Psalms 72

Prayer for the King

¹God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son.

²He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

³The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness.

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

⁵They shall fear you while the sun endures; and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

⁶He will come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.

⁷In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.

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

⁹Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust.

¹⁰The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

¹¹Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.

¹²For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper.

¹³He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the souls of the needy.

¹⁴He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.

¹⁵He will live; and Sheba’s gold will be given to him. Men will pray for him continually. They will bless him all day long.

¹⁶Abundance of grain shall be throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field.

¹⁷His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.

¹⁸Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

¹⁹Blessed be his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and amen.

²⁰This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.

Previous Psalms 71

Next Psalms 73

Psalm 72 is a royal psalm that presents an idealized vision of a righteous king who will establish justice, protect the poor, and bring prosperity to the land. The psalm begins as a prayer for the king but expands into a prophetic description of universal dominion and eternal reign that extends far beyond any earthly monarch. This majestic vision of perfect kingship has been interpreted messianically, pointing toward God's ultimate kingdom of justice and peace.

Context

This psalm concludes Book II of the Psalter and marks the end of the primary Davidic collection, as noted in verse 20.

Key Themes

Outline

1-4
Prayer for Royal Justice A petition for God to grant the king divine justice and righteousness to properly judge the people and protect the poor.
5-7
Enduring Reign of Peace The king's rule will be perpetual like celestial bodies, bringing refreshment like rain and flourishing righteousness.
8-11
Universal Dominion The king's authority will extend from sea to sea, with all nations and distant kings bringing tribute and submission.
12-15
Champion of the Oppressed The king will deliver the needy and poor from oppression, valuing their lives and receiving their prayers and gifts.
16-17
Prosperity and Eternal Fame The land will flourish with abundance, and the king's name will endure forever as a source of blessing to all nations.
18-20
Doxology and Conclusion The psalm closes with praise to God and a note marking the end of the Davidic collection.

Prayer for the King

72:1–72:20

poetry prayer hopeful

A royal psalm praying for God to grant the king divine justice and righteousness to rule with compassion for the poor and establish universal peace and prosperity.

person_contrast

David's name appears in the superscription of this messianic psalm that envisions justice flowing from divine kingship, contrasting with his typical portrayal as covenant recipient rather than justice distributor.