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.

King James Version BSB KJV

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1Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.

2He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

4He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

5They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

6He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

7In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.

10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

12For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

13He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.

14He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

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.

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.

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.

18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

19And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

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: King James Version — public domain.