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.

[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.”