King James Version

Psalms 45:1

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.

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 45:2. The heading is Hebrew Psalms 45:1.

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לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַlamnatsechato excelנָצַחpreposition, with the article, verb, piel, participle, absolute — “to excel”, a verb used as a describing wordH5329properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanentexcel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.עַלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…שֹׁ֭שַׁנִּיםshoshanimlilyשׁוּשַׁןnoun, common, both genders, plural, absolute — “lily”, the ordinary formH7799a lily (from its whiteness), as aflower of architectural ornament; also a (straight) trumpet (from the tubular shape)lily, Shoshannim.לִבְנֵיlivneto sonבֵּןpreposition, noun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “to son”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)[phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, […קֹ֑רַחqorachKorahקֹרַחnoun, proper name — “Korah”H7141Korach, the name of two Edomites and three IsraelitesKorah.מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗ילmaskilMaschilמַשְׂכִּילnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “Maschil”, the ordinary formH4905instructive, i.e. a didactic poemMaschil.שִׁ֣ירshirsongשִׁירnoun, common, both genders, singular, construct — “song”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7892a song; abstractly, singingmusical(-ick), [idiom] sing(-er, -ing), song.יְדִידֹֽתyedidotamiableיְדִידnoun, common, feminine, plural, absolute — “amiable”, the ordinary formH3039lovedamiable, (well-) beloved, loves.

רָ֘חַ֤שׁrachashinditeרָחַשׁverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “indite”, a completed actionH7370to gushindite.לִבִּ֨יlibicomfortablyלֵבnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “comfortably”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3820the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything[phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom]…דָּ֘בָ֤רdavarcauseדָּבָרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “cause”, the ordinary formH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…ט֗וֹבtovgoodטוֹבadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “good”, the ordinary formH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant,…אֹמֵ֣רomersayאָמַרverb, qal, participle, absolute — “say”, a verb used as a describing wordH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…אָ֭נִיanimineאֲנִיpronoun, personal, 1st person, common, singular — “mine”H589II, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, [idiom] which, [idiom] who.מַעֲשַׂ֣יmaasaybusinessמַעֲשֶׂהnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “business”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4639an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) propertyact, art, [phrase] bakemeat, business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making, occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, [idiom] well, (handy-, needle-, net-) work(ing, -manship), wrought.לְמֶ֑לֶךְlemelekhto kingמֶלֶךְpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “to king”, the ordinary formH4428a kingking, royal.לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗יleshonitongueלָשׁוֹןnoun, common, both genders, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “tongue”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3956the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)[phrase] babbler, bay, [phrase] evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge.עֵ֤טetpenעֵטnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “pen”, the ordinary formH5842a stylus or marking stickpen.סוֹפֵ֬רsofercommuneסָפַרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “commune”, the ordinary formH5608properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebratecommune, (ac-) count; declare, number, [phrase] penknife, reckon, scribe, shew forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer.מָהִֽירmahirdiligentמָהִירadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “diligent”, the ordinary formH4106quick; hence, skilfuldiligent, hasty, ready.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(45-1) For the Leader; upon Shoshannim; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves. (45-2) My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter; I say: 'My work is concerning a king'; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter; I speak the things which I have made touching the king: My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Young’s Literal Translation

To the Overseer. — 'On the Lilies.' — By sons of Korah. — An Instruction. — A song of loves. My heart hath indited a good thing, I am telling my works to a king, My tongue [is] the pen of a speedy writer.

World English Bible

My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.

Darby Translation

My heart is welling forth [with] a good matter: I say what I have composed touching the king. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Douay-Rheims

Unto the end, for the sons of Core, for the hidden.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

My heart has uttered a good matter: I declare my works to the king: my tongue is the pen of a quick writer.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἐξηρεύξατο ἡ καρδία μου λόγον ἀγαθὸν, λέγω ἐγὼ τὰ ἔργα μου τῷ βασιλεῖ· ἡ γλῶσσά μου κάλαμος γραμματέως ὀξυγράφου.