Old/New Testament
Psalm 72
A Prayer for the King
Of Solomon.(A)
1 God, give your justice to the king
and your righteousness to the king’s son.(B)
2 He will judge your people with righteousness
and your afflicted ones with justice.(C)
3 May the mountains bring well-being[a] to the people
and the hills, righteousness.(D)
4 May he vindicate the afflicted among the people,
help the poor,
and crush the oppressor.(E)
5 May they fear you[b] while the sun endures
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.(F)
6 May the king be like rain that falls on the cut grass,
like spring showers that water the earth.(G)
7 May the righteous[c] flourish in his days
and well-being abound
until the moon is no more.(H)
8 May he rule from sea to sea
and from the Euphrates
to the ends of the earth.(I)
9 May desert tribes kneel before him
and his enemies lick the dust.(J)
10 May the kings of Tarshish
and the coasts and islands bring tribute,
the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.(K)
11 Let all kings bow in homage to him,
all nations serve him.(L)
12 For he will rescue the poor who cry out
and the afflicted who have no helper.(M)
13 He will have pity on the poor and helpless
and save the lives of the poor.(N)
14 He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
for their lives are[d] precious[e] in his sight.(O)
15 May he live long!
May gold from Sheba be given to him.
May prayer be offered for him continually,
and may he be blessed all day long.(P)
16 May there be plenty of grain in the land;
may it wave on the tops of the mountains.
May its crops be like Lebanon.
May people flourish in the cities
like the grass of the field.(Q)
17 May his name endure forever;
as long as the sun shines,
may his fame increase.
May all nations be blessed by him
and call him blessed.(R)
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wonders.(S)
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;
the whole earth is filled with his glory.(T)
Amen and amen.
20 The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded.(U)
BOOK III
(Psalms 73–89)
Psalm 73
God’s Ways Vindicated
A psalm of Asaph.(V)
1 God is indeed good to Israel,
to the pure in heart.(W)
2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped;
my steps nearly went astray.(X)
3 For I envied the arrogant;
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(Y)
4 They have an easy time until they die,[f]
and their bodies are well fed.[g](Z)
5 They are not in trouble like others;
they are not afflicted like most people.(AA)
6 Therefore, pride is their necklace,
and violence covers them like a garment.(AB)
7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness;
the imaginations of their hearts run wild.(AC)
8 They mock, and they speak maliciously;
they arrogantly threaten oppression.(AD)
9 They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues strut across the earth.(AE)
10 Therefore his people turn to them[h]
and drink in their overflowing words.[i](AF)
11 The wicked say, “How can God know?
Does the Most High know everything?” (AG)
12 Look at them—the wicked!
They are always at ease,
and they increase their wealth.(AH)
13 Did I purify my heart
and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?(AI)
14 For I am afflicted all day long
and punished every morning.(AJ)
15 If I had decided to say these things aloud,
I would have betrayed your people.[j](AK)
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it seemed hopeless[k](AL)
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary.
Then I understood their destiny.(AM)
18 Indeed, you put them in slippery places;
you make them fall into ruin.(AN)
19 How suddenly they become a desolation!
They come to an end, swept away by terrors.(AO)
20 Like one waking from a dream,
Lord, when arising, you will despise their image.(AP)
21 When I became embittered
and my innermost being[l] was wounded,(AQ)
22 I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward you.(AR)
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold my right hand.(AS)
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me up in glory.[m](AT)
25 Who do I have in heaven but you?
And I desire nothing on earth but you.(AU)
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[n] of my heart,
my portion forever.(AV)
27 Those far from you will certainly perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.(AW)
28 But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all you do.(AX)
Israel’s Rejection of Christ
9 I speak the truth in Christ(A)—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit[a]— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish(B) that I myself were cursed(C) and cut off[b] from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood. 4 They are Israelites,(D) and to them belong the adoption,(E) the glory,(F) the covenants,(G) the giving of the law,(H) the temple service,(I) and the promises.(J) 5 The ancestors are theirs,(K) and from them, by physical descent,[c] came the Christ,(L) who is God(M) over all,(N) praised forever.[d](O) Amen.
God’s Gracious Election of Israel
6 Now it is not as though the word of God has failed,(P) because not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.(Q) 7 Neither is it the case that all of Abraham’s children are his descendants.[e](R) On the contrary, your offspring will be traced[f] through Isaac.[g](S) 8 That is, it is not the children by physical descent[h] who are God’s children,(T) but the children of the promise(U) are considered to be the offspring. 9 For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.[i](V) 10 And not only that,(W) but Rebekah conceived children(X) through one man, our father Isaac. 11 For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand(Y)— 12 not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger.[j](Z) 13 As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.[k](AA)
God’s Selection Is Just
14 What should we say then?(AB) Is there injustice with God?(AC) Absolutely not!(AD) 15 For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.[l](AE)
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