Psalms 72

1 A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness to the king’s son.

A psalm written by Solomon. O God, enable [me, ] the king [whom you appointed in Israel], to rule justly. Show/Teach me how to judge matters fairly

2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

in order that I will judge your people fairly, that I will govern your oppressed people justly.

3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

I desire that [all over the country—even] on the hills and mountains [DOU]— people will live peacefully and righteously.

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

Help [me], your king, to defend the poor people and to rescue needy people and to defeat those who oppress them.

5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

I desire that your people will revere you as long as the moon shines, [forever].

6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

I desire that my rule will [be enjoyed by the people] [SIM] like [they enjoy] rain on growing crops, like [they enjoy] showers that fall on the land.

7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

I hope/desire that people will live righteously during the years that I rule, and that my people will live peacefully and prosperously as long as the moon shines.

8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.

I hope/desire that the kings [of Israel] will rule [the people] in all the area from one sea [in the east] to another [in the west], and from the [Euphrates] River to the most remote/distant places on earth.

9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.

I hope/desire that those who live in the desert will bow down before them, and that their enemies will throw themselves on the ground [in submission] to them.

10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

I hope/desire that the kings of Spain and of the islands [in the Mediterranean Sea] will bring (tribute money/taxes) to the kings [of Israel], and that the kings of Sheba [to the south] and of Seba [to the southwest] will bring them gifts.

11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

I hope/desire that all the [other] kings [in the world] will bow before the kings [of Israel], and that [people of] all nations will serve them.

12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

They will rescue poor people when they (cry out/plead) for help, and help those who are needy and those who have no one to help them.

13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.

They will pity those who are weak and needy; he saves the people’s lives.

14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall be their blood in his sight.

Our kings will rescue the people from being oppressed and from being treated cruelly, [because] (their lives/they) [MTY] are precious to our kings.

15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.

I hope/desire that our kings will live a long time! I hope/desire that they will be given gold from Sheba. I desire that people will always pray for our kings and praise them all the time, [every day].

16 There shall be an handful of grain in the earth upon the top of the mountains; its fruit shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

I hope/desire that the fields will produce plenty of grain [everywhere, even] on the tops of the hills in the land where they rule, like the grain that grows [on the hills] in Lebanon. I hope/desire that the cities [in Israel] will be full of people like the fields are full of grass.

17 His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

I desire that the names of our kings will never be forgotten. I hope/desire that people will remember them as long as the sun shines. I hope/desire that people of all nations will ask (God to bless them/that they will be blessed by God) just like he has blessed the kings [of Israel].

18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

Praise Yahweh, the God whom [we] Israelis [worship]; he is the only one who does wonderful things.

19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

Praise him forever! I desire that (his glory will fill the whole world/people all over the world may see that he is very great) [MTY]! Amen! May it be so!

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

That is the end of this group of prayers/songs written by David, the son of Jesse.