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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 72

Psalm 72 is read especially through the theme of justice, within Book II (Psalms 42–72). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

JusticeKingshipCreation
Old Testament

Psalm 72

1By Solomon. God, 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 the LORD 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.

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 72

Psalm 72 is read especially through the theme of justice, within Book II (Psalms 42–72). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book II (Psalms 42–72). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Justice, Kingship, Creation. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 72

Psalm 72 contains 20 verses and about 344 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “By Solomon. God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 20 closes: “This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include will, poor, needy, righteousness, people, bring. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 72

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 72:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes justice, with related themes of Justice, Kingship, Creation. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

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