Psalm 45
To the tune of “Lili Marlene”
I assume this tune is still under copyright, so get the tune off the internet (search “Lili Marlene”) or elsewhere, and get whatever permissions you need. I do NOT intend to put up a video of this.
“Lili Marlene” was THE hit song of World War II; a poem by a WWI German soldier about his sweetheart, set to music in A.D. 1938, recorded A.D. 1939 by Lale Anderson, became a hit around 1941-2 (Rommel liked it), sung in French 1941, in English by Anderson 1942 and by the British 1944; also Russian 1943 and other languages (Japanese 1986). See Wikipedia and other Internet articles about “Lili Marlene.” The words make sense from a man to his girlfriend, but the German and English hits, and the 1941 French, were sung by women.
My first staza begins with the heading from the Hebrew: To the overseer on the lilies by sons of Korah instruction song of loves. (Some versions say “chief musician” for overseer. “On the lilies” MIGHT mean on a harp shaped like a lily?–Jim Jordan’s guess. “Loves” might, at least for us since Solomon is dead, refer to love going in various directions–family, friends–not limited to sex.)
1
To the overseer
On the lilies sung
By the sons of Korah
Instruction song of loves.
My heart has written a good thing
My works I tell unto a king
My tongue my pen shall be
Run tongue and write it down.
2
Beautiful you have been
Over sons of men
Grace flows over your lips
So God forever bless
Strap on your sword upon your thigh
O mighty king O majesty
O glorious majesty
O glorious majesty.
3
Majesty befits you
Prosper lord and ride
For the truth and meekness
With righteousness abide
Your right hand shows you fearful things
Your arrows sharp, the peoples fall.
To you; fall shot in heart
Your enemies, O king.
4
Your throne God’s forever
God’s forevermore
Scepter of uprightness
The scepter is of your
Kingdom. You have loved righteousness
And you do hate all wickedness
So God anointed you
Your God anointed you.
5
God poured joy upon you
More than all your friends
Myrhh and aloes, cassia
Your clothing do perfume
Out of the ivory palaces
Stringed instruments have made you glad
Among your precious ones
Stand daughters of the kings.
6
At your right hand stands the
Queen in Ophir gold
Daughter pay attention
And see and bow your ear
Cease to remember your old tribe
Your fther’s house, your family;
The king your beauty loves
Your fairness he desires.
7
And because he’s your lord
Bow yourself to him
And the daught’r’of Tyre
And rich ones of the land
They bring their presents to please you
To win your face for glorious
The princess is inside;
She’s glorious within.
8
With gold broidered working
Clothing her doth shine
Wearing many colors
She’s brought unto the king
Virgins come after as her friends
They’re brought to you, they’re brought with joy
And gladness to the king
Into his palace fair.
9
Instead of your fathers
Are to you your sons
You appoint them princes
In all the earth to reign
I mention your name to all seeds
So peoples praise you to the age
In generations all
They praise you evermore.
I occurs to me that the last staza could be added to the text in my associated content article “Postmillenialism helps prayer” (it helps by giving promises to apply).
14 January A.D. 2011
