Mazmur 45:8-9

45:8 All your garments are perfumed with ¹  myrrh, aloes, and cassia.

From the luxurious palaces ²  comes the music of stringed instruments that makes you happy. ³ 

45:9 Princesses ⁴  are among your honored guests, ⁵ 

your bride ⁶  stands at your right hand, wearing jewelry made with gold from Ophir. ⁷ 

[45:8]  ¹ tn The words “perfumed with” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[45:8]  ² tn Heb “the palaces of ivory.” The phrase “palaces of ivory” refers to palaces that had ivory panels and furniture decorated with ivory inlays. Such decoration with ivory was characteristic of a high level of luxury. See 1 Kgs 22:39 and Amos 3:15.

[45:8]  ³ tn Heb “from the palaces of ivory stringed instrument[s] make you happy.”

[45:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “daughters of kings.”

[45:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “valuable ones.” The form is feminine plural.

[45:9]  ⁶ tn This rare Hebrew noun apparently refers to the king’s bride, who will soon be queen (see Neh 2:6). The Aramaic cognate is used of royal wives in Dan 5:2-3, 23.

[45:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “a consort stands at your right hand, gold of Ophir.”

[45:9]  sn Gold from Ophir is also mentioned in Isa 13:12 and Job 28:16. The precise location of Ophir is uncertain; Arabia, India, East Africa, and South Africa have all been suggested as options.