Psalms
Chapter 72
This psalm is a prayer for the king, asking God to give him fair judgment and a long, wide rule. Much of it describes what that rule looks like: the poor defended, the oppressor broken, other kings bringing gifts, and grain growing thick on the hills. It closes with praise to the LORD, the God of Israel, and a line marking the end of the prayers of David.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
1God, give the king your way of judging. Give the king's son your fair and right ways.
2He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
2Then he will judge your people the right way, and treat your poor people fairly.
3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
3May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the small hills bring what is right.
4He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
4He will stand up for the poor and rescue the children of those in need. He will crush the one who crushes them.
5They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
5May people stand in awe of you as long as the sun and moon last, through every generation.
6He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
6May he come down like rain on grass that has just been cut, like showers that soak the ground.
7In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
7While he rules, good people will do well, and peace will be everywhere until the moon is gone.
8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
8May he rule from one sea to the other, and from the great river to the far ends of the earth.
"The river" here means the Euphrates, a large river far to the northeast of Israel. From that river to the ends of the earth is a way of saying "everywhere."
9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
9Those who live out in the desert will bow down to him, and his enemies will lick the dust.
10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
10The kings of Tarshish and of far-off shores will bring him payment. The kings of Sheba and Seba will bring gifts.
In the King James Version these kings bring "presents." This is not a friendly gift between equals. It is tribute, the regular payment a smaller kingdom sends to a stronger one.
11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
11Yes, all kings will bow down to him. All nations will serve him.
12For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
12He will rescue the person in need who cries out, and the poor person who has no one to help.
13He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
13He will feel for the poor and the weak, and he will save their lives.
14He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
14He will buy them back from cruel and violent people. Their blood matters to him.
15And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
15May the king live long. May gold from Sheba be brought to him. May people pray for him always and speak well of him every day.
16There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
16May there be plenty of grain in the land, waving on the tops of the hills. May its fruit trees grow thick like the forests of Lebanon, and the people of the city grow like grass in a field.
"Corn" in the King James Version means grain of any kind, such as wheat or barley. It does not mean the corn on the cob that grows in America.
17His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
17May his name last forever, as long as the sun keeps shining. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.
18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
18Praise the LORD God, the God of Israel. He alone does amazing things.
19And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
19Praise his glorious name forever. May the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen.
20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
20This is the end of the prayers of David, the son of Jesse.
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