Psalms 72

1 Give the king your authority, O God, and your righteousness to the king's son.

1A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!

2May he be a judge of your people in righteousness, and make true decisions for the poor.

2But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.

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

3Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.

4May he be a judge of the poor among the people, may he give salvation to the children of those who are in need; by him let the violent be crushed.

4For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.

5May his life go on as long as the sun and moon, through all generations.

5They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.

6May he come down like rain on the cut grass; like showers watering the earth.

6Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.

7In his days may the upright do well, living in peace as long as there is a moon in heaven.

7Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.

8Let his kingdom be from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.

8They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.

9Let those who are against him go down before him; and let his haters be low in the dust.

9They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.

10Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands come back with offerings; let the kings of Sheba and Seba give of their stores.

10Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.

11Yes, let all kings go down before him; let all nations be his servants.

11And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12For he will be a saviour to the poor in answer to his cry; and to him who is in need, without a helper.

12Behold these are sinners; and yet, abounding in the world they have obtained riches.

13He will have pity on the poor, and be the saviour of those who are in need.

13And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.

14He will keep their souls free from evil designs and violent attacks; and their blood will be of value in his eyes.

14And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.

15May he have long life, and may gold from Sheba be given to him: may prayers be made for him at all times; may blessings be on him every day.

15If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.

16May there be wide-stretching fields of grain in the land, shaking on the top of the mountains, full of fruit like Lebanon: may its stems be unnumbered like the grass of the earth.

16I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:

17May his name go on for ever, as long as the sun: may men be blessing themselves by him; may all nations be blessing his name.

17Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.

18Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, the only doer of wonders.

18But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.

19Praise to the glory of his noble name for ever; let all the earth be full of his glory. So be it, So be it.

19How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.

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

20As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.

21(not in this translation)

21For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:

22(not in this translation)

22And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.

23(not in this translation)

23I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.

24(not in this translation)

24Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.

25(not in this translation)

25For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?

26(not in this translation)

26For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.

27(not in this translation)

27For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.

28(not in this translation)

28But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.