1 My heart is astir with gracious words; ♦
as I make my song for the king,
my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
2 You are the fairest of men; ♦
full of grace are your lips,
for God has blest you for ever.
3 Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one; ♦
gird on your majesty and glory.
4 Ride on and prosper in the cause of truth ♦
and for the sake of humility and righteousness.
5 Your right hand will teach you terrible things; ♦
your arrows will be sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies,
so that peoples fall beneath you.
6 Your throne is God’s throne, for ever; ♦
the sceptre of your kingdom is the sceptre of righteousness.
7 You love righteousness and hate iniquity; ♦
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
8 All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia; ♦
from ivory palaces the music of strings makes you glad.
9 Kings’ daughters are among your honourable women; ♦
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hear, O daughter; consider and incline your ear; ♦
forget your own people and your father’s house.
11 So shall the king have pleasure in your beauty; ♦
he is your lord, so do him honour.
12 The people of Tyre shall bring you gifts; ♦
the richest of the people shall seek your favour.
13 The king’s daughter is all glorious within; ♦
her clothing is embroidered cloth of gold.
14 She shall be brought to the king in raiment of needlework; ♦
after her the virgins that are her companions.
15 With joy and gladness shall they be brought ♦
and enter into the palace of the king.
16 ‘Instead of your fathers you shall have sons, ♦
whom you shall make princes over all the land.
17 ‘I will make your name to be remembered through all generations; ♦
therefore shall the peoples praise you for ever and ever.’
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.