Psalms 72:1-20·~1 min

Endow the King with Your Justice

The prayer opens by asking God to give the king justice and righteousness so that he may judge the people rightly and defend the afflicted. Under such rule, peace will spread across the land, the poor will be vindicated, oppressors crushed, and the fear of God endure as long as sun and moon remain. The king's reign is pictured as life-giving rain on mown grass, so that the righteous flourish and peace abounds.

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

The psalm widens to portray the king's dominion stretching from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth, with desert tribes bowing and enemies licking the dust. Kings from far coasts and wealthy lands bring tribute, and all nations serve him. Yet this greatness is grounded not in spectacle alone but in mercy: he delivers the needy when they cry, takes pity on the poor and weak, and redeems their lives from oppression and violence because their blood is precious in his sight.

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,

The prayer asks that the king live long, receive the gold of Sheba, and be upheld by continual prayer and blessing. It imagines the land overflowing with grain and its fruit waving like Lebanon while city dwellers flourish like grass. The king's name is asked to endure forever, and through him all nations are blessed and call him blessed.

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

The psalm concludes by blessing the LORD God, the God of Israel, as the one who alone does wondrous things. His glorious name is to be blessed forever, and the whole earth is to be filled with his glory. The final editorial note then marks these as the concluded prayers of David son of Jesse.

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.

Section summaryThe 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.

Role in the chapterThis section presents the ideal God-given kingship that joins righteous judgment, protection of the vulnerable, worldwide honor, and final praise to the LORD who alone grants such a reign.