Psalms 72

1 A psalm of Solomon. God, please give the king fairness, and give the king's son the ability to do what's right.

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

2 May he rightly judge your people, and may he be fair to the poor.

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

3 May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring goodness.

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

4 May he defend the poor and save their children, may he crush those who oppress them.

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 they respect him as long as the sun and the moon shine above, for all generations.

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

6 May his reign be like rain falling on new grass, like showers that water the earth.

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

7 May those who live right prosper under his rule; may there be great prosperity until the moon is no more.

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

8 May he rule 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 ends of the earth.

9 Desert tribes will kneel before him; and his enemies will bite the dust.

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

10 The kings of Tarshish and the islands will bring him tribute; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him with gifts.

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

11 Every king will bow down to him; every nation will serve him.

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

12 He will help the poor when they cry out to him, and help those who are suffering that have no one to support them.

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

13 He has pity on the poor and needy—he saves their lives!

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

14 He rescues them from violence and oppression, for their lives mean so much to him.

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

15 May he live long! May the gold from Sheba be given to him. May people always pray for him and bless him all day long.

He will live; and Sheba’s gold will be given to him. Men will pray for him continually. They will bless him all day long.

16 May there be plenty of grain in the land, even growing on mountain-tops. May the fruit on the trees sway like the trees of Lebanon. May the people in the city flourish like grass in a field.

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

17 May his fame live forever, may it last as long as the sun. May all nations be blessed through him, and may they praise him.

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 the Lord God, the God of Israel, who is the only one who can do such fantastic things!

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

19 Praise his wonderful nature forever! May the whole world be full of his glory! Amen and amen!

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

20 (This is the end of the psalms of David, son of Jesse.)

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