Psalm 72
A psalm of Solomon.
1God, give the king the ability to judge fairly.
He is your royal son. Help him to do what is right.
2May he rule your people in the right way.
May he be fair to those among your people who are hurting.
3May the mountains and the hills produce rich crops,
because the people will do what is right.
4May the king stand up for those who are hurting.
May he save the children of those who are in need.
May he crush those who treat others badly.
5May the king rule as long as the sun shines
and the moon gives its light.
May he rule for all time to come.
6May he be like rain falling on the fields.
May he be like showers watering the earth.
7May godly people do well as long as he rules.
May they have more than they need as long as the moon lasts.
8May the king rule from sea to sea.
May his kingdom reach from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
9May the desert tribes bow down to him.
May his enemies lick the dust.
10May the kings of Tarshish and of places far away
bring him gifts.
May the kings of Sheba and Seba
give him presents.
11May all kings bow down to him.
May all nations serve him.
12The king will save needy people who cry out to him.
He will save those who are hurting and have no one else to help.
13He will take pity on those who are weak and in need.
He will save them from death.
14He will save them from people who treat others badly.
He will save them from people who do mean things to them.
Their lives are very special to him.
15May the king live a long time!
May gold from Sheba be given to him.
May people always pray for him.
May they ask the Lord to bless him all day long.
16May there be plenty of grain everywhere in the land.
May it sway in the wind on the tops of the hills.
May the crops grow well, like those in Lebanon.
May they grow like the grass of the field.
17May the king’s name be remembered forever.
May his fame last as long as the sun shines.
Then all nations will be blessed because of him.
They will call him blessed.
18Give praise to the Lord God, the God of Israel.
Only he can do wonderful things.
19Give praise to his glorious name forever.
May his glory fill the whole earth.
Amen and Amen.
20The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, end here.
A Psalm for Solomon.
1Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.72.1 for: or, of
2He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
4He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
5They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
6He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
7In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.72.7 so long…: Heb. till there be no moon
8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
12For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
14He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
15And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.72.15 shall be given: Heb. one shall give
16There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
17His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.72.17 endure: Heb. be72.17 his name shall be…: Heb. shall be as a son to continue his father’s name for ever
18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
19And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
