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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

Accingere gladio tuo super femur tuum, potentissime.

Gird on thy sword at thy side, great warrior,

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

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

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;

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Afferentur in lætitia et exsultatione; adducentur in templum regis.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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