Psalms 72

A Prayer for the King

Of Solomon. # 72:title Ps 127 title

1 God, give your justice to the king

and your righteousness to the king’s son.  * 72:1 1Kg 3:9; 1Ch 22:12–13; Ps 24:5

2 He will judge your people with righteousness

and your afflicted ones with justice.  * 72:2 Is 9:7; 11:2–5; 32:1

3 May the mountains bring well-being  * 72:3 Or peace, also in v. 7 to the people

and the hills, righteousness.  * 72:3 Is 11:9; 52:7; 55:12

4 May he vindicate the afflicted among the people,

help the poor,

and crush the oppressor.  * 72:4 Ps 109:31; Is 11:4

5 May they fear you  * 72:5 LXX reads May he continue while the sun endures

and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.  * 72:5 Ps 89:36–37

6 May the king be like rain that falls on the cut grass,

like spring showers that water the earth.  * 72:6 Dt 32:2; 2Sm 23:3–4; Hs 6:3

7 May the righteous  * 72:7 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Jer read May righteousness flourish in his days

and well-being abound

until the moon is no more.  * 72:7 Ps 37:11; Is 2:4; 60:21

8 May he rule from sea to sea

and from the Euphrates

to the ends of the earth.  * 72:8 Gn 15:18; Ex 23:31; Zch 9:10

9 May desert tribes kneel before him

and his enemies lick the dust.  * 72:9 Ps 22:29; Is 49:23; Mc 7:17

10 May the kings of Tarshish

and the coasts and islands bring tribute,

the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.  * 72:10 1Kg 10:22; 2Ch 9:21; Is 60:6

11 Let all kings bow in homage to him,

all nations serve him.  * 72:11 Ps 86:9; 138:4; Is 49:23

12 For he will rescue the poor who cry out

and the afflicted who have no helper.  * 72:12 Jb 29:12–17

13 He will have pity on the poor and helpless

and save the lives of the poor.  * 72:13 Pr 19:17; 28:8

14 He will redeem them from oppression and violence,

for their lives are  * 72:14 Lit their blood is  precious  * 72:14 Or valuable in his sight.  * 72:14 Ps 69:18; 116:15

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.  * 72:15 Is 60:6

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.  * 72:16 Jb 5:25; Ps 104:16

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.  * 72:17 Gn 12:2–3; 22:18; Ps 89:36

18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,

who alone does wonders.  * 72:18 Jb 9:10; Ps 86:10; 136:4

19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;

the whole earth is filled with his glory.  * 72:19 Nm 14:21; Is 6:3

Amen and amen.

20 The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded.  * 72:20 2Sm 23:1