Psalm 72

Prayer for Guidance and Support for the King

Of Solomon.
¹Give the king your justice, O God,
   and your righteousness to a king’s son.
²May he judge your people with righteousness,
   and your poor with justice.
³May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
   and the hills, in righteousness.
⁴May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
   give deliverance to the needy,
   and crush the oppressor.

⁵May he live^* while the sun endures,
   and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
⁶May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
   like showers that water the earth.
⁷In his days may righteousness flourish
   and peace abound, until the moon is no more.

¹⁰May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles
   render him tribute,
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
   bring gifts.
¹¹May all kings fall down before him,
   all nations give him service.

¹²For he delivers the needy when they call,
   the poor and those who have no helper.
¹³He has pity on the weak and the needy,
   and saves the lives of the needy.
¹⁴From oppression and violence he redeems their life;
   and precious is their blood in his sight.