Psalms 72

A prayer for Israel's king #72:1 This psalm may be a prayer for David's son, Solomon. Some of the prayers only become true when David's descendant, Jesus Christ, appears as the great King.

1God, please help the king to judge people in a right way. Help the king's son to be honest and fair, as you are.

2Then he will rule your people in a good way, so that even poor people receive justice.

3The mountains and the hills will bring peace, so that the people can live honest lives.

4Please help the king to judge poor people fairly. May he save the children of weak people, and destroy those cruel people who hurt them.

5May people always respect your authority, God, through all time, as long as the sun and the moon remain in the sky.

6May the king be a blessing to his people, like rain that falls on grass that lies in the fields. May he be like rain that brings water to the soil.

7While he rules as king, those people who serve God will do well. There will be peace in all the land, for as long as the moon remains in the sky.

8May the king rule everywhere, from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates river to the ends of the earth.

9Then people who live in the desert will bend down to respect him. His enemies will fall down with their faces in the dust.

10Kings from Spain and from other far places will pay taxes to him. Kings from Sheba and from Seba will bring gifts to him.

11All kings will bend down in front of him. People from all nations will serve him.

12He will rescue the poor person who calls out to him for help. He will save weak people who have nobody to help them.

13He will be kind to people who are poor and weak. He will save them from death.

14He will rescue them from cruel people who hurt them. Their lives are important to him.

15Long live the king! May people come from Sheba to give gold to him. May people always pray for him. May people praise him all the time.

16May there always be plenty of grain that grows in the land. May the crops grow well on the tops of the mountains. May the fruit trees give a lot of fruit, as they do in Lebanon. May all the crops grow well, like grass that grows in a field.

17May the king be famous for ever! May people remember him for as long as the sun continues to shine. May people from all nations use his name when they bless one another. May they all say that God has blessed the king!

18Praise the Lord, Israel's God, as he deserves. Only he does such wonderful things.

19Praise his great name for ever! May his glory fill the whole earth! Amen! May that all happen!

20This is the end of the prayers of Jesse's son, David.