psalm 45 chiastic structure

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

Psa 45:1a, My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; {n}
Psa 45:1b, My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Psa 45:2a, You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; {n}
Psa 45:2b, Therefore God has blessed You forever.
Psa 45:3, Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, With Your glory and Your majesty.
Psa 45:4a, And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness; {n}
Psa 45:4b, And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.
Psa 45:5, Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; The peoples fall under You.
Psa 45:6, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Psa 45:7a, You love righteousness and hate wickedness; {n}
Psa 45:7b, Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
Psa 45:8, All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad.
Psa 45:9, Kings’ daughters are among Your honorable women; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.
Psa 45:10, Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father’s house;
Psa 45:11, So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him.
Psa 45:12, And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; The rich among the people will seek your favor.
Psa 45:13, The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold.
Psa 45:14, She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You.
Psa 45:15, With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; They shall enter the King’s palace.
Psa 45:16, Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, Whom You shall make princes in all the earth.
Psa 45:17, I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever. {p}

1a) Psa 45:1, The composition of praise to the King;

1b) Psa 45:2-8, The glory of the mighty King;

1a) Psa 45:2, Grace poured upon the King’s lips;
1b) Psa 45:3-5, The King’s victory over His enemies;
central axis) Psa 45:6, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
2b) Psa 45:7a, The King loves righteousness and hates wickedness;
2a) Psa 45:7b-8, The anointing oil of gladness poured upon the King’s garments.

central axis) Psa 45:9, The King and Queen united;

2b) Psa 45:10-16, The beauty of the royal bride;

1a) Psa 45:10, Forget your father’s house;
1b) Psa 45:11a, The King will greatly desire your beauty;
central axis) Psa 45:11b, Because He is your Lord, worship Him;
2b) Psa 45:12-15, The beauty of the bride in her robes;
2a) Psa 45:16, Instead of your fathers shall be your sons.

2a) Psa 45:17, The memory and praise of the King forever.

The central axis’ of the B pair themselves pair, and reveal that this psalm is not just about an earthly king, but it is prophetically proclaiming the glory of Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is the ekklesia, the assembly of the believers, who are His royal bride!

I would just like to point out, that righteousness and joy are not mutually exclusive characteristics. But because the King has loved righteousness and hated wickedness, He was anointed with the oil of joy above all His fellows. Righteousness and joy, like mercy and truth, often appear together in the Scriptures and are sisters; they walk together holding hands. You cannot desire one without desiring the other. ♥