Psalm 72

1    Give the king your judgements, O God,  

and your righteousness to the son of a king.

2    Then shall he judge your people righteously  

and your poor with justice.

3    May the mountains bring forth peace,  

and the little hills righteousness for the people.

4    May he defend the poor among the people,  

deliver the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

5    May he live as long as the sun and moon endure,  

from one generation to another.

6    May he come down like rain upon the mown grass,  

like the showers that water the earth.

7    In his time shall righteousness flourish,  

and abundance of peace

    till the moon shall be no more.

8    May his dominion extend from sea to sea  

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

9    May his foes kneel before him  

and his enemies lick the dust.

10  The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute;  

the kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring gifts.

11  All kings shall fall down before him;  

all nations shall do him service.

12  For he shall deliver the poor that cry out,  

the needy and those who have no helper.

13  He shall have pity on the weak and poor;  

he shall preserve the lives of the needy.

14  He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence,  

and dear shall their blood be in his sight.

15  Long may he live;

    unto him may be given gold from Sheba;  

may prayer be made for him continually

    and may they bless him all the day long.

16  May there be abundance of grain on the earth,

    standing thick upon the hilltops;  

may its fruit flourish like Lebanon

    and its grain grow like the grass of the field.

17  May his name remain for ever

    and be established as long as the sun endures;  

may all nations be blest in him

    and call him blessed.

18  Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,  

who alone does wonderful things.

19  And blessed be his glorious name for ever.  

May all the earth be filled with his glory.

    Amen. Amen.

 

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.

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