Read & explore together
Endow the King with Your Justice
Psalm 72 is a prayer-song asking God to give a king justice and righteousness. It describes the kind of rule that protects the poor, brings peace, and leads to praise for God, who alone does marvellous deeds.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
This passage is presented as poetry and song. It begins by asking God to give justice and righteousness to the king and the royal son, then describes the effects of such rule across the people, the land, and the nations. It ends with praise to Yahweh God and a closing note about David’s prayers.
Psalms 72:1–20Main takeaway
Psalm 72 teaches that righteous rule is marked by justice for the poor, peace for the people, and praise to Yahweh, whose glory fills the earth.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A prayer for just ruleThe psalm opens by asking God to give the king justice and righteousness. These words shape the whole passage.
Explanation
The psalm opens by asking God to give the king justice and righteousness. These words shape the whole passage. The king is pictured judging God’s people rightly, especially the poor. Prosperity is linked with righteousness, not merely wealth, and the needy are protected from oppressors.
02Peace that lasts and spreadsThe song then uses large pictures to describe this rule. People fear God throughout generations.
Explanation
The song then uses large pictures to describe this rule. People fear God throughout generations. The king’s coming is compared to rain on cut grass, bringing refreshment. In his days the righteous flourish and peace abounds. His dominion is described as reaching from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth.
03Honour from nations because he rescues the needyOther rulers bring tribute and gifts, and all nations serve him. The reason given is important: he delivers the needy, the poor, and those without help.
Explanation
Other rulers bring tribute and gifts, and all nations serve him. The reason given is important: he delivers the needy, the poor, and those without help. He has pity, saves, and redeems them from oppression and violence. Their lives are precious in his sight.
04Blessing in the land and praise to GodThe final movement speaks of life, prayer, blessing, grain, and flourishing land. The king’s name endures, and nations call him blessed.
Explanation
The final movement speaks of life, prayer, blessing, grain, and flourishing land. The king’s name endures, and nations call him blessed. Yet the closing praise belongs to Yahweh God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvellous deeds. The psalm ends with blessing God’s glorious name and a closing note about David’s prayers.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the psalm ask God to give the king at the beginning, and how does that shape the rest of the song?
Look for the opening request, then trace how judging, saving, and protecting the poor flow from justice and righteousness.
02Which word-pictures show the goodness of this king’s rule?
Notice the images of rain, flourishing righteousness, peace, grain, and grass, and think about what each picture suggests.
03Why do nations honour this king according to the psalm?
The passage gives a reason with the word 'For', pointing to his care for needy people rather than only his power.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 72:1–20
1God, 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.