A Prayer for the King
Solomonic.a
1God, give Your justice to the king
and Your righteousness to the king’s son.b
2He will judge Your people with righteousness
and Your afflicted ones with justice.c
3May the mountains bring prosperityd to the people
and the hills, righteousness.e
4May he vindicate the afflicted among the people,
help the poor,
and crush the oppressor.f
5May he continueg while the sun endures
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.h
6May he be like rain that falls on the cut grass,
like spring showers that water the earth.i
7May the righteousj flourish in his days
and prosperityk abound
until the moon is no more.l
8May he rule from sea to sea
and from the Euphrates
to the ends of the earth.m
9May desert tribes kneel before him
and his enemies lick the dust.n
10May the kings of Tarshish
and the coasts and islands bring tribute,
the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.o
11Let all kings bow down to him,
all nations serve him.p
12For he will rescue the poor who cry out
and the afflicted who have no helper.q
13He will have pity on the poor and helpless
and save the lives of the poor.r
14He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
for their lives ares precioust in his sight.u
15May he live long!
May gold from Sheba be given to him.
May prayer be offered for him continually,
and may he be blessed all day long.v
16May there be plenty of grain in the land;
may it wave on the tops of the mountains.
May its crops be like Lebanon.
May people flourish in the cities
like the grass of the field.w
17May his name endure forever;
as long as the sun shines,
may his fame increase.
May all nations be blessed by him
and call him blessed.x
18May the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wonders, be praised.y
19May His glorious name be praised forever;
the whole earth is filled with His glory.z
•Amen and amen.
20The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded.aa
Footnotes:
a. 72:title Ps 127 title
b. 72:1 1Kg 3:9; 1Ch 22:12-13; Ps 24:5
c. 72:2 Is 9:7; 11:2-5; 32:1
d. 72:3 Or peace
e. 72:3 Is 11:9; 52:7; 55:12
f. 72:4 Ps 109:31; Is 11:4
g. 72:5 LXX; MT reads May they fear you
h. 72:5 Ps 89:36-37
i. 72:6 Dt 32:2; 2Sm 23:3-4; Hs 6:3
j. 72:7 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Jer read May righteousness
k. 72:7 Or peace
l. 72:7 Ps 37:11; Is 2:4; 60:21
m. 72:8 Gn 15:18; Ex 23:31; Zch 9:10
n. 72:9 Ps 22:29; Is 49:23; Mc 7:17
o. 72:10 1Kg 10:22; 2Ch 9:21; Is 60:6
p. 72:11 Ps 86:9; 138:4; Is 49:23
q. 72:12 Jb 29:12-17
r. 72:13 Pr 19:17; 28:8
s. 72:14 Lit their blood is
t. 72:14 Or valuable
u. 72:14 Ps 69:18; 116:15
v. 72:15 Is 60:6
w. 72:16 Jb 5:25; Ps 104:16
x. 72:17 Gn 12:2-3; 22:18; Ps 89:36
y. 72:18 Jb 9:10; Ps 86:10; 136:4
z. 72:19 Nm 14:21; Is 6:3
aa. 72:20 2Sm 23:1