness; how do you see the connection between character and joy?
- In verses 10 and 11 the bride is told to forget her own people and her father's house; what might such a call to leave the familiar feel like?
- Psalm 72 is also a prayer about a king; how does what it asks for the king in Psalm 72:1 compare with what Psalm 45 praises in him?
Questions about Psalm 45
What is Psalm 45 about?
Its heading calls it a wedding song. It praises a king for his speech, his victories and his righteous rule, then speaks to his bride as she leaves her father's house and is brought to the palace.
Who wrote Psalm 45?
The heading attributes it to the sons of Korah and calls it a contemplation. No individual author is named.
What does Psalm 45:1 say in the KJV?
The King James Version reads: "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."
What does Psalm 45:10-11 mean?
The psalm speaks to the bride, telling her to leave behind her own people and her father's house. It says the king will desire her beauty and that she should honor him as her lord.
What does Psalm 45:13 mean?
It describes the princess inside the palace as all glorious, with clothing interwoven with gold. The KJV words it "The king's daughter is all glorious within."
Is Psalm 45 quoted in the New Testament?
Yes. Verses 6 and 7 are quoted in the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 1, verses 8 and 9.
Psalm 45 KJV: the King James Version
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.1
Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.2
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.3
And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.4
Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.5
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.6
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.7
All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.8
Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.9
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;10
So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.11
And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.12
The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.13
She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.14
With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.15
Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.16
I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.17
Psalm 45 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־שֹׁ֭שַׁנִּים לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל שִׁ֣יר יְדִידֹֽת׃
2 רָ֘חַ֤שׁ לִבִּ֨י ׀ דָּ֘בָ֤ר ט֗וֹב אֹמֵ֣ר אָ֭נִי מַעֲשַׂ֣י לְמֶ֑לֶךְ לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י עֵ֤ט ׀ סוֹפֵ֬ר מָהִֽיר׃
3 יָפְיָפִ֡יתָ מִבְּנֵ֬י אָדָ֗ם ה֣וּצַק חֵ֭ן בְּשְׂפְתוֹתֶ֑יךָ עַל־כֵּ֤ן בֵּֽרַכְךָ֖ אֱלֹהִ֣ים לְעוֹלָֽם׃
4 חֲגֽוֹר־חַרְבְּךָ֣ עַל־יָרֵ֣ךְ גִּבּ֑וֹר ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ וַהֲדָרֶֽךָ׃
5 וַהֲדָ֬רְךָ֨ ׀ צְלַ֬ח רְכַ֗ב עַֽל־דְּבַר־אֱ֭מֶת וְעַנְוָה־צֶ֑דֶק וְתוֹרְךָ֖ נוֹרָא֣וֹת יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
6 חִצֶּ֗יךָ שְׁנ֫וּנִ֥ים עַ֭מִּים תַּחְתֶּ֣יךָ יִפְּל֑וּ בְּ֝לֵ֗ב אוֹיְבֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
7 כִּסְאֲךָ֣ אֱ֭לֹהִים עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד שֵׁ֥בֶט מִ֝ישֹׁ֗ר שֵׁ֣בֶט מַלְכוּתֶֽךָ׃
8 אָהַ֣בְתָּ צֶּדֶק֮ וַתִּשְׂנָ֫א רֶ֥שַׁע עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ מְשָׁחֲךָ֡ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֭לֹהֶיךָ שֶׁ֥מֶן שָׂשׂ֗וֹן מֵֽחֲבֵרֶֽיךָ׃
9 מֹר־וַאֲהָל֣וֹת קְ֭צִיעוֹת כָּל־בִּגְדֹתֶ֑יךָ מִֽן־הֵ֥יכְלֵי שֵׁ֝֗ן מִנִּ֥י שִׂמְּחֽוּךָ׃
10 בְּנ֣וֹת מְ֭לָכִים בְּיִקְּרוֹתֶ֑יךָ נִצְּבָ֥ה שֵׁגַ֥ל לִֽ֝ימִינְךָ֗ בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃
11 שִׁמְעִי־בַ֣ת וּ֭רְאִי וְהַטִּ֣י אָזְנֵ֑ךְ וְשִׁכְחִ֥י עַ֝מֵּ֗ךְ וּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽיךְ׃
12 וְיִתְאָ֣ו הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יָפְיֵ֑ךְ כִּי־ה֥וּא אֲ֝דֹנַ֗יִךְ וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִי־לֽוֹ׃
13 וּבַֽת־צֹ֨ר ׀ בְּ֭מִנְחָה פָּנַ֥יִךְ יְחַלּ֗וּ עֲשִׁ֣ירֵי עָֽם׃
14 כָּל־כְּבוּדָּ֣ה בַת־מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּנִ֑ימָה מִֽמִּשְׁבְּצ֖וֹת זָהָ֣ב לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃
15 לִרְקָמוֹת֮ תּוּבַ֪ל לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְ בְּתוּל֣וֹת אַ֭חֲרֶיהָ רֵעוֹתֶ֑יהָ מ֖וּבָא֣וֹת לָֽךְ׃
16 תּ֭וּבַלְנָה בִּשְׂמָחֹ֣ת וָגִ֑יל תְּ֝בֹאֶ֗ינָה בְּהֵ֣יכַל מֶֽלֶךְ׃
17 תַּ֣חַת אֲ֭בֹתֶיךָ יִהְי֣וּ בָנֶ֑יךָ תְּשִׁיתֵ֥מוֹ לְ֝שָׂרִ֗ים בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
18 אַזְכִּ֣ירָה שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכָל־דֹּ֣ר וָדֹ֑ר עַל־כֵּ֥ן עַמִּ֥ים יְ֝הוֹדֻ֗ךָ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃
Psalm 45 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 44 there.
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1 Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the sons of Core, for understanding. A canticle for the Beloved.
2 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.
3 Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.
4 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty.
5 With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign. Because of truth and meekness and justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.
6 Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the hearts of the king’s enemies.
7 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.
8 Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
9 Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory houses: out of which
10 The daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with variety.
11 Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father’s house.
12 And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.
13 And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.
14 All the glory of the king’s daughter is within in golden borders,
15 Clothed round about with varieties. After her shall virgins be brought to the king: her neighbours shall be brought to thee.
16 They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the king.
17 Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.
18 They shall remember thy name throughout all generations. Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, for ever and ever.
Psalm 45 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 44.
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1 In finem, pro iis qui commutabuntur. Filiis Core, ad intellectum. Canticum pro dilecto.
2 Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego opera mea regi. Lingua mea calamus scribæ velociter scribentis.
3 Speciosus forma præ filiis hominum, diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis: propterea benedixit te Deus in æternum.
4 Accingere gladio tuo super femur tuum, potentissime.
5 Specie tua et pulchritudine tua intende, prospere procede, et regna, propter veritatem, et mansuetudinem, et justitiam; et deducet te mirabiliter dextera tua.
6 Sagittæ tuæ acutæ: populi sub te cadent, in corda inimicorum regis.
7 Sedes tua, Deus, in sæculum sæculi; virga directionis virga regni tui.
8 Dilexisti justitiam, et odisti iniquitatem; propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo lætitiæ, præ consortibus tuis.
9 Myrrha, et gutta, et casia a vestimentis tuis, a domibus eburneis; ex quibus delectaverunt te
10 filiæ regum in honore tuo. Astitit regina a dextris tuis in vestitu deaurato, circumdata varietate.
11 Audi, filia, et vide, et inclina aurem tuam; et obliviscere populum tuum, et domum patris tui.
12 Et concupiscet rex decorem tuum, quoniam ipse est Dominus Deus tuus, et adorabunt eum.
13 Et filiæ Tyri in muneribus vultum tuum deprecabuntur; omnes divites plebis.
14 Omnis gloria ejus filiæ regis ab intus, in fimbriis aureis,
15 circumamicta varietatibus. Adducentur regi virgines post eam; proximæ ejus afferentur tibi.
16 Afferentur in lætitia et exsultatione; adducentur in templum regis.
17 Pro patribus tuis nati sunt tibi filii; constitues eos principes super omnem terram.
18 Memores erunt nominis tui in omni generatione et generationem: propterea populi confitebuntur tibi in æternum, et in sæculum sæculi.
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Psalm 45 at a glance
| Verses | 17 |
| Heading in the text | For the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to the sons of Korah and calls it a contemplation and a wedding song, set to The Lilies. |
| Type | Royal |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 44 |
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Psalm 45 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 45 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 45 belongs
Psalms of the sons of KorahBook 2 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrews quotation: Wikipedia, Psalm 45: verses 6 and 7 are quoted in Hebrews 1:8-9 source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source