Psalms 72

¹ A Psalm of Solomon. Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son!

² May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice!

³ Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!

⁴ May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor!

⁵ May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!

⁶ May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!

⁷ In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

⁸ May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!

⁹ May his foes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust!

¹⁰ May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!

¹¹ May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!

¹² For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.

¹³ He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.

¹⁴ From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.

¹⁵ Long 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!

¹⁶ May 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 men blossom forth from the cities like the grass of the field!

¹⁷ May his name endure for ever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May men bless themselves by him, all nations call him blessed!

¹⁸ Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.

¹⁹ Blessed be his glorious name for ever; may his glory fill the whole earth! Amen and Amen!

²⁰ The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.