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.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- 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 shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
- 2 Sam 23:2The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
- Job 33:3My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
- Prov 16:23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
- Job 32:18–20For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
- Isa 5:1Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
- Song 1:1–7The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.
- 2 Pet 1:21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
- Prov 8:6–9Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
- Ps 24:7–10Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
- Ps 69:1Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
- Song 1:12While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
- Ps 2:6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
- Matt 25:34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
- Eph 5:32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
- Job 34:4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
- Ezra 7:6This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
- Matt 27:37And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- Isa 32:1–2Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
- Matt 12:35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
- Ps 80:1Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
- Ps 110:1–2The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
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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.