Psalms

Chapter 72

Endow the King with Your Justice

This royal prayer asks God to endow the king with divine justice so that he may rule righteously, defend the afflicted, crush oppression, and become a source of peace and flourishing for the land. The vision widens from Israel's internal justice to world-embracing dominion, tribute from distant kings, and universal blessing through the king's name. The psalm closes in doxology to the LORD, the God of Israel, whose wondrous deeds fill the earth with glory, and marks a formal conclusion to the prayers of David son of Jesse.

Psalm 72 stands at the intersection of kingship, justice, wisdom, and hope, presenting the ideal ruler whose reign brings righteousness, protection for the needy, abundant peace, and blessing to the nations. Though framed as a prayer for Solomon, its scale and language press beyond any ordinary earthly reign and make it one of the Psalter's great portraits of the righteous king.

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Psalms 72

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vv. 1-20

Endow the King with Your Justice

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O¹f Solomon. ²May he judge Your people with righteousness ³May the mountains bring peace to the people, ⁴May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; ⁵May they fear him as long as the sun shines, ⁶May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, ⁷May the righteous flourish in his days

⁸May he rule from sea to sea, ⁹May the nomads bow before him, ¹⁰May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; ¹¹May all kings bow down to him ¹²For he will deliver the needy who cry out ¹³He will take pity on the poor and needy ¹⁴He will redeem them from oppression and violence,

¹⁵Long may he live! ¹⁶May there be an abundance of grain in the land; ¹⁷May his name endure forever;

¹⁸Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, ¹⁹And blessed be His glorious name forever; ²⁰Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.

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01vv. 1-20Endow the King with Your JusticeThe psalm begins by asking God to give the king and the king's son justice so that he may govern righteously and establish peace rooted in righteousness. It then expands into a vision of worldwide dominion, tribute from kings, and compassionate rule for the poor and needy. The closing lines ask for enduring life, fruitful abundance, and universal blessing through the king's name before turning into a doxology that praises the LORD alone as the one whose glory fills the whole earth.