Psalms Chapter 72 — A Prayer for the King's Reign
Psalm 72 is a royal prayer asking God to grant a king justice, righteousness, and a long-lasting, prosperous reign over all nations.
1God, give the king your justice;
2He will judge your people with righteousness,
3The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people.
4He will judge the poor of the people.
5They shall fear you while the sun endures;
6He will come down like rain on the mown grass,
7In his days, the righteous shall flourish,
8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
9Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him.
10The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute.
11Yes, all kings shall fall down before him.
12For he will deliver the needy when he cries;
13He will have pity on the poor and needy.
14He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence.
15He will live; and Sheba’s gold will be given to him.
16Abundance of grain shall be throughout the land.
17His name endures forever.
18Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
19Blessed be his glorious name forever!
20This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalms 72:12-13
“For he will deliver the needy when he cries; he will have pity on the poor and needy.”
These verses highlight the core quality of the ideal ruler as one who protects and cares for the vulnerable.
Psalms 72:18-19
“Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Blessed be his glorious name forever!”
This concluding doxology marks the end of the second book of the Psalms with a call to praise God's name eternally.
Chapter Summary
Psalm 72 is a prayer or petition requesting God's blessing upon the reigning king, often associated with Solomon. The writer asks for divine justice and righteousness so the king may judge the people fairly, especially the poor and oppressed. The text envisions a kingdom where peace and prosperity flourish like rain on mown grass. It describes an expansive dominion reaching from sea to sea, with foreign kings bringing tribute and all nations bowing before the sovereign. Central to this reign is the king's compassion; he is described as a redeemer of the needy and a protector against violence. The psalm concludes with a doxology praising the God of Israel and a note stating that this ends the prayers of David, the son of Jesse. This suggests the chapter serves as a liturgical finale for a collection of Davidic prayers.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main theme is the prayer for a king to rule with divine justice and righteousness. It emphasizes the leader's responsibility to care for the poor, maintain peace, and establish a kingdom of lasting prosperity.
The psalm is traditionally associated with Solomon, as indicated by the superscription. However, verse 20 notes that it concludes the prayers of David, suggesting it may have been David's final petition regarding his successor's reign.
This metaphor describes the refreshing and life-giving nature of a righteous king's influence. Just as rain brings growth to a field, the king's just rule brings prosperity and vitality to his people.
Study Note
Psalm 72 serves as a liturgical conclusion to Book II of the Psalter (Psalms 42–72), ending with a formal doxology and a scribal note regarding David's prayers.
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