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.
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.”
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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.