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Psalm 72[a]

A Prayer for the King

Of Solomon.

I

O God, give your judgment to the king;
    your justice to the king’s son;[b](A)
That he may govern your people with justice,
    your oppressed with right judgment,(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 72 A royal Psalm in which the Israelite king, as the representative of God, is the instrument of divine justice (Ps 72:1–4, 12–14) and blessing (Ps 72:5–7, 15–17) for the whole world. The king is human, giving only what he has received from God. Hence intercession must be made for him. The extravagant language is typical of oriental royal courts.
  2. 72:2 The king…the king’s son: the crown prince is the king’s son; the prayer envisages the dynasty.

14 From extortion and violence he redeems them,
    for precious is their blood[a] in his sight.

IV

15 Long may he live, receiving gold from Sheba,
    prayed for without cease, blessed day by day.

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Footnotes

  1. 72:14 Their blood: cf. Ps 116:15.

17 May his name be forever;
    as long as the sun, may his name endure.(A)
May the tribes of the earth give blessings with his name;[a]
    may all the nations regard him as favored.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 72:17 May the tribes of the earth give blessings with his name: an echo of the promise to the ancestors (Gn 12:3; 26:4; 28:14), suggesting that the monarchy in Israel fulfilled the promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.