Psalms 72 NCV

A Prayer for the King

1 God, give the king your good judgmentand the king’s son your goodness.

2 Help him judge your people fairlyand decide what is right for the poor.

3 Let there be peace on the mountainsand goodness on the hills for the people.

4 Help him be fair to the poorand save the needyand punish those who hurt them.

5 May they respect you as long as the sun shinesand as long as the moon glows.

6 Let him be like rain on the grass,like showers that water the earth.

7 Let goodness be plentiful while he lives.Let peace continue as long as there is a moon.

8 Let his kingdom go from sea to sea,and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

9 Let the people of the desert bow down to him,and make his enemies lick the dust.

10 Let the kings of Tarshish and the faraway landsbring him gifts.Let the kings of Sheba and Sebabring their presents to him.

11 Let all kings bow down to himand all nations serve him.

12 He will help the poor when they cry outand will save the needy when no one else will help.

13 He will be kind to the weak and poor,and he will save their lives.

14 He will save them from cruel people who try to hurt them,because their lives are precious to him.

15 Long live the king!Let him receive gold from Sheba.Let people always pray for himand bless him all day long.

16 Let the fields grow plenty of grainand the hills be covered with crops.Let the land be as fertile as Lebanon,and let the cities grow like the grass in a field.

17 Let the king be famous forever;let him be remembered as long as the sun shines.Let the nations be blessed because of him,and may they all bless him.

18 Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel,who alone does such miracles.

19 Praise his glorious name forever.Let his glory fill the whole world.Amen and amen.

20 This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse.