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Psalm 45:9-11
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 45:9-11
New Catholic Bible
9 [a]All your robes are fragrant
with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from palaces of ivory
stringed instruments bring joy to your heart.
10 Daughters of kings[b] are among your women in waiting;
at your right hand is your queen
adorned in gold of Ophir.
11 My daughter, listen carefully to my words
and follow them diligently.
Forget your people and your father’s house;[c]
Footnotes
- Psalm 45:9 The psalmist’s descriptions and references of the preparations for the wedding ceremony—robes, spices, music, the royal daughters, and the royal bride—all emphasize the rightness of the moment and the anointing of this king, who is a son of David. God’s blessing on him ensures the continuity of David’s house in accord with God’s promise (see 2 Sam 7:16). Myrrh and aloes and cassia: Oriental perfumes (see Gen 37:25; Ex 25:6; Song 1:13; 4:14). From palaces of ivory: see 1 Ki 22:39; Am 3:15; 6:4. Heart: see note on Ps 4:8.
- Psalm 45:10 Daughters of kings: in the allegorical sense, these are the pagan nations converted to the true God (see Song 1:3; 6:8; Isa 60:3f; 61:5) and admitted to his service (Ps 45:16). Gold of Ophir: the most prized kind of gold (see 1 Ki 9:28; 10:11; Job 22:24). The location of Ophir is not known; it is sometimes identified with the southern coast of Arabia or eastern Africa.
- Psalm 45:11 Forget your people and your father’s house: all her concern should be with what follows, not with what went before; she is the queen and should be concerned with her husband the king.