A Royal Wedding Song
Psalms 44
Titled a song concerning the beloved, this psalm praises a king's beauty, might, and righteous rule, describing his throne as everlasting and his garments fragrant in ivory palaces. It then addresses a bride at the king's right hand, calling her to forget her own people for the king's sake, and closes picturing her attendants and future children brought with gladness into the king's palace.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomson—
BrentonFor the end, for alternate strains by the sons of Core; for instruction, a Song concerning the beloved.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀλλοιωθησομένων τοῖς υἱοῖς Κορὲ εἰς σύνεσιν, ᾠδὴ ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ.
KJV—
JPS—
2
ThomsonMY heart hath indited a good word, I recite my performances to the king. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
BrentonMy heart has uttered a good matter: I declare my works to the king: my tongue is the pen of a quick writer.
GreekἘξηρεύξατο ἡ καρδία μου λόγον ἀγαθὸν, λέγω ἐγὼ τὰ ἔργα μου τῷ βασιλεῖ· ἡ γλῶσσά μου κάλαμος γραμματέως ὀξυγράφου.
KJVMy 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.
JPSMy heart overfloweth with a goodly matter; I say: 'My work is concerning a king'; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
3
ThomsonThou art fairer than the sons of men: grace is poured out by thy lips; for this cause God hath blessed thee forever.
BrentonThou art more beautiful than the sons of men: grace has been shed forth on thy lips: therefore God has blessed thee for ever.
GreekὩραῖος κάλλει παρὰ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἐξεχύθη χάρις ἐν χείλεσί σου, διὰ τοῦτο εὐλόγησέ σε ὁ Θεὸς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
KJVThou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
JPSThou art fairer than the children of men; Grace is poured upon thy lips; Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
4
ThomsonGird thy sword on thy thigh, O thou mighty! To thy comeliness and thy beauty give energy,
BrentonGird thy sword upon thy thigh, O Mighty One, in thy comeliness, and in thy beauty;
GreekΠερίζωσαι τὴν ῥομφαίαν σου ἐπὶ τὸν μηρόν σου δυνατέ· τῇ ὡραιότητί σου, καὶ τῷ κάλλει σου,
KJVGird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
JPSGird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, Thy glory and thy majesty.
5
Thomsonand prosper and reign for truth, meekness, and justice’s sake; and let thine own right hand marvellously conduct thee.
Brentonand bend thy bow, and prosper, and reign, because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall guide thee wonderfully.
Greekκαὶ ἔντεινον, καὶ κατευοδοῦ, καὶ βασίλευε· ἕνεκεν ἀληθείας καὶ πρᾳΰτητος καὶ δικαιοσύνης, καὶ ὁδηγήσει σε θαυμαστῶς ἡ δεξιά σου.
KJVAnd in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
JPSAnd in thy majesty prosper, ride on, In behalf of truth and meekness and righteousness; And let thy right hand teach thee tremendous things.
6
ThomsonThine arrows are sharpened, O mighty one, nations shall fall under thee; they are in the heart of the king’s enemies.
BrentonThy weapons are sharpened, Mighty One, (the nations shall fall under thee) they are in the heart of the king's enemies.
GreekΤὰ βέλη σου ἠκονημένα δυνατὲ, λαοὶ ὑποκάτω σου πεσοῦνται, ἐν καρδίᾳ τῶν ἐχθρῶν τοῦ βασιλέως.
KJVThine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
JPSThine arrows are sharp— The peoples fall under thee— [They sink] into the heart of the king's enemies.
7
ThomsonThy throne, O God, is forever and ever; the sceptre of Thy kingdom is a sceptre of rectitude.
BrentonThy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness.
GreekὉ θρόνος σου ὁ Θεὸς εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνος, ῥάβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου.
KJVThy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
JPSThy throne given of God is for ever and ever; A sceptre of equity is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
8
ThomsonThou didst love righteousness and hate iniquity, therefore God, Thy God, anointed thee with the oil of joy above thy fellows.
BrentonThou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy fellows.
GreekἨγάπησας δικαιοσύνην, καὶ ἐμίσησας ἀνομίαν, διὰ τοῦτο ἔχρισέ σε ὁ Θεὸς ὁ Θεός σου ἔλαιον ἀγαλλιάσεως παρὰ τοὺς μετόχους σου.
KJVThou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
JPSThou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
9
ThomsonThere is myrrh and stacte and cassia for thy garments—for the ivory rooms of state from which kings’ daughters gladdened thee.
BrentonMyrrh, and stacte, and cassia are exhaled from thy garments, and out of the ivory palaces,
GreekΣμύρνα καὶ στακτὴ καὶ κασία ἀπὸ τῶν ἱματίων σου, ἀπὸ βάρεων ἐλεφαντίνων, ἐξ ὧν ηὔφρανάν σε
KJVAll thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
JPSMyrrh, and aloes, and cassia are all thy garments; Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made thee glad.
10
ThomsonIn honour of thee the queen stood on thy right hand, arrayed in robes of gold and embroidery.
Brentonwith which kings' daughters have gladdened thee for thine honour: the queen stood by on thy right hand, clothed in vesture wrought with gold, and arrayed in divers colours.
Greekθυγατέρες βασιλέων ἐν τῇ τιμῇ σου· παρέστη ἡ βασίλισσα ἐκ δεξιῶν σου, ἐν ἱματισμῷ διαχρύσῳ περιβεβλημένη, πεποικιλμένη.
KJVKings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
JPSKings' daughters are among thy favourites; At thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
11
ThomsonHear, O daughter, and behold, and incline thine ear, and forget thy people and thy father’s house.
BrentonHear, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear; forget also thy people, and thy father's house.
GreekἌκουσον θύγατερ καὶ ἴδε καὶ κλῖνον τὸ οὖς σου, καὶ ἐπιλάθου τοῦ λαοῦ σου, καὶ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρός σου.
KJVHearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;
JPS'Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
12
ThomsonBecause the king is enamoured of thy beauty—because he is thy lord;
BrentonBecause the king has desired thy beauty; for he is thy Lord.
GreekὍτι ἐπεθύμησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ κάλλους σου, ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ Κύριός σου.
KJVSo shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
JPSSo shall the king desire thy beauty; For he is thy lord; and do homage unto him. .
13
Thomsonwhen the daughters of Tyre bow down to him with gifts, the richest people of the land will supplicate thy favour.
BrentonAnd the daughter of Tyre shall adore him with gifts; the rich of the people of the land shall supplicate thy favour.
GreekΚαὶ προσκυνήσουσιν αὐτῷ θυγατέρες Τύρου ἐν δώροις, τὸ πρόσωπόν σου λιτανεῦσουσιν οἱ πλούσιοι τοῦ λαοῦ τῆς γῆς.
KJVAnd the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
JPSAnd, O daughter of Tyre, the richest of the people Shall entreat thy favour with a gift.'
14
ThomsonAll this honour is for the daughter of the king within; she is surrounded with chain-works of gold, and robed in embroidery.
BrentonAll her glory is that of the daughter of the king of Esebon, robed as she is in golden fringed garments,
GreekΠᾶσα ἡ δόξα αὐτῆς θυγατρὸς τοῦ βασιλέως Ἐσεβὼν, ἐν κροσσωτοῖς χρυσοῖς περιβεβλημένη, πεποικιλμένη·
KJVThe king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
JPSAll glorious is the king's daughter within the palace; Her raiment is of chequer work inwrought with gold.
15
Thomson—
Brentonin embroidered clothing: virgins shall be brought to the king after her: her fellows shall be brought to thee.
Greekἀπενεχθήσονται τῷ βασιλεῖ παρθένοι ὀπίσω αὐτῆς, αἱ πλησίον αὐτῆς ἀπενεχθήσονταί σοι.
KJVShe shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
JPSShe shall be led unto the king on richly woven stuff; The virgins her companions in her train being brought unto thee.
16
ThomsonThey shall be introduced with gladness and rejoicing. They shall be brought to the temple of the king.
BrentonThey shall be brought with gladness and exultation: they shall be led into the king's temple.
GreekἈπενεχθήσονται ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ καὶ ἀγαλλιάσει, ἀχθήσονται εἰς ναὸν βασιλέως.
KJVWith gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.
JPSThey shall be led with gladness and rejoicing; They shall enter into the king's palace.
17
ThomsonInstead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee; these thou shalt make princes over all the land.
BrentonInstead of thy fathers children are born to thee: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.
GreekἈντὶ τῶν πατέρων σου ἐγενήθησάν σοι υἱοὶ, καταστήσεις αὐτοὺς ἄρχοντας ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν.
KJVInstead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
JPSInstead of thy fathers shall be thy sons, Whom thou shalt make princes in all the land.
18
ThomsonThey shall cause thy name to be remembered in all ages, therefore nations shall praise thee forever.
BrentonThey shall make mention of thy name from generation to generation: therefore shall the nations give thanks to thee for ever, even for ever and ever.
GreekΜνησθήσονται τοῦ ὀνόματός σου ἐν πάσῃ γενεᾷ καὶ γενεᾷ, διὰ τοῦτο λαοὶ ἐξομολογήσονταί σοι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος·
KJVI will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
JPSI will make thy name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore shall the peoples praise thee for ever and ever.