First Version (C.M.)
1 My heart brings forth a goodly thing;
my words that I indite
Concern the King: my tongue’s a pen
of one that swift doth write.
2 Thou fairer art than sons of men:
into thy lips is store
Of grace infus’d; God therefore thee
hath bless’d for evermore.
3 O thou that art the mighty One,
thy sword gird on thy thigh;
Ev’n with thy glory excellent,
and with thy majesty.
_____________
Tune = All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
4 For meekness, truth, and righteousness,
in state ride prosp’rously;
And thy right hand shall thee instruct
in things that fearful be.
5 Thine arrows sharply pierce the heart
of th’ en’mies of the King;
And under thy subjection
the people down do bring.
6 For ever and for ever is,
O God, thy throne of might;
The sceptre of thy kingdom is
a sceptre that is right.
7 Thou lovest right, and hatest ill;
for God, thy God, most high,
Above thy fellows hath with th’ oil
of joy anointed thee.
_____________
8 Of aloes, myrrh, and cassia,
a smell thy garments had,
Out of the iv’ry palaces,
whereby they made thee glad.
9 Among thy women honourable
kings’ daughters were at hand:
Upon thy right hand did the queen
in gold of Ophir stand.
10 O daughter, hearken and regard,
and do thine ear incline;
Likewise forget thy father’s house,
and people that are thine.
11 Then of the King desir’d shall be
thy beauty veh’mently:
Because he is thy Lord, do thou
him worship rev’rently.
12 The daughter there of Tyre shall be
with gifts and off ‘rings great:
Those of the people that are rich
thy favour shall entreat.
13 Behold, the daughter of the King
all glorious is within;
And with embroideries of gold
her garments wrought have been.
14 She shall be brought unto the King
in robes with needle wrought;
Her fellow-virgins following
shall unto thee be brought.
15 They shall be brought with gladness great,
and mirth on ev’ry side,
Into the palace of the King,
and there they shall abide.
16 Instead of those thy fathers dear,
thy children thou may’st take,
And in all places of the earth
them noble princes make.
17 Thy name remember’d I will make
through ages all to be:
The people therefore evermore
shall praises give to thee.
Second Version (S.M.)
1 My heart inditing is
good matter in a song:
I speak the things that I have made,
which to the King belong:
My tongue shall be as quick,
his honour to indite,
As is the pen of any scribe
that useth fast to write.
2 Thou’rt fairest of all men;
grace in thy lips doth flow:
And therefore blessings evermore
on thee doth God bestow.
3 Thy sword gird on thy thigh,
thou that art most of might:
Appear in dreadful majesty,
and in thy glory bright.
4 For meekness, truth, and right,
ride prosp’rously in state;
And thy right hand shall teach to thee
things terrible and great.
5 Thy shafts shall pierce their hearts
that foes are to the King;
Whereby into subjection
the people thou shalt bring.
6 Thy royal seat, O Lord,
for ever shall remain:
The sceptre of thy kingdom doth
all righteousness maintain.
7 Thou lov’st right, and hat’st ill;
for God, thy God, most high,
Above thy fellows hath with th’ oil
of joy anointed thee.
8 Of myrrh and spices sweet
a smell thy garments had,
Out of the iv’ry palaces,
whereby they made thee glad.
9 And in thy glorious train
kings’ daughters waiting stand;
And thy fair queen, in Ophir gold,
doth stand at thy right hand.
10 O daughter, take good heed,
incline, and give good ear;
Thou must forget thy kindred all,
and father’s house most dear.
11 Thy beauty to the King
shall then delightful be:
And do thou humbly worship him,
because thy Lord is he.
12 The daughter then of Tyre
there with a gift shall be,
And all the wealthy of the land
shall make their suit to thee.
13 The daughter of the King
all glorious is within;
And with embroideries of gold
her garments wrought have been.
14 She cometh to the King
in robes with needle wrought;
The virgins that do follow her
shall unto thee be brought.
15 They shall be brought with joy,
and mirth on ev’ry side,
Into the palace of the King,
and there they shall abide.
16 And in thy fathers’ stead,
thy children thou may’st take,
And in all places of the earth
them noble princes make.
17 I will shew forth thy name
to generations all:
Therefore the people evermore
to thee give praises shall.