Psalms 72
72
A Prayer for the King
1Of Solomon.
I
2O God, give your judgment to the king;
your justice to the king’s son;#The king…the king’s son: the crown prince is the king’s son; the prayer envisages the dynasty. #Ps 99:4; Jer 23:5.
That he may govern your people with justice,
your oppressed with right judgment,#Prv 31:8–9.
3That the mountains may yield their bounty for the people,
and the hills great abundance,#Is 52:7; 55:12.
4That he may defend the oppressed among the people,
save the children of the poor and crush the oppressor.
II
5May they fear you with the sun,
and before the moon, through all generations.#Ps 89:37–38; Jer 31:35.
6May he be like rain coming down upon the fields,
like showers watering the earth,#Dt 32:2; Is 45:8; Hos 6:3.
7That abundance may flourish in his days,
great bounty, till the moon be no more.
III
8#From sea to sea…the ends of the earth: the boundaries of the civilized world known at the time: from the Mediterranean Sea (the western sea) to the Persian Gulf (the eastern sea), and from the Euphrates (the river) to the islands and lands of southwestern Europe, “the ends of the earth.” The words may also have a mythic nuance—the earth surrounded by cosmic waters, hence everywhere.May he rule from sea to sea,
from the river to the ends of the earth.#Dt 11:24; Zec 9:10.
9May his foes kneel before him,
his enemies lick the dust.#Is 49:23; Mi 7:17.
10May the kings of Tarshish and the islands#Tarshish and the islands: the far west (Ps 48:6); Arabia and Seba: the far south (1 Kgs 10:1). bring tribute,
the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.#Ps 68:30; Is 60:5–6; 1 Kgs 10:1ff.
11May all kings bow before him,
all nations serve him.#Ps 47:8.
12For he rescues the poor when they cry out,
the oppressed who have no one to help.
13He shows pity to the needy and the poor#Prv 31:9.
and saves the lives of the poor.
14From extortion and violence he redeems them,
for precious is their blood#Their blood: cf. Ps 116:15. in his sight.
IV
15Long may he live, receiving gold from Sheba,
prayed for without cease, blessed day by day.
16#The translation of the difficult Hebrew is tentative.May wheat abound in the land,
flourish even on the mountain heights.
May his fruit be like that of Lebanon,
and flourish in the city like the grasses of the land.#Is 27:6; Hos 14:6–8; Am 9:13.
17May his name be forever;
as long as the sun, may his name endure.#Ps 21:7.
May the tribes of the earth give blessings with his name;#May the tribes of the earth give blessings with his name: an echo of the promise to the ancestors (Gn 12:3; 26:4; 28:14), suggesting that the monarchy in Israel fulfilled the promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
may all the nations regard him as favored.#Gn 12:3; 22:18; 26:4; Zec 8:13.
18#A doxology marking the end of Book II of the Psalter.Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wonderful deeds.#Ps 41:14; 89:53; 106:48; 136:4.
19Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may he fill all the earth with his glory.#Ps 57:5; Nm 14:21.
Amen and amen.
20The end of the psalms of David, son of Jesse.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Psalms 72
72
A Prayer for the King#Ps 72 Hebrew title: By Solomon.
1Teach the king to judge with your righteousness, O God;
share with him your own justice,
2so that he will rule over your people with justice
and govern the oppressed with righteousness.
3May the land enjoy prosperity;
may it experience righteousness.
4May the king judge the poor fairly;
may he help the needy
and defeat their oppressors.
5May your people worship you as long as the sun shines,
as long as the moon gives light, for ages to come.
6May the king be like rain on the fields,
like showers falling on the land.
7May righteousness flourish in his lifetime,
and may prosperity last as long as the moon gives light.
8 #
Zech 9.10
His kingdom will reach from sea to sea,
from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
9The peoples of the desert will bow down before him;
his enemies will throw themselves to the ground.
10The kings of Spain and of the islands will offer him gifts;
the kings of Sheba and Seba#72.10; 72.15 Sheba and Seba: Sheba was towards the south in Arabia and Seba was on the opposite side of the Red Sea. will bring him offerings.
11All kings will bow down before him;
all nations will serve him.
12He rescues the poor who call to him,
and those who are needy and neglected.
13He has pity on the weak and poor;
he saves the lives of those in need.
14He rescues them from oppression and violence;
their lives are precious to him.
15Long live the king!
May he be given gold from Sheba#72.15; 72.10 Sheba and Seba: Sheba was towards the south in Arabia and Seba was on the opposite side of the Red Sea.;
may prayers be said for him at all times;
may God's blessings be on him always!
16May there be plenty of corn in the land;
may the hills be covered with crops,
as fruitful as those of Lebanon.
May the cities be filled with people,
like fields full of grass.
17May the king's name never be forgotten;
may his fame last as long as the sun.
May all nations ask God to bless them
as he has blessed the king.#72.17 as he… king; or and may they wish happiness for the king.
18Praise the LORD, the God of Israel!
He alone does these wonderful things.
19Praise his glorious name for ever!
May his glory fill the whole world.
Amen! Amen!
20This is the end of the prayers of David son of Jesse.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.