Psalm 44

The excellence of Christ's kingdom, and the endowments of his Church.

Does this psalm differ from what you were expecting? Don't be confused. There are two systems for arranging the psalms: the Septuagint and the Masoretic. We use the Septuagint system here. In the Masoretic system, which is used in most modern Bible translations, this psalm is called Psalm 45, and the previous psalm is known as Psalm 44.

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the sons of Core, for understanding. A canticle for the Beloved. For them that shall be changed... i.e., for souls happily changed, by being converted to God. -- Ibid. The Beloved... Viz., Our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 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.
3 Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.
4 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty.
5 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.
6 Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the hearts of the king's enemies.
7 Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.
8 Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
9 Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory houses: out of which
10 The daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with variety.
11 Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father's house.
12 And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.
13 And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.
14 All the glory of the king's daughter is within in golden borders,
15 Clothed round about with varieties. After her shall virgins be brought to the king: her neighbours shall be brought to thee.
16 They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the king.
17 Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.
18 They shall remember thy name throughout all generations. Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

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

2 Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum:
dico ego opera mea regi.
Lingua mea calamus scribæ
velociter scribentis.
3 Speciosus forma præ filiis hominum,
diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis:
propterea benedixit te Deus in æternum.
4 Accingere gladio tuo super femur tuum, potentissime.
5 Specie tua et pulchritudine tua
intende, prospere procede, et regna,
propter veritatem, et mansuetudinem, et justitiam;
et deducet te mirabiliter dextera tua.
6 Sagittæ tuæ acutæ:
populi sub te cadent,
in corda inimicorum regis.
7 Sedes tua, Deus, in sæculum sæculi;
virga directionis virga regni tui.
8 Dilexisti justitiam, et odisti iniquitatem;
propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus,
oleo lætitiæ, præ consortibus tuis.
9 Myrrha, et gutta, et casia a vestimentis tuis,
a domibus eburneis; ex quibus delectaverunt te
10 filiæ regum in honore tuo.
Astitit regina a dextris tuis
in vestitu deaurato, circumdata varietate.
11 Audi, filia, et vide, et inclina aurem tuam;
et obliviscere populum tuum, et domum patris tui.
12 Et concupiscet rex decorem tuum,
quoniam ipse est Dominus Deus tuus, et adorabunt eum.
13 Et filiæ Tyri in muneribus vultum tuum deprecabuntur;
omnes divites plebis.
14 Omnis gloria ejus filiæ regis ab intus,
in fimbriis aureis,
15 circumamicta varietatibus.
Adducentur regi virgines post eam;
proximæ ejus afferentur tibi.
16 Afferentur in lætitia et exsultatione;
adducentur in templum regis.
17 Pro patribus tuis nati sunt tibi filii;
constitues eos principes super omnem terram.
18 Memores erunt nominis tui in omni generatione et generationem:
propterea populi confitebuntur tibi in æternum, et in sæculum sæculi.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition