Psalms 45:15-17

45:15 They are bubbling with joy as they walk in procession

and enter the royal palace. ¹ 

45:16 Your ²  sons will carry ³  on the dynasty of your ancestors; ⁴ 

you will make them princes throughout the land.

45:17 I will proclaim your greatness through the coming years, ⁵ 

then the nations will praise you ⁶  forever.

[45:15]  ¹ tn Heb “they are led with joy and happiness, they enter the house of the king.”

[45:16]  ² tn The pronoun is second masculine singular, indicating the king is being addressed from this point to the end of the psalm.

[45:16]  ³ tn The prefixed verbal form could be taken as jussive and the statement interpreted as a prayer, “May your sons carry on the dynasty of your ancestors!” The next line could then be taken as a relative clause, “[your sons] whom you will make princes throughout the land.”

[45:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “in place of your fathers will be your sons.”

[45:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “I will cause your name to be remembered in every generation and generation.” The cohortative verbal form expresses the poet’s resolve. The king’s “name” stands here for his reputation and character, which the poet praised in vv. 2-7.

[45:17]  ⁶ sn The nations will praise you. As God’s vice-regent on earth, the king is deserving of such honor and praise.