Psalm 72A Prayer for the King

1. God, give your justice to the king
and your righteousness to the king's son.

2. He will judge your people with righteousness
and your afflicted ones with justice.

3. May the mountains bring well-being to the people
and the hills, righteousness.

4. May he vindicate the afflicted among the people,
help the poor,
and crush the oppressor.

5. May they fear you while the sun endures
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

6. May the king be like rain that falls on the cut grass,
like spring showers that water the earth.

7. May the righteous flourish in his days
and well-being abound
until the moon is no more.

8. May he rule from sea to sea
and from the Euphrates
to the ends of the earth.

9. May desert tribes kneel before him
and his enemies lick the dust.

10. May the kings of Tarshish
and the coasts and islands bring tribute,
the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

11. Let all kings bow in homage to him,
all nations serve him.

12. For he will rescue the poor who cry out
and the afflicted who have no helper.

13. He will have pity on the poor and helpless
and save the lives of the poor.

14. He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
for their lives are precious in his sight.

15. May he live long!
May gold from Sheba be given to him.
May prayer be offered for him continually,
and may he be blessed all day long.

16. May there be plenty of grain in the land;
may it wave on the tops of the mountains.
May its crops be like Lebanon.

May people flourish in the cities
like the grass of the field.

17. May his name endure forever;
as long as the sun shines,
may his fame increase.

May all nations be blessed by him
and call him blessed.

18. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wonders.

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

20. The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded.




