Psalms 72

1 Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.

A psalm written by Solomon. O God, enable [me, ] the king [whom you appointed in Israel], to rule justly. Show/Teach me how to judge matters fairly

2 May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.

in order that I will judge your people fairly, that I will govern your oppressed people justly.

3 May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness.

I desire that [all over the country—even] on the hills and mountains [DOU]— people will live peacefully and righteously.

4 May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

Help [me], your king, to defend the poor people and to rescue needy people and to defeat those who oppress them.

5 May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.

I desire that your people will revere you as long as the moon shines, [forever].

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

I desire that my rule will [be enjoyed by the people] [SIM] like [they enjoy] rain on growing crops, like [they enjoy] showers that fall on the land.

7 May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound, until the moon is no more.

I hope/desire that people will live righteously during the years that I rule, and that my people will live peacefully and prosperously as long as the moon shines.

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

I hope/desire that the kings [of Israel] will rule [the people] in all the area from one sea [in the east] to another [in the west], and from the [Euphrates] River to the most remote/distant places on earth.

9 May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.

I hope/desire that those who live in the desert will bow down before them, and that their enemies will throw themselves on the ground [in submission] to them.

10 May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

I hope/desire that the kings of Spain and of the islands [in the Mediterranean Sea] will bring (tribute money/taxes) to the kings [of Israel], and that the kings of Sheba [to the south] and of Seba [to the southwest] will bring them gifts.

11 May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

I hope/desire that all the [other] kings [in the world] will bow before the kings [of Israel], and that [people of] all nations will serve them.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.

They will rescue poor people when they (cry out/plead) for help, and help those who are needy and those who have no one to help them.

13 He will take pity on the poor and needy and save the lives of the oppressed.

They will pity those who are weak and needy; he saves the people’s lives.

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

Our kings will rescue the people from being oppressed and from being treated cruelly, [because] (their lives/they) [MTY] are precious to our kings.

15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him; may they bless him all day long.

I hope/desire that our kings will live a long time! I hope/desire that they will be given gold from Sheba. I desire that people will always pray for our kings and praise them all the time, [every day].

16 May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, and its people like the grass of the field.

I hope/desire that the fields will produce plenty of grain [everywhere, even] on the tops of the hills in the land where they rule, like the grain that grows [on the hills] in Lebanon. I hope/desire that the cities [in Israel] will be full of people like the fields are full of grass.

17 May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.

I desire that the names of our kings will never be forgotten. I hope/desire that people will remember them as long as the sun shines. I hope/desire that people of all nations will ask (God to bless them/that they will be blessed by God) just like he has blessed the kings [of Israel].

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

Praise Yahweh, the God whom [we] Israelis [worship]; he is the only one who does wonderful things.

19 And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.

Praise him forever! I desire that (his glory will fill the whole world/people all over the world may see that he is very great) [MTY]! Amen! May it be so!

20 Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.

That is the end of this group of prayers/songs written by David, the son of Jesse.