True praise begins in inward fullness and is expressed through disciplined speech.
1 My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
The king’s excellence includes gracious speech, God’s blessing, and victorious power aimed at truth, humility, and righteousness.
2 You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Strap your sword on your thigh, mighty one: your splendor and your majesty.
4 In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds.
5 Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king’s enemies.
The king’s reign is defined by justice and righteousness, and his joy-filled anointing surrounds the royal wedding with glory.
6 Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
8 All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
9 Kings’ daughters are among your honorable women. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.
The bride’s beauty is joined to covenantal reorientation as she is brought into the king’s palace in glad procession.
10 Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.
11 So the king will desire your beauty, honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift. The rich among the people entreat your favor.
13 The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
14 She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.
15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led. They shall enter into the king’s palace.
The psalm ends by stretching the wedding into dynastic hope and global praise across generations.
16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You shall make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.