The Righteous King
May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound until the moon is no more. Psalm 72:7 · Berean Standard Bible
Under this king's rule, good people will thrive and abundance will overflow—the entire kingdom will be marked by prosperity and well-being.
The 'righteous' here means people who live with integrity and seek to do right. The hope is that such people will flourish, not be crushed. This reflects the belief that righteousness and flourishing belong together under a just ruler.
The prayer continues, now focusing on the positive outcomes a good king creates.
This connects to the promise in Proverbs that 'righteousness exalts a nation,' and ultimately to the vision in Revelation of a kingdom where God's presence brings healing and abundance to all people.
During the king's reign, the righteous will thrive and experience material prosperity so complete it will persist until the very end of time itself.
The righteous (צַדִּיק, tzaddiq) are those aligned with God's covenant stipulations; their flourishing (יִפְרַח, yifrach—literally 'bloom') suggests both moral vindication and economic sufficiency. The eschatological language—'until the moon is no more'—indicates this peace transcends ordinary history, suggesting either prophetic hyperbole or genuine messianic expectation of a kingdom that endures eternally.
The intercessor now promises specific material and spiritual benefits the community will experience under this just kingship.
This reflects the deuteronomic promise-curse framework: covenant obedience produces blessing and shalom (prosperity, wholeness). It anticipates the prophets' vision of messianic peace (Psalm 85:10-13) and ultimately the eternal city where God's people experience unending flourishing (Revelation 21:3-4).
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.
Read all of Psalm 72 — A prayer for Solomon that reaches past Solomon. This king will defend the poor, crush the oppressor, and rule from sea to sea.
This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.
Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.
Download on the App StoreFree on iPhone & iPad