Psalms 72

1 Of Solomon. Give the king your authority, O God, and your righteousness to the king's son.

[By Solomon.] God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son.

2 May he be a judge of your people in righteousness, and make true decisions for the poor.

He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

3 May the mountains give peace to the people, and the hills righteousness.

The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness.

4 May he be a judge of the poor among the people, may he give salvation to the children of those who are in need; by him let the violent be crushed.

He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.

5 May his life go on as long as the sun and moon, through all generations.

They shall fear you while the sun endures; and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

6 May he come down like rain on the cut grass; like showers watering the earth.

He will come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.

7 In his days may the upright do well, living in peace as long as there is a moon in heaven.

In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.

8 Let his kingdom be from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.

He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, from the River to the farthest parts of the earth.

9 Let those who are against him go down before him; and let his haters be low in the dust.

Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust.

10 Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands come back with offerings; let the kings of Sheba and Seba give of their stores.

The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

11 Yes, let all kings go down before him; let all nations be his servants.

Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.

12 For he will be a saviour to the poor in answer to his cry; and to him who is in need, without a helper.

For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper.

13 He will have pity on the poor, and be the saviour of those who are in need.

He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the souls of the needy.

14 He will keep their souls free from evil designs and violent attacks; and their blood will be of value in his eyes.

He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.

15 May he have long life, and may gold from Sheba be given to him: may prayers be made for him at all times; may blessings be on him every day.

And he shall live, and the gold of Sheba shall be given to him. Men shall pray for him continually. He shall bless him all day long.

16 May there be wide-stretching fields of grain in the land, shaking on the top of the mountains, full of fruit like Lebanon: may its stems be unnumbered like the grass of the earth.

There shall be abundance of grain throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field.

17 May his name go on for ever, as long as the sun: may men be blessing themselves by him; may all nations be blessing his name.

His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.

18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, the only doer of wonders.

Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

19 Praise to the glory of his noble name for ever; let all the earth be full of his glory. So be it, So be it.

Blessed be his glorious name forever. Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen.

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

This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.