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Psalm chapter 72

English Standard Version

1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! 2May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! 3Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! 4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! 5May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! 6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! 7In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! 8May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! 9May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! 10May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! 11May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! 12For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. 13He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. 14From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. 15Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! 16May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! 17 May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! 18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! 20 The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.
New International Version

1Of Solomon. Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
2May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. 3May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. 4May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor. 5May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. 6May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
7In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more. 8May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 9May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust. 10May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.
11May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him. 12For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. 13He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
14He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. 15Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long. 16May grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. May the crops flourish like Lebanon and thrive like the grass of the field.
17May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. 18Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
19Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. 20This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.
New American Standard Bible

1Give the king Your judgments, God, And Your righteousness to the king’s son. 2 May he judge Your people with righteousness And Your afflicted with justice. 3 May the mountains bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness. 4 May he vindicate the afflicted of the people, Save the children of the needy, And crush the oppressor. 5 May they fear You while the sun shines, And as long as the moon shines, throughout all generations. 6 May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, Like showers that water the earth. 7 May the righteous flourish in his days, As well as an abundance of peace, until the moon is no more. 8May he also rule from sea to sea, And from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. 9 May the nomads of the desert bow before him, And his enemies lick the dust. 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring gifts; May the kings of Sheba and Seba offer tributes. 11 And may all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him. 12For he will save the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted also, and him who has no helper. 13He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And he will save the lives of the needy. 14He will rescue their life from oppression and violence, And their blood will be precious in his sight; 15So may he live, and may the gold of Sheba be given to him; And they are to pray for him continually; They are to bless him all day long. 16May there be abundance of grain on the earth on top of the mountains; Its fruit will wave like the cedars of Lebanon; And may those from the city flourish like the vegetation of the earth. 17May his name endure forever; May his name produce descendants as long as the sun shines; And may people wish blessings on themselves by him; May all nations call him blessed. 18Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone works wonders. 19And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. 20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
Christian Standard Bible

1Of Solomon. God, give your justice to the king and your righteousness to the king’s son. 2He will judge your people with righteousness and your afflicted ones with justice. 3May the mountains bring well-being to the people and the hills, righteousness.
4May he vindicate the afflicted among the people, help the poor, and crush the oppressor. 5May they fear you while the sun endures and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. 6May the king be like rain that falls on the cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.
7May the righteous flourish in his days and well-being abound until the moon is no more. 8May he rule from sea to sea and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth. 9May desert tribes kneel before him and his enemies lick the dust. 10May the kings of Tarshish and the coasts and islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
11Let all kings bow in homage to him, all nations serve him. 12For he will rescue the poor who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper. 13He will have pity on the poor and helpless and save the lives of the poor.
14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious in his sight. 15May 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. 16May 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.
17May 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. 18Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does wonders. 19Blessed be his glorious name forever; the whole earth is filled with his glory. Amen and amen. 20The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded.
New Living Translation

1Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. 2Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly. 3May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful. 4Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors. 5May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky. Yes, forever!
6May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth. 7May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more. 8May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. 9Desert nomads will bow before him; his enemies will fall before him in the dust. 10The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts. 11All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him.
12He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. 13He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. 14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.
15Long live the king! May the gold of Sheba be given to him. May the people always pray for him and bless him all day long. 16May there be abundant grain throughout the land, flourishing even on the hilltops. May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon, and may the people thrive like grass in a field. 17May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.
18Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. 19Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!
20(This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse.)
King James Version

1A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.
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.
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.
16There shall be a 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 forever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
18Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
19And blessed be his glorious name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
New King James Version

1{A Psalm of Solomon.} Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king’s Son. 2 He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice. 3 The mountains will bring peace to the people, And the little hills, by righteousness. 4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor. 5They shall fear You As long as the sun and moon endure, Throughout all generations. 6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth. 7In His days the righteous shall flourish, And abundance of peace, Until the moon is no more. 8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, And His enemies will lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts. 11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him. 12For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. 13He will spare the poor and needy, And will save the souls of the needy. 14He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight. 15And He shall live; And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him; Prayer also will be made for Him continually, And daily He shall be praised. 16There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, On the top of the mountains; Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon; And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17 His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed. 18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! 19And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. 20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

What does Psalm chapter 72 mean?

This psalm opens with a prayer. The request is for blessings on the reign of a king. Not only does the psalmist ask for the king's rule to be successful, but he also prays that this king will rule with justice and mercy. The language used in this opening suggests a view beyond Solomon, into the far future. Elements of the psalm are Messianic: connected to the time when Christ, the Messiah, will rule earth directly and in person (Psalm 72:1–7).

The second half of the opening prayer extends the idea that this king is more than just a man. The request can still apply to Solomon. But the Messianic aspects are much clearer here. The king is depicted ruling over "all kings" and "all nations," with enemies defeated and others bringing tribute. In the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:6), Jesus Christ will lead just such a government (Psalm 72:8–11)

This continues a depiction of a wildly successful king. What's mentioned in this segment may be part of the prior prayer, or an extension of praise to the prophetic figure who will complete these descriptions. The psalmist is especially focused on this king's goodness. This marks the king as the ultimate, ideal ruler: undefeatable but also loving towards those in the kingdom (Psalm 72:12–14).

More requests are made here, continuing to blend the ideas of Solomon and some future ruling king. This portion asks for constant prayer on behalf of the ruler. It seeks incredible success for the kingdom and unending praise from all the people. As before, this is connected to "all nations," rather than simply the people of Israel (Psalm 72:15–17).

This marks the end of "Book Two," which began with psalm 42. The doxology—a structured praise to God—at the end is common to the ends of the other books (Psalm 41:13; 89:52; 106:48, 150). The final verse refers to a conclusion to David's "prayers," which is how some of his psalms are labeled (Psalm 17:1; 86:1). These statements are not necessarily part of the psalm itself. Rather, they are indicators of the end of a segment. It's possible this was the last psalm David wrote, as they are not numbered in chronological order (Psalm 72:18–20).
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