Old Testament

Psalms 72

The Just and Universal King

6 passages

Overview

Psalm 72, a royal psalm attributed to Solomon, prays for a king endowed with divine justice to defend the poor, proclaims his dominion over all nations, portrays his reign as life-giving as sun and rain, celebrates his redemption of the oppressed and his imperishable name that fulfills the blessing promised to Abraham, and closes with a solemn doxology that surrenders all human glory to the eternal praise of God — a portrait Catholic tradition reads as fulfilled in the messianic kingship of Jesus Christ.

Passages

1–4Prayer for the King's Just Rule 5–7The King's Enduring and Life-Giving Reign 8–11Universal Dominion and Homage of the Nations 12–14The King as Defender of the Poor and Oppressed 15–17Abundance, Blessing, and the Eternal Name of the King 18–20Glory Be: The Eternal Doxology at the Edge of a Royal Psalm

Study Resources

No study guides, devotionals, or teaching outlines have been created for this chapter yet.

Psalms 72

¹By Solomon. God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son.

²He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

³The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness.

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

⁵They shall fear you while the sun endures; and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

⁶He will come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.

⁷In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.

⁸He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.

⁹Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust.

¹⁰The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

¹¹Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.

¹²For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper.

¹³He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the souls of the needy.

¹⁴He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.

¹⁵He will live; and Sheba’s gold will be given to him. Men will pray for him continually. They will bless him all day long.

¹⁶Abundance of grain shall be throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field.

¹⁷His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.

¹⁸Praise be to Yahweh God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

¹⁹Blessed be his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and amen.

²⁰This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.

Psalms 71 Psalms 73