For the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song. My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
Parallel translations
- KJV My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
- BSB For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies.” A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
- NKJV My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
- NASB My heart is moved with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
- NLT Beautiful words stir my heart. I will recite a lovely poem about the king, for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The poet's heart overflows as he composes a royal wedding song, his tongue like a skilled writer's pen. It matters because it introduces a psalm celebrating the king, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
Overview
This superscription and opening present a festive song for a royal wedding, the poet stirred to eloquent praise. Set to a known melody, it honors the king and his bride. The New Testament (Hebrews 1) applies the psalm's praise of the king to Christ, so this wedding song points beyond any earthly monarch to the King and His bride, the church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 22
- Ps 49:3My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
- 2 Sam 23:2“Yahweh’s Spirit spoke by me. His word was on my tongue.
- Job 33:3My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
- Prov 16:23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
- Job 32:18–20For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me.
- Isa 5:1Let me sing for my well beloved a song of my beloved about his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a very fruitful hill.
- Song 1:1–7The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s.
- 2 Pet 1:21For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
- Prov 8:6–9Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
- Ps 24:7–10Lift up your heads, you gates! Be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory will come in.
- Ps 69:1For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Lilies.” By David. Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!
- Song 1:12While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
- Ps 2:6“Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”
- Matt 25:34Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
- Eph 5:32This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.
- Job 34:4Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
- Ezra 7:6this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to Yahweh his God’s hand on him.
- Matt 27:37They set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
- Isa 32:1–2Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.
- Matt 12:35The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.
- Ps 80:1For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm by Asaph. Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.
- Ps 110:1–2A Psalm by David. Yahweh says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 45:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.