Psalm 45

First Version

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes:

(vv.1-9) 101 Praetorius, 81 Liverpool

(vv.10-17) 23 Arnold, 131 Southwark

1    My heart brings forth a goodly thing;

            my words that I indite

      Concern the King: my tongue’s a pen

            of one that swift doth write.

2    Thou fairer art than sons of men:

            into thy lips is store

      Of grace infus’d; God therefore thee

            hath bless’d for evermore.

3    O thou that art the mighty One,

            thy sword gird on thy thigh;

      Ev’n with thy glory excellent,

            and with thy majesty.

4    For meekness, truth, and righteousness,

            in state ride prosp’rously;

      And thy right hand shall thee instruct

            in things that fearful be.

5    Thine arrows sharply pierce the heart

            of th’ en’mies of the King;

      And under thy subjection

            the people down do bring.

6    For ever and for ever is,

            O God, thy throne of might;

      The sceptre of thy kingdom is

            a sceptre that is right.

7    Thou lovest right, and hatest ill;

            for God, thy God, most high,

      Above thy fellows hath with th’ oil

            of joy anointed thee.

8    Of aloes, myrrh, and cassia,

            a smell thy garments had,

      Out of the iv’ry palaces,

            whereby they made thee glad.

9    Among thy women honourable

            kings’ daughters were at hand:

      Upon thy right hand did the queen

            in gold of Ophir stand.

10  O daughter, hearken and regard,

            and do thine ear incline;

      Likewise forget thy father’s house,

            and people that are thine.

11  Then of the King desir’d shall be

            thy beauty veh’mently:

      Because he is thy Lord, do thou

            him worship rev’rently.

12  The daughter there of Tyre shall be

            with gifts and off’rings great:

      Those of the people that are rich

            thy favour shall entreat.

13  Behold, the daughter of the King

            all glorious is within;

      And with embroideries of gold

            her garments wrought have been.

14  She shall be brought unto the King

            in robes with needle wrought;

      Her fellow-virgins following

            shall unto thee be brought.

15  They shall be brought with gladness great,

            and mirth on ev’ry side,

      Into the palace of the King,

            and there they shall abide.

16  Instead of those thy fathers dear,

            thy children thou may’st take,

      And in all places of the earth

            them noble princes make.

17  Thy name remember’d I will make

            through ages all to be:

      The people therefore evermore

            shall praises give to thee.

_____

Second Version

Short Metre (6,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes:

(vv.1-9) 161 Carlisle, 160 Bucer, 168 Narenza, 175 Shere

(vv.10-17) 167 Malan, 176 Song 20, 159 Aynhoe

1    My heart inditing is

            good matter in a song:

      I speak the things that I have made,

            which to the King belong:

      My tongue shall be as quick,

            his honour to indite,

      As is the pen of any scribe

            that useth fast to write.

2    Thou ’rt fairest of all men;

            grace in thy lips doth flow:

      And therefore blessings evermore

            on thee doth God bestow.

3    Thy sword gird on thy thigh,

            thou that art most of might:

      Appear in dreadful majesty,

            and in thy glory bright.

4    For meekness, truth, and right,

            ride prosp’rously in state;

      And thy right hand shall teach to thee

            things terrible and great.

5    Thy shafts shall pierce their hearts

            that foes are to the King;

      Whereby into subjection

            the people thou shalt bring.

6    Thy royal seat, O Lord,

            for ever shall remain:

      The sceptre of thy kingdom doth

            all righteousness maintain.

7    Thou lov’st right, and hat’st ill;

            for God, thy God, most high,

      Above thy fellows hath with th’ oil

            of joy anointed thee.

8    Of myrrh and spices sweet

            a smell thy garments had,

      Out of the iv’ry palaces,

            whereby they made thee glad.

9    And in thy glorious train

            kings’ daughters waiting stand;

      And thy fair queen, in Ophir gold,

            doth stand at thy right hand.

10  O daughter, take good heed,

            incline, and give good ear;

      Thou must forget thy kindred all,

            and father’s house most dear.

11  Thy beauty to the King

            shall then delightful be:

      And do thou humbly worship him,

            because thy Lord is he.

12  The daughter then of Tyre

            there with a gift shall be,

      And all the wealthy of the land

            shall make their suit to thee.

13  The daughter of the King

            all glorious is within;

      And with embroideries of gold

            her garments wrought have been.

14  She cometh to the King

            in robes with needle wrought;

      The virgins that do follow her

            shall unto thee be brought.

15  They shall be brought with joy,

            and mirth on ev’ry side,

      Into the palace of the King,

            and there they shall abide.

16  And in thy fathers’ stead,

            thy children thou may’st take,

      And in all places of the earth

            them noble princes make.

21  I will shew forth thy name

            to generations all:

      Therefore the people evermore

            to thee give praises shall.