Psalms 72
What Happens in This Chapter
This is a prayer for the king of Israel, asking God to make him fair and kind. It asks that he protect poor people, rule far and wide, and be honored by other kings. The psalm ends with praise to God, and a line saying the prayers of David are finished here.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
1God, teach the king to judge people fairly. Give the king's son your goodness.
2He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
2Then he will treat your people fairly. He will do right by people who are poor and hurting.
3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
3May the mountains bring peace to the people. May the hills bring what is fair and 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 poor people. He will save the children of families in need. He will crush anyone who treats them cruelly.
5They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
5May people honor you as long as the sun shines. May they honor you as long as the moon lasts, for all time.
6He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
6May the king be like rain falling on freshly cut grass. May he be like showers that water the ground.
7In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
7While he rules, may good people do well. May peace and plenty last as long as the moon.
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 sea. May he rule from the river to the far ends of the earth.
"The river" here means the Euphrates, a big river far to the north and east of Israel.
9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
9People who live out in the desert will bow down to him. His enemies will lie face down in 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 faraway shores will bring him gifts. The kings of Sheba and Seba will bring presents too.
Tarshish, Sheba, and Seba were rich lands far away from Israel.
11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
11Yes, all kings will bow down to him. Every nation will serve him.
12For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
12He will help people in need when they cry out. He will help the poor who have no one else.
13He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
13He will feel sorry for people who are weak and poor. 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 rescue them from cruel and violent people. Their lives are precious 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 a long time! May people bring him gold from Sheba. May people pray for him all the time. May they praise 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, even on the hilltops. May it wave in the wind like the trees of Lebanon. May the people in the city grow strong like grass in a field.
The old word "corn" means grain, like wheat, and not the yellow corn we eat today.
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 shines. May all nations be blessed because of him. May they say good things about him.
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 wonderful 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 his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and amen.
"Amen" is a word people said to mean "yes, let it be so."
20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
20These are the last of the prayers of David, the son of Jesse.
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