Psalms 72:2-4

72:2 Then he will judge ¹  your people fairly,

and your oppressed ones ²  equitably.

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

and the hills will announce justice. ³ 

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

he will deliver ⁵  the children ⁶  of the poor

and crush the oppressor.

Psalms 72:12-14

72:12 For he will rescue the needy ⁷  when they cry out for help,

and the oppressed ⁸  who have no defender.

72:13 He will take pity ⁹  on the poor and needy;

the lives of the needy he will save.

72:14 From harm and violence he will defend them; ¹⁰ 

he will value their lives. ¹¹ 

[72:2]  ¹ tn The prefixed verbal form appears to be an imperfect, not a jussive.

[72:2]  ² sn These people are called God’s oppressed ones because he is their defender (see Pss 9:12, 18; 10:12; 12:5).

[72:3]  ³ tn Heb “[the] mountains will bear peace to the people, and [the] hills with justice.” The personified mountains and hills probably represent messengers who will sweep over the land announcing the king’s just decrees and policies. See Isa 52:7 and C. A. Briggs and E. G. Briggs, Psalms (ICC), 2:133.

[72:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “judge [for].”

[72:4]  ⁵ tn The prefixed verbal form appears to be an imperfect, not a jussive.

[72:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “sons.”

[72:12]  ⁷ tn The singular is representative. The typical needy individual here represents the entire group.

[72:12]  ⁸ tn The singular is representative. The typical oppressed individual here represents the entire group.

[72:13]  ⁹ tn The prefixed verb form is best understood as a defectively written imperfect (see Deut 7:16).

[72:14]  ¹⁰ tn Or “redeem their lives.” The verb “redeem” casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis (see Pss 19:14; 69:18).

[72:14]  ¹¹ tn Heb “their blood will be precious in his eyes.”