THE BOOK OF PSALMS

 

Psalms 45-48

To the chief Musician, to the tune of "lilies,"

for the sons of Korah, to be played skillfully, A Song of loves.

1 ¶ My heart overflows with a magnificent theme: I speak of things which I address to the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

2 You are the most handsome of men: grace flows from your lips: therefore God has blessed you for ever.

3 Gird your sword upon your thigh, O most mighty, with your glory and your majesty.

4 And in your splendor ride on triumphantly for the cause of truth and humility and righteousness; and your right hand will show you tremendous things.

5 Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies; by them the people fall under you.

6 ¶ Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of your kingdom is a righteous scepter.

7 You love righteousness, and hate wickedness: that is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.

8 All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, scented wood, and cassia, from ivory palaces, the music of stringed instruments delights you.

9 Kings’ daughters were among your honorable women: upon your right hand stood the queen in gold of Ophir.

10 ¶ Hear, O daughter, look, and turn your ear to me; forget your own people, and your father’s house;

11 And the king will greatly desire your beauty: for he is your Lord; honor him.

12 And the daughter of Tyre will be there with a gift; the rich among the people will seek your favor.

13 The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

14 She will be brought to the king in raiment of needlework: she will be brought to you with her companions, the virgins who follow her.

15 They will be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they will enter into the king’s palace.

16 Your ancestors will instead be your children, and you will make them rulers over all the earth.

17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations: therefore the people will praise you for ever and ever.

 

Psalm 46

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song for treble voices.

1 ¶ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not be afraid, even though the earth quakes, and the mountains topple into the midst of the sea;

3 Even when its waters roar and foam, and the mountains shake in the middle of it. Selah.

4 There is a river, whose streams will delight the city of God, the holy place where the most High lives.

5 God is in the city; she will not be toppled: God will help her, when the morning dawns.

6 ¶ The heathen rage, and the kingdoms totter: he uttered his voice, and the earth melted.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, who has wrought devastation in the world.

9 He causes wars to end all over the earth; he breaks the bow, and snaps the spear in two; he burns the chariots in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

 

Psalm 47

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.

1 ¶ O clap your hands, all you people; shout to God with the voice of triumph.

2 For the LORD most high inspires terror; he is a great King over all the earth.

3 He subdues the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

4 He chose our land for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

5 ¶ God has gone up with a shout of joy, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing praises with understanding.

8 God reigns over the heathen: God sits upon the throne of his holiness.

9 The princes of the people have come together, as the people of the God of Abraham: for the rulers of the earth belong to God: he is greatly exalted.

 

Psalm 48

A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah.

1 ¶ Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

2 Rising beautifully, situated on the slope of the north, mount Zion is the joy of the whole earth, the city of the great King.

3 God is in her citadels and has revealed himself as a fortress.

4 For, lo, the kings were assembled, and they advanced together.

5 Then they saw it, and were amazed; they were troubled, and hurried away.

6 Fear took hold of them there, and pain, like that of a woman in travail.

7 You shattered the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

8 ¶ As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah.

9 We have thought of your loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of your temple.

10 According to your name, O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth: your right hand is full of righteousness.

11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of your judgments.

12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: number her towers.

13 Consider well her ramparts, walk through her palaces; that you may tell it to the generations that follow.

14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide for eternity.