In finem, pro iis qui commutabuntur. Filiis Core, ad intellectum. Canticum pro dilecto.

Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the sons of Core, for understanding. A canticle for the Beloved.

(To the choir-master. Melody: The Lilies. Of the sons of Core. A maskil. A love-song.)

Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego opera mea regi. Lingua mea calamus scribæ velociter scribentis.

My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the king: My tongue is the pen of a scrivener that writeth swiftly.

Joyful the thoughts that well up from my heart, the King’s honour for my theme; my tongue flows readily as the pen of a swift writer.

Speciosus forma præ filiis hominum, diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis: propterea benedixit te Deus in æternum.

Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.

Thine is more than mortal beauty, thy lips overflow with gracious utterance; the blessings God has granted thee can never fail.

Accingere gladio tuo super femur tuum, potentissime.

Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty.

Gird on thy sword at thy side, great warrior,

Specie tua et pulchritudine tua intende, prospere procede, et regna, propter veritatem, et mansuetudinem, et justitiam; et deducet te mirabiliter dextera tua.

With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign. Because of truth and meekness and justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.

gird thyself with all thy majesty and all thy beauty; ride on triumphant, in the name of faithfulness and justice. Dread counsel thy own might shall give thee;

Sagittæ tuæ acutæ: populi sub te cadent, in corda inimicorum regis.

Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the hearts of the king’s enemies.

so sharp are thy arrows, subduing nations to thy will, daunting the hearts of the king’s enemies.

Sedes tua, Deus, in sæculum sæculi; virga directionis virga regni tui.

Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.

Thy throne, O God, endures for ever and ever, the sceptre of thy royalty is a rod that rules true;

Dilexisti justitiam, et odisti iniquitatem; propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo lætitiæ, præ consortibus tuis.

Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

thou hast been a friend to right, an enemy to wrong, and God, thy own God, has given thee an unction to bring thee pride beyond any of thy fellows.

Myrrha, et gutta, et casia a vestimentis tuis, a domibus eburneis; ex quibus delectaverunt te

Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory houses: out of which

Thy garments are scented with myrrh, and aloes, and cassia; from ivory palaces there are harps sounding in thy honour.

filiæ regum in honore tuo. Astitit regina a dextris tuis in vestitu deaurato, circumdata varietate.

the daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with variety.

Daughters of kings come out to meet thee; at thy right hand stands the queen, in Ophir gold arrayed.

Audi, filia, et vide, et inclina aurem tuam; et obliviscere populum tuum, et domum patris tui.

Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father’s house.

(Listen, my daughter, and consider my words attentively; thou art to forget, henceforward, thy own nation, and the house of thy father;

Et concupiscet rex decorem tuum, quoniam ipse est Dominus Deus tuus, et adorabunt eum.

And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.

thy beauty, now, is all for the king’s delight; he is thy Lord, and worship belongs to him.)

Et filiæ Tyri in muneribus vultum tuum deprecabuntur; omnes divites plebis.

And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.

The people of Tyre, too, will have its presents to bring; the noblest of its citizens will be courting thy favour.

Omnis gloria ejus filiæ regis ab intus, in fimbriis aureis,

All the glory of the king’s daughter is within in golden borders,

She comes, the princess, all fair to see, her robe of golden cloth,

circumamicta varietatibus. Adducentur regi virgines post eam; proximæ ejus afferentur tibi.

clothed round about with varieties. After her shall virgins be brought to the king: her neighbours shall be brought to thee.

a robe of rich embroidery, to meet the King. The maidens of her court follow her into thy presence,

Afferentur in lætitia et exsultatione; adducentur in templum regis.

They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the king.

all rejoicing, all triumphant, as they enter the king’s palace!

Pro patribus tuis nati sunt tibi filii; constitues eos principes super omnem terram.

Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.

Thou shalt have sons worthy of thy own fathers, and divide a world between them for their domains.

Memores erunt nominis tui in omni generatione et generationem: propterea populi confitebuntur tibi in æternum, et in sæculum sæculi.

They shall remember thy name throughout all generations. Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

While time lasts, mine it is to keep thy name in remembrance; age after age, nations will do thee honour.