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Psalm 72  New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Psalm 72

Prayer for Guidance and Support for the King

Of Solomon.

1 Give the king your justice, O God,
    and your righteousness to a king’s son.(A)
2 May he judge your people with righteousness
    and your poor with justice.(B)
3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
    and the hills, in righteousness.(C)
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
    give deliverance to the needy,
    and crush the oppressor.(D)

5 May he live[a] while the sun endures
    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.(E)
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
    like showers that water the earth.(F)
7 In his days may righteousness flourish
    and peace abound, until the moon is no more.(G)

8 May he have dominion from sea to sea
    and from the River to the ends of the earth.(H)
9 May his foes[b] bow down before him,
    and his enemies lick the dust.(I)
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles
    render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
    bring gifts.(J)
11 May all kings fall down before him,
    all nations give him service.

12 For he delivers the needy when they call,
    the poor and those who have no helper.(K)
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy
    and saves the lives of the needy.
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
    and precious is their blood in his sight.(L)

15 Long may he live!
    May gold of Sheba be given to him.
May prayer be made for him continually
    and blessings invoked for him all day long.(M)
16 May there be abundance of grain in the land;
    may it wave on the tops of the mountains;
    may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
    like the grass of the field.(N)
17 May his name endure forever,
    his fame continue as long as the sun.
May all nations be blessed in him;[c]
    may they pronounce him happy.(O)

18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    who alone does wondrous things.(P)
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;
    may his glory fill the whole earth.
                Amen and Amen.(Q)

20 The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended.

Footnotes

  1. 72.5 Gk: Heb may they fear you
  2. 72.9 Cn: Heb those who live in the wilderness
  3. 72.17 Or bless themselves by him

Cross references

  1. 72.1 : Ps 24.5
  2. 72.2 : Ps 82.3; Isa 9.7
  3. 72.3 : Ps 85.10; Isa 32.17
  4. 72.4 : Isa 11.4
  5. 72.5 : Ps 89.36
  6. 72.6 : 2 Sam 23.4; Hos 6.3
  7. 72.7 : Ps 92.12
  8. 72.8 : Ex 23.31; Zech 9.10
  9. 72.9 : Ps 74.14; Isa 49.23; Mic 7.17
  10. 72.10 : 2 Chr 9.21; Ps 68.29
  11. 72.12 : Job 29.12
  12. 72.14 : Ps 116.15
  13. 72.15 : Isa 60.6
  14. 72.16 : Job 5.25; Ps 104.16
  15. 72.17 : Gen 12.3; 22.18; Ps 89.36; Lk 1.48
  16. 72.18 : Ps 41.13; 77.14; 106.48
  17. 72.19 : Neh 9.5; Zech 14.9
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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.