Add parallel Print Page Options

Give the King Your Judgments

Of Solomon.

72 O God, give the king (A)Your judgments,
And (B)Your righteousness to the king’s son.
[a]May [b]he (C)render judgment to Your people with righteousness
And (D)Your [c]afflicted with justice.
Let the mountains lift up [d](E)peace to the people,
And the hills, in righteousness.
[e]May he (F)give justice to the [f]afflicted of the people,
Save the children of the needy,
And crush the oppressor.

[g]Let them fear You (G)while the sun endures,
And [h]as long as the moon, from generation to all generations.
[i]May he come down (H)like rain upon the mown grass,
Like (I)showers that water the earth.
[j]May the (J)righteous flourish in his days,
And (K)abundance of peace until the moon is no more.

May he also have dominion (L)from sea to sea
And from the River to the ends of the earth.
[k]Let (M)the desert creatures (N)kneel before him,
And his enemies (O)lick the dust.
10 [l]Let the kings of (P)Tarshish and of the (Q)coastlands bring a present;
The kings of (R)Sheba and (S)Seba (T)offer tribute.
11 [m]And let all (U)kings bow down to him,
All (V)nations serve him.

12 For he will (W)deliver the needy when he cries for help,
The [n]afflicted also, and him who has no helper.
13 He will have (X)compassion on the poor and needy,
And the [o]lives of the needy he will save.
14 He will (Y)redeem their [p]life from oppression and violence,
And their blood will be (Z)precious in his sight;
15 So may he live! And may they give to him the (AA)gold of Sheba;
And let each pray for him continually;
Let each bless him all day long.

16 May there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains;
May its fruit wave like the cedars of (AB)Lebanon;
And may those from the city blossom like (AC)vegetation of the earth.
17 May his (AD)name endure forever;
May his name [q]increase [r](AE)as long as the sun shines;
Let all nations [s](AF)be blessed in him;
(AG)Let all nations call him blessed.

18 (AH)Blessed be Yahweh God, the God of Israel,
Who alone (AI)works wondrous deeds.
19 And blessed be His (AJ)glorious name forever;
And may the whole (AK)earth be filled with His glory.
(AL)Amen, and Amen.

20 [t]The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are completed.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 72:2 Or He will judge
  2. Psalm 72:2 Many of the pronouns in this Psalm may be rendered He since the ultimate reference is to the Messiah
  3. Psalm 72:2 Or humble
  4. Psalm 72:3 Or prosperity
  5. Psalm 72:4 Or He will vindicate
  6. Psalm 72:4 Or humble
  7. Psalm 72:5 Or They will fear
  8. Psalm 72:5 Lit before the moon
  9. Psalm 72:6 Or He will come down
  10. Psalm 72:7 Or The righteous will flourish
  11. Psalm 72:9 Or The nomads will kneel
  12. Psalm 72:10 Or The kings...will bring
  13. Psalm 72:11 Or All kings will bow down
  14. Psalm 72:12 Or humble
  15. Psalm 72:13 Lit souls
  16. Psalm 72:14 Lit soul
  17. Psalm 72:17 To obtain descendants; or sprout forth
  18. Psalm 72:17 Lit before the sun
  19. Psalm 72:17 Or experience blessing repeatedly, bless themselves
  20. Psalm 72:20 Possibly one of the last prayers of David for Solomon, which Solomon incorporated into his psalm

Psalm 72

Of Solomon.

72 God, give your judgments to the king.
    Give your righteousness to the king’s son.
Let him judge your people with righteousness
    and your poor ones with justice.
Let the mountains bring peace to the people;
    let the hills bring righteousness.
Let the king bring justice to people who are poor;
    let him save the children of those who are needy,
        but let him crush oppressors!
Let the king live[a] as long as the sun,
    as long as the moon,
        generation to generation.
Let him fall like rain upon fresh-cut grass,
    like showers that water the earth.
Let the righteous flourish throughout their lives,
    and let peace prosper until the moon is no more.
Let the king rule from sea to sea,
    from the river to the ends of the earth.
Let the desert dwellers bow low before him;
    let his enemies lick the dust.
10 Let the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute;
    let the kings of Sheba and Seba present gifts.
11 Let all the kings bow down before him;
    let all the nations serve him.

12 Let it be so, because he delivers the needy who cry out,
    the poor, and those who have no helper.
13 He has compassion on the weak and the needy;
    he saves the lives of those who are in need.
14 He redeems their lives from oppression and violence;
    their blood is precious in his eyes.

15 Let the king live long!
Let Sheba’s gold be given to him!
    Let him be prayed for always!
    Let him be blessed all day long!
16     Let there be abundant grain in the land.
    Let it wave on the mountaintops.
    Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon.
    Let it thrive like grass on the land.
17     Let the king’s name last forever.
    Let his name endure as long as the sun.
    Let all the nations be blessed through him and call him happy.

18 Bless the Lord God, the God of Israel—
    the only one who does wondrous things!
19 Bless God’s glorious name forever;
    let his glory fill all the earth!
        Amen and Amen!

20 The prayers of David, Jesse’s son, are ended.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 72:5 LXX; MT May they fear you.