Chapter 72
A Prayer for the Prosperity of God’s Anointed King
1 Of Solomon.1 O God, give your judgments to the king, and your righteousness to the king’s son.
אֱֽלֹהִ֗יםאלה֗יםאֱֽלֹהִיםאלהים'elo.HimO GodH0430GHNcmpa מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶי/ךָמ֭שפטי/ךמִשְׁפָּטֶי/ךָמשפטי/ךMish.pa.tei./khajudgments/ yourH4941HH9021HNcmpc+Sp2ms לְ/מֶ֣לֶךְל/מ֣לךלְ/מֶלֶךְל/מלךle./Me.lekhto/ [the] kingH9005H4428GHR+Ncmsa תֵּ֑ןת֑ןתֵּןתןTengiveH5414GHVqv2ms וְ/צִדְקָתְ/ךָ֥ו/צדקת/ך֥וְ/צִדְקָתְ/ךָו/צדקת/ךve./tzid.ka.te./Chaand/ righteousness/ yourH9002H6666H9021HC+Ncfsc+Sp2ms מֶֽלֶךְ\׃מלך\מֶֽלֶךְ\׃מלך\Me.lekh[the] kingH4428G\H9016HNcmsa - The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
יָדִ֣יןיד֣יןיָדִיןידיןya.Dinhe will judgeH1777HVqi3ms עַמְּ/ךָ֣עמ/ך֣עַמְּ/ךָעמ/ך'a.me./Khapeople/ yourH5971AH9021HNcmsc+Sp2ms בְ/צֶ֑דֶקב/צ֑דקבְ/צֶדֶקב/צדקve./Tze.dekwith/ righteousnessH9003H6664GHR+Ncmsa וַ/עֲנִיֶּ֥י/ךָו/עני֥י/ךוַ/עֲנִיֶּי/ךָו/עניי/ךva./'a.ni.Yei./khaand/ poor [people]/ yourH9002H6041H9021HC+Aampc+Sp2ms בְ/מִשְׁפָּֽט\׃ב/משפט\בְ/מִשְׁפָּֽט\׃ב/משפט\ve./mish.Patwith/ justiceH9003H4941H\H9016HR+Ncmsa 3 Let the mountains yield prosperity1 for the people, and the hills in righteousness.
יִשְׂא֤וּישא֤ויִשְׂאוּישאוyis.'Uthey will carryH5375HHVqi3mp הָרִ֓יםהר֓יםהָרִיםהריםha.RimmountainsH2022GHNcmpa שָׁ֘ל֥וֹםש֘ל֥וםשָׁלוֹםשלוםsha.LompeaceH7965IHNcmsa לָ/עָ֑םל/ע֑םלָ/עָםל/עםla./'Amto the/ peopleH9005H5971AHRd+Ncmsa וּ֝/גְבָע֗וֹתו֝/גבע֗ותוּ/גְבָעוֹתו/גבעותu./ge.va.'otand/ hillsH9002H1389IHC+Ncfpa בִּ/צְדָקָֽה\׃ב/צדקה\בִּ/צְדָקָֽה\׃ב/צדקה\bi/tz.da.Kahin/ righteousnessH9003H6666\H9016HR+Ncfsa - Or “peace”
4 May he provide justice for the poor of the people, save the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor.
יִשְׁפֹּ֤ט\׀ישפ֤ט\יִשְׁפֹּט\׀ישפט\yish.Pothe will judgeH8199\H9015HVqi3ms עֲֽנִיֵּי\־עניי\עֲֽנִיֵּי\־עניי\'ani.yei-[the] poor [people] ofH6041\H9014HAampc עָ֗םע֗םעָםעם'Am[the] peopleH5971AHNcmsa י֭וֹשִׁיעַי֭ושיעיוֹשִׁיעַיושיעYo.o.shi.a'he will saveH3467HVhi3ms לִ/בְנֵ֣יל/בנ֣ילִ/בְנֵיל/בניli/v.Nei<to>/ [the] children ofH9005H1121AHR+Ncmpc אֶבְי֑וֹןאבי֑וןאֶבְיוֹןאביון'ev.Yon[the] needyH0034HAamsa וִֽ/ידַכֵּ֣או/ידכ֣אוִֽ/ידַכֵּאו/ידכאvi./da.Ke'so/ he may crushH9002H1792HC+Vpu3ms עוֹשֵֽׁק\׃עושק\עוֹשֵֽׁק\׃עושק\o.Shek[the] oppressorH6231\H9016HVqrmsa 5 May he live long1 ⌞while the sun endures⌟2 ⌞as long as the moon⌟3 ⌞for all generations⌟.4
יִֽירָא֥וּ/ךָיירא֥ו/ךיִֽירָאוּ/ךָייראו/ךyi.ra.'U./khapeople will fear/ youH3372GH9031HVqi3mp+Sp2ms שָׁ֑מֶשׁש֑מששָׁמֶשׁשמשSha.mesh[the] sunH8121HNcbsa וְ/לִ/פְנֵ֥יו/ל/פנ֥יוְ/לִ/פְנֵיו/ל/פניve./li/f.Neiand/ <to>/ beforeH9002H9005H6440HHC+R+Ncmpc יָ֝רֵ֗חַי֝ר֗חיָרֵחַירחya.Re.ach[the] moonH3394HNcmsa דּ֣וֹרד֣ורדּוֹרדורDorgeneration ofH1755HNcmsc דּוֹרִֽים\׃דורים\דּוֹרִֽים\׃דורים\do.RimgenerationsH1755\H9016HNcmpa - This presupposes the reading, suggested by the LXX, that might indicate that two of the Hebrew root letters have been inverted. The Hebrew reads “They will/Let them fear”
- Literally “with the sun”
- Literally “in the presence of the moon”
- Literally “generation of generations”
6 May he descend like rain on mown grass, like showers watering the earth.
יֵ֭רֵדי֭רדיֵרֵדירדYe.redhe will come downH3381HVqi3ms כְּ/מָטָ֣רכ/מט֣רכְּ/מָטָרכ/מטרke./ma.Tarlike/ rainH9004H4306HR+Ncmsa גֵּ֑זג֑זגֵּזגזGezmown grassH1488HNcmsa כִּ֝/רְבִיבִ֗יםכ֝/רביב֗יםכִּ/רְבִיבִיםכ/רביביםki/r.vi.Vimlike/ copious showersH9004H7241HR+Ncmpa זַרְזִ֥יףזרז֥יףזַרְזִיףזרזיףzar.Zifdropping ofH2222BHNcmsc אָֽרֶץ\׃ארץ\אָֽרֶץ\׃ארץ\'A.retz[the] earthH0776G\H9016HNcfsa 7 May what is right blossom in his days and an abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.
יִֽפְרַח\־יפרח\יִֽפְרַח\־יפרח\yif.rach-he will flourishH6524A\H9014HVqi3ms בְּ/יָמָ֥י/וב/ימ֥י/ובְּ/יָמָי/וב/ימי/וbe./ya.Ma/vin/ days/ hisH9003H3117GH9023HR+Ncmpc+Sp3ms צַדִּ֑יקצד֑יקצַדִּיקצדיקtza.Dik[the] righteousH6662HAamsa וְ/רֹ֥בו/ר֥בוְ/רֹבו/רבve./Roand/ abundance ofH9002H7230HC+Ncmsc שָׁ֝ל֗וֹםש֝ל֗וםשָׁלוֹםשלוםSha.Lomwell-beingH7965GHNcmsa בְּלִ֥יבל֥יבְּלִיבליbe.LinotH1097HNcmsc יָרֵֽחַ\׃ירח\יָרֵֽחַ\׃ירח\ya.Re.ach[the] moonH3394\H9016HNcmsa 8 And may he rule from sea up to sea, and from the River1 to the edges of the land.
וְ֭/יֵרְדְּו֭/ירדוְ/יֵרְדְּו/ירדVe./ye.redand/ may he ruleH9002H7287AHC+Vqj3ms מִ/יָּ֣םמ/י֣םמִ/יָּםמ/יםmi./Yamfrom/ seaH9006H3220GHR+Ncmsa יָ֑םי֑םיָםיםYamseaH3220GHNcmsa וּ֝/מִ/נָּהָ֗רו֝/מ/נה֗רוּ/מִ/נָּהָרו/מ/נהרu./mi./na.Harand/ from/ [the] riverH9002H9006H5104GHC+R+Ncmsa אַפְסֵי\־אפסי\אַפְסֵי\־אפסי\'af.sei-[the] ends ofH0657A\H9014HNcmpc אָֽרֶץ\׃ארץ\אָֽרֶץ\׃ארץ\'A.retz[the] earthH0776G\H9016HNcfsa - That is, the Euphrates
9 Let the desert dwellers bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
לְ֭/פָנָי/ול֭/פני/ולְ/פָנָי/ול/פני/וLe./fa.na/v<to>/ before/ himH9005H6440GH9023HR+Ncmpc+Sp3ms יִכְרְע֣וּיכרע֣ויִכְרְעוּיכרעוyikh.re.'Uthey will bow downH3766HVqi3mp צִיִּ֑יםצי֑יםצִיִּיםצייםtzi.Yimdesert-dwellersH6728HNcmpa וְ֝/אֹיְבָ֗י/וו֝/איב֗י/ווְ/אֹיְבָי/וו/איבי/וve./'o.ye.Va/vand/ enemies/ hisH9002H0341H9023HC+Vqrmpc+Sp3ms עָפָ֥רעפ֥רעָפָרעפר'a.FardustH6083HNcmsa יְלַחֵֽכוּ\׃ילחכו\יְלַחֵֽכוּ\׃ילחכו\ye.la.Che.khuthey will lick upH3897\H9016HVpi3mp 10 Let the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute. Let the kings of Sheba and Seba present gifts,
מַלְכֵ֬ימלכ֬ימַלְכֵימלכיmal.Khei[the] kings ofH4428GHNcmpc תַרְשִׁ֣ישׁתרש֣ישתַרְשִׁישׁתרשישtar.ShishTarshishH8659HHNpl וְ֭/אִיִּיםו֭/אייםוְ/אִיִּיםו/אייםVe./'i.yimand/ [the] islandsH9002H0339HC+Ncmpa מִנְחָ֣המנח֣המִנְחָהמנחהmin.ChahtributeH4503IHNcfsa יָשִׁ֑יבוּיש֑יבויָשִׁיבוּישיבוya.Shi.vuthey will payH7725KHVhi3mp מַלְכֵ֥ימלכ֥ימַלְכֵימלכיmal.Khei[the] kings ofH4428GHNcmpc שְׁבָ֥אשב֥אשְׁבָאשבאshe.Va'ShebaH7614JHNpl וּ֝/סְבָ֗או֝/סב֗אוּ/סְבָאו/סבאu./se.Va'and/ SebaH9002H5434HHC+Npl אֶשְׁכָּ֥ראשכ֥ראֶשְׁכָּראשכר'esh.Kara giftH0814HNcmsa יַקְרִֽיבוּ\׃יקריבו\יַקְרִֽיבוּ\׃יקריבו\yak.Ri.vuthey will bring nearH7126H\H9016HVhi3mp 11 and let all kings bow down to him. Let all nations serve him.
וְ/יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ\־ו/ישתחוו\וְ/יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ\־ו/ישתחוו\ve./yish.ta.cha.vu-and/ they may bow downH9002H7812\H9014HC+Vvu3mp מְלָכִ֑יםמלכ֑יםמְלָכִיםמלכיםme.la.KhimkingsH4428GHNcmpa גּוֹיִ֥םגוי֥םגּוֹיִםגויםgo.YimnationsH1471AHNcmpa יַֽעַבְדֽוּ/הוּ\׃יעבדו/הו\יַֽעַבְדֽוּ/הוּ\׃יעבדו/הו\Ya.'av.Du./huthey will serve/ himH5647HH9033\H9016HVqi3mp+Sp3ms 12 Indeed he will deliver the needy who is crying for help, and the afflicted who has no helper.
יַ֭צִּילי֭ציליַצִּיליצילYa.tzilhe will deliverH5337HVhi3ms אֶבְי֣וֹןאבי֣וןאֶבְיוֹןאביון'ev.Yon[the] needyH0034HAamsa מְשַׁוֵּ֑עַמשו֑עמְשַׁוֵּעַמשועme.sha.Ve.a'[who] cries for helpH7768HVprmsa וְ֝/עָנִ֗יו֝/ענ֗יוְ/עָנִיו/עניve./'a.Niand/ [the] poorH9002H6041HC+Aamsa עֹזֵ֥רעז֥רעֹזֵרעזר'o.Zera helperH5826HVqrmsa 13 He will take pity on the helpless and needy, and the lives of the needy he will save.
יָ֭חֹסי֭חסיָחֹסיחסYa.choshe will have compassionH2347HVqi3ms דַּ֣לד֣לדַּלדלdal[the] poorH1800HAamsa וְ/אֶבְי֑וֹןו/אבי֑וןוְ/אֶבְיוֹןו/אביוןve./'ev.Yonand/ [the] needyH9002H0034HC+Aamsa וְ/נַפְשׁ֖וֹתו/נפש֖ותוְ/נַפְשׁוֹתו/נפשותve./naf.Shotand/ [the] lives ofH9002H5315HHC+Ncfpc אֶבְיוֹנִ֣יםאביונ֣יםאֶבְיוֹנִיםאביונים'ev.yo.Nimneedy [people]H0034HAampa יוֹשִֽׁיעַ\׃יושיע\יוֹשִֽׁיעַ\׃יושיע\yo.Shi.a'he will saveH3467\H9016HVhi3ms 14 From oppression and from violence he will redeem their lives, and their blood will be precious in his eyes.
מִ/תּ֣וֹךְמ/ת֣וךמִ/תּוֹךְמ/תוךmi./Tokhfrom/ oppressionH9006H8496HR+Ncmsa וּ֭/מֵ/חָמָסו֭/מ/חמסוּ/מֵ/חָמָסו/מ/חמסU./me./cha.mosand/ from/ violenceH9002H9006H2555HC+R+Ncmsa יִגְאַ֣ליגא֣ליִגְאַליגאלyig.'Alhe will redeemH1350AHVqi3ms נַפְשָׁ֑/םנפש֑/םנַפְשָׁ/םנפש/םnaf.Sha/mlife/ theirH5315HH9028HNcfsc+Sp3mp וְ/יֵיקַ֖רו/ייק֖רוְ/יֵיקַרו/ייקרve./yei.Karand/ may <it> be preciousH9002H3365HC+Vqu3ms דָּמָ֣/םדמ֣/םדָּמָ/םדמ/םda.Ma/mblood/ theirH1818H9028HNcmsc+Sp3mp 15 So may he live, and may gold from Sheba be given to him, and may prayers be offered for him continually. May blessings be invoked for him ⌞all day long⌟.1
וִ/יחִ֗יו/יח֗יוִ/יחִיו/יחיvi./Chiand/ may he liveH9002H2421HC+Vqj3ms וְ/יִתֶּן\־ו/יתן\וְ/יִתֶּן\־ו/יתן\ve./yi.ten-and/ he may giveH9002H5414G\H9014HC+Vqu3ms מִ/זְּהַ֪במ/זה֪במִ/זְּהַבמ/זהבmi./ze.Havsome of/ [the] gold ofH9006H2091HR+Ncmsc שְׁ֫בָ֥אש֫ב֥אשְׁבָאשבאshe.Va'ShebaH7614JHNpl וְ/יִתְפַּלֵּ֣לו/יתפל֣לוְ/יִתְפַּלֵּלו/יתפללve./yit.pa.Leland/ [may] someone prayH9002H6419HC+Vtu3ms בַּעֲד֣/וֹבעד֣/ובַּעֲד/וֹבעד/וba.'a.D/ofor/ himH1157H9033HAcbsc+Sp3ms תָמִ֑ידתמ֑ידתָמִידתמידta.MidcontinuallyH8548HNcmsa הַ֝/יּ֗וֹםה֝/י֗וםהַ/יּוֹםה/יוםhai./Yomthe/ dayH9009H3117GHTd+Ncmsa יְבָרֲכֶֽ/נְהֽוּ\׃יברכ/נהו\יְבָרֲכֶֽ/נְהֽוּ\׃יברכ/נהו\ye.va.ra.Khen./Humay someone bless/ himH1288H9033\H9016HVpi3ms+Sp3ms - Literally “all the day”
16 May there be an abundance of grain in the land even on the top of the mountains. May his crop1 sway like the trees of Lebanon, and may those from the city blossom like the grass of the earth.
יְהִ֤ייה֤ייְהִייהיye.Himay it beH1961HVqj3ms פִסַּת\־פסת\פִסַּת\־פסת\fi.sat-an abundance ofH6451\H9014HNcfsc בָּ/אָרֶץ֮ב/ארץ֮בָּ/אָרֶץב/ארץba./'a.Retzin the/ landH9003H0776GHRd+Ncfsa בְּ/רֹ֪אשׁב/ר֪אשבְּ/רֹאשׁב/ראשbe./Roshon/ [the] top ofH9003H7218IHR+Ncmsc הָ֫רִ֥יםה֫ר֥יםהָרִיםהריםha.Rim[the] mountainsH2022GHNcmpa יִרְעַ֣שׁירע֣שיִרְעַשׁירעשyir.'Ashmay it waveH7493HVqi3ms כַּ/לְּבָנ֣וֹןכ/לבנ֣וןכַּ/לְּבָנוֹןכ/לבנוןka./le.va.Nonlike <the>/ LebanonH9004H3844GHRd+Npl פִּרְי֑/וֹפרי֑/ופִּרְי/וֹפרי/וpir.Y/ofruit/ itsH6529H9023HNcmsc+Sp3ms וְ/יָצִ֥יצוּו/יצ֥יצווְ/יָצִיצוּו/יציצוve./ya.Tzi.tzuand/ may people blossomH9002H6692AHC+Vhu3mp מֵ֝/עִ֗ירמ֝/ע֗ירמֵ/עִירמ/עירme./'Irfrom/ [the] cityH9006H5892BHR+Ncfsa כְּ/עֵ֣שֶׂבכ/ע֣שבכְּ/עֵשֶׂבכ/עשבke./'E.sevlike/ [the] vegetation ofH9004H6212HR+Ncmsc - Or “May his descendants”
17 May his name endure forever. May his name increase ⌞as long as the sun shines⌟,1 and let them be blessed in him. Let all nations call him blessed.
יְהִ֤ייה֤ייְהִייהיye.Himay it beH1961HVqj3ms שְׁמ֨/וֹשמ֨/ושְׁמ/וֹשמ/וshe.M/oname/ hisH8034H9023HNcmsc+Sp3ms לְֽ/עוֹלָ֗םל/עול֗םלְֽ/עוֹלָםל/עולםle./'o.Lamfor/ everH9005H5769GHR+Ncmsa שֶׁמֶשׁ֮שמש֮שֶׁמֶשׁשמשshe.Mesh[the] sunH8121HNcbsa יִנּ֪וֹןינ֪וןיִנּוֹןינוןyi.Nonmay it increaseH5125HVNi3ms שְׁ֫מ֥/וֹש֫מ֥/ושְׁמ/וֹשמ/וshe.M/oname/ hisH8034H9023HNcmsc+Sp3ms וְ/יִתְבָּ֥רְכוּו/יתב֥רכווְ/יִתְבָּרְכוּו/יתברכוve./yit.Ba.re.khuand/ may they bless themselvesH9002H1288HC+Vtu3mp גּוֹיִ֥םגוי֥םגּוֹיִםגויםgo.YimnationsH1471AHNcmpa יְאַשְּׁרֽוּ/הוּ\׃יאשרו/הו\יְאַשְּׁרֽוּ/הוּ\׃יאשרו/הו\ye.'a.she.Ru./humay they call blessed/ himH0833H9033\H9016HVpi3mp+Sp3ms - Literally “in the presence of the sun”
18 Blessed be Yahweh God, the God of Israel, who alone does wonderful things.
בָּר֤וּךְ\׀בר֤וך\בָּרוּךְ\׀ברוך\ba.Rukh[be] blessedH1288\H9015HVqsmsa יְהוָ֣היהו֣היְהוָהיהוהYah.wehYahwehH3068GHNpt אֱ֭לֹהִיםא֭להיםאֱלֹהִיםאלהים'E.lo.HimGodH0430GHNcmpa אֱלֹהֵ֣יאלה֣יאֱלֹהֵיאלהי'e.lo.Hei[the] God ofH0430GHNcmpc יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לישרא֑ליִשְׂרָאֵלישראלYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478HNpl עֹשֵׂ֖העש֖העֹשֵׂהעשה'o.Seh[who] doesH6213AHVqrmsc נִפְלָא֣וֹתנפלא֣ותנִפְלָאוֹתנפלאותnif.la.'ot<of> wondersH6381HVNrfpa 19 And blessed be his glorious name forever, and may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
וּ/בָר֤וּךְ\׀ו/בר֤וך\וּ/בָרוּךְ\׀ו/ברוך\u./va.Rukhand/ [be] blessedH9002H1288\H9015HC+Vqsmsa שֵׁ֥םש֥םשֵׁםשםshem[the] name ofH8034HNcmsc כְּבוֹד֗/וֹכבוד֗/וכְּבוֹד/וֹכבוד/וke.vo.D/oglory/ hisH3519H9023HNcmsc+Sp3ms לְ/ע֫וֹלָ֥םל/ע֫ול֥םלְ/עוֹלָםל/עולםle./'o.Lamfor/ everH9005H5769GHR+Ncmsa וְ/יִמָּלֵ֣או/ימל֣אוְ/יִמָּלֵאו/ימלאve./yi.ma.Le'and/ may it be filledH9002H4390HC+VNu3ms כְ֭בוֹד/וֹכ֭בוד/וכְבוֹד/וֹכבוד/וkhe.vo.d/oglory/ hisH3519H9023HNcmsc+Sp3ms כֹּ֥לכ֥לכֹּלכלkolallH3605HNcmsc הָ/אָ֗רֶץה/א֗רץהָ/אָרֶץה/ארץha./'A.retzthe/ earthH9009H0776GHTd+Ncfsa 20 The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are completed.
כָּלּ֥וּכל֥וכָּלּוּכלוka.Luthey are finishedH3615GHVqp3cp תְפִלּ֑וֹתתפל֑ותתְפִלּוֹתתפלותte.fi.Lot[the] prayers ofH8605HNcfpc דָּ֝וִ֗דד֝ו֗דדָּוִדדודda.VidDavidH1732HNpm