Old Testament · Poetry

Psalm 72

The Righteous King

A prayer for Solomon that reaches past Solomon. This king will defend the poor, crush the oppressor, and rule from sea to sea.

Berean Standard Bible BSB KJV

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16May 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, the people of its cities like the grass of the field.

17May 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.

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

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

20Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.

Understand This

Psalm 72, explained

What Psalm 72 is saying

A royal psalm attributed to Solomon, Psalm 72 presents the ideal king as an agent of divine justice who defends the poor, crushes the oppressor, and brings prosperity to the entire earth. The psalm's scope expands from local justice to cosmic dominion—from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth. Its closing doxology also serves as the conclusion to Book II of the Psalter.

The background behind it

Whether composed by Solomon or for him, the psalm reflects coronation liturgy and the theological expectations placed upon Davidic kings. Its extravagant language—kings of Tarshish and Sheba bringing tribute, grain waving on mountaintops—exceeded any historical Israelite monarch's reign, pointing toward messianic fulfillment.

Themes running underneath

The psalm's vision of ideal kingship centers on justice for the vulnerable: the afflicted, the needy, the poor, and the oppressed. Royal power exists not for self-aggrandizement but for the protection of those who have no defender. The agricultural abundance that accompanies just rule reflects the ancient Near Eastern belief that righteous governance produces cosmic flourishing.

Why it still matters

Psalm 72 establishes a standard for all leadership: legitimate authority is measured by its treatment of the most vulnerable. It also directs messianic hope toward a king whose reign produces universal justice, peace, and abundance.

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Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible — used by permission, Bible Hub.