Psalm 45 is a royal wedding song: “My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the king… Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips.” It praises the king and his bride: “The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing.” The Church hears in it Christ and his Bride, the Church, and sings it for Mary on the Assumption. In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 44. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 45 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the sons of Core, for understanding. A canticle for the Beloved.
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.
Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty.
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.
Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the hearts of the king’s enemies.
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.
Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory houses: out of which
The daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with variety.
Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father’s house.
And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.
And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.
All the glory of the king’s daughter is within in golden borders,
Clothed round about with varieties. After her shall virgins be brought to the king: her neighbours shall be brought to thee.
They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the king.
Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.
They shall remember thy name throughout all generations. Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, for ever and ever.
Psalm 45 or Psalm 44?
The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 44 is Psalm 45 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum. See how many psalms are there?
The King is Christ
The Letter to the Hebrews applies the psalm’s praise of the king to the Son of God:
But to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of justice is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
The Fathers saw in the royal wedding the union of Christ with his Church, and in the queen “in gilded clothing” both the Church and the Virgin Mary, Queen of heaven. See the Hail Holy Queen.
What the psalm means
- A joyful heart: “My heart hath uttered a good word.”
- The most beautiful of men: grace on his lips, truth, meekness and justice in his cause.
- An eternal throne: “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.”
- The queen at his right hand: the bride adorned in gold, the Church and Mary.
- Leaving all for love: “Hearken, O daughter… forget thy people and thy father’s house,” words long applied to consecrated virgins and religious.
How the Church uses Psalm 45
- On the Assumption of Mary (August 15): “The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.” See the Assumption.
- On feasts of the Virgin Mary and of virgin saints, in the Liturgy of the Hours. See Marian feast days.
- At weddings, as a song of royal love.
A prayer with Psalm 45
Written for this page:
Lord Jesus, you are the fairest of the children of men; grace is poured upon your lips.
Your throne endures for ever, and your rule is justice.
With Mary, Queen at your right hand, I offer you my whole heart.
Make your Church a bride adorned for you, holy and beautiful. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Psalm 45 read on the Assumption?
Because of the verse “The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing,” which the Church applies to Mary, assumed into heaven and crowned as Queen.
Who is the king in Psalm 45?
Originally a king of Israel on his wedding day; the Letter to the Hebrews applies the psalm to Christ (Hebrews 1:8–9).
More psalms and prayers
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 44 (45); Hebrews 1:8–9, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.