Psalm 45

 

Refrain:    Behold our defender, O God,

 

and look upon the face of your anointed.

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. [R]

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. [R]

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.’

 

Refrain:    Behold our defender, O God,

 

and look upon the face of your anointed.

Lord our God,

bring your bride, your holy Church,

with joy to the marriage feast of heaven,

and unite us with your anointed Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Common Worship: Daily Prayer, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2005 and published by Church House Publishing.

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