Psalm 72
A Prayer for the King
Of Solomon. l
1 God, give your justice to the king
and your righteousness to the king’s son. m
2 He will judge your people with righteousness
and your afflicted ones with justice. n
3 May the mountains bring well-being W to the people
and the hills, righteousness. o
4 May he vindicate the afflicted among the people,
help the poor,
and crush the oppressor. p
5 May they fear you X while the sun endures
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. q
6 May the king be like rain that falls on the cut grass,
like spring showers that water the earth. r
7 May the righteous Y flourish in his days
and well-being abound
until the moon is no more. s
and from the Euphrates
to the ends of the earth. t
9 May desert tribes kneel before him
and his enemies lick the dust. u
and the coasts and islands bring tribute,
the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. v
11 Let all kings bow in homage to him,
all nations serve him. w
12 For he will rescue the poor who cry out
and the afflicted who have no helper. x
13 He will have pity on the poor and helpless
and save the lives of the poor. y
14 He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
for their lives are Z precious A in his sight. z
May gold from Sheba be given to him.
May prayer be offered for him continually,
and may he be blessed all day long. a
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. b
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. c
18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wonders. d
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;
the whole earth is filled with his glory. e
Amen and amen.
20 The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded. f