Psalms 45:2

Thou art fairer&c. Personal beauty was always regarded as a qualification for a ruler, partly on account of its intrinsic attractiveness, partly as the index of a noble nature. Cp. 1 Samuel 9:2; 1Sa 10:23; 1 Samuel 16:12; and the descriptions of the classical heroes in Homer and Vergil; e.g. Aeneas (Aen. i. 589), "os humerosque deo similis."

grace is poured into thy lips Or, upon thy lips. The gracious smile upon his lips gives promise of the gracious words which proceed from them. Cp. Proverbs 22:11, "He that hath gracious lips, the king shall be his friend"; Ecclesiastes 10:12; Luke 4:22.

therefore This is usually explained to mean, -Hence it may be seen that God hath blessed thee; it is the logical inference from this endowment of beauty." But must not thereforebe understood as in Psalms 45:7? Physical qualifications correspond to moral qualifications. They are in themselves a Divine gift; but they are further regarded as a ground of the special blessings which have been showered upon the king. The P.B.V. becauseis ungrammatical.

for ever The perpetuity of the covenant with David and his seed is constantly emphasised. Cp. 2 Samuel 7:13; 2 Samuel 7:16; 2Sa 7:25; 2 Samuel 7:29; Psalms 18:50; Psalms 89:2 ff.