Psalms 72:1-16

Psalm 72

For Solomon.

72:1 O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions!

Grant the king’s son the ability to make fair decisions!

72:2 Then he will judge your people fairly,

and your oppressed ones equitably.

72:3 The mountains will bring news of peace to the people,

and the hills will announce justice.

72:4 He will defend the oppressed among the people;

he will deliver the children of the poor

and crush the oppressor.

72:5 People will fear you as long as the sun and moon remain in the sky,

for generation after generation.

72:6 He will descend like rain on the mown grass,

like showers that drench the earth.

72:7 During his days the godly will flourish;

peace will prevail as long as the moon remains in the sky.

72:8 May he rule from sea to sea,

and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth!

72:9 Before him the coastlands will bow down,

and his enemies will lick the dust.

72:10 The kings of Tarshish and the coastlands will offer gifts;

the kings of Sheba and Seba will bring tribute.

72:11 All kings will bow down to him;

all nations will serve him.

72:12 For he will rescue the needy when they cry out for help,

and the oppressed who have no defender.

72:13 He will take pity on the poor and needy;

the lives of the needy he will save.

72:14 From harm and violence he will defend them;

he will value their lives.

72:15 May he live! May they offer him gold from Sheba!

May they continually pray for him!

May they pronounce blessings on him all day long!

72:16 May there be an abundance of grain in the earth;

on the tops of the mountains may it sway!

May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon!

May its crops be as abundant as the grass of the earth!