Skip to the content
The Library
of Alexandria

Christian prayer

Psalm 72

Psalm 72 in its original text and with its meaning, a biblical prayer for a king to rule with justice.

  • 20 verses
  • About 1 minute to recite
  • From the Bible

Show

  1. 1

    לִשְׁלֹמֹ֨ה ׀ אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶיךָ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ תֵּ֑ן וְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ לְבֶן־מֶֽלֶךְ׃

    A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.

  2. 2

    יָדִ֣ין עַמְּךָ֣ בְצֶ֑דֶק וַעֲנִיֶּ֥יךָ בְמִשְׁפָּֽט׃

    He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

  3. 3

    יִשְׂא֤וּ הָרִ֓ים שָׁ֘ל֥וֹם לָעָ֑ם וּ֝גְבָע֗וֹת בִּצְדָקָֽה׃

    The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

  4. 4

    יִשְׁפֹּ֤ט ׀ עֲֽנִיֵּי־עָ֗ם י֭וֹשִׁיעַ לִבְנֵ֣י אֶבְי֑וֹן וִֽידַכֵּ֣א עוֹשֵֽׁק׃

    He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

  5. 5

    יִֽירָא֥וּךָ עִם־שָׁ֑מֶשׁ וְלִפְנֵ֥י יָ֝רֵ֗חַ דּ֣וֹר דּוֹרִֽים׃

    They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

  6. 6

    יֵ֭רֵד כְּמָטָ֣ר עַל־גֵּ֑ז כִּ֝רְבִיבִ֗ים זַרְזִ֥יף אָֽרֶץ׃

    He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

  7. 7

    יִֽפְרַח־בְּיָמָ֥יו צַדִּ֑יק וְרֹ֥ב שָׁ֝ל֗וֹם עַד־בְּלִ֥י יָרֵֽחַ׃

    In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

  8. 8

    וְ֭יֵרְדְּ מִיָּ֣ם עַד־יָ֑ם וּ֝מִנָּהָ֗ר עַד־אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

    He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

  9. 9

    לְ֭פָנָיו יִכְרְע֣וּ צִיִּ֑ים וְ֝אֹיְבָ֗יו עָפָ֥ר יְלַחֵֽכוּ׃

    They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.

  10. 10

    מַלְכֵ֬י תַרְשִׁ֣ישׁ וְ֭אִיִּים מִנְחָ֣ה יָשִׁ֑יבוּ מַלְכֵ֥י שְׁבָ֥א וּ֝סְבָ֗א אֶשְׁכָּ֥ר יַקְרִֽיבוּ׃

    The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

  11. 11

    וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ־ל֥וֹ כָל־מְלָכִ֑ים כָּל־גּוֹיִ֥ם יַֽעַבְדֽוּהוּ׃

    Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

  12. 12

    כִּֽי־יַ֭צִּיל אֶבְי֣וֹן מְשַׁוֵּ֑עַ וְ֝עָנִ֗י וְֽאֵין־עֹזֵ֥ר לֽוֹ׃

    For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

  13. 13

    יָ֭חֹס עַל־דַּ֣ל וְאֶבְי֑וֹן וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹת אֶבְיוֹנִ֣ים יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃

    He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.

  14. 14

    מִתּ֣וֹךְ וּ֭מֵחָמָס יִגְאַ֣ל נַפְשָׁ֑ם וְיֵיקַ֖ר דָּמָ֣ם בְּעֵינָֽיו׃

    He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

  15. 15

    וִיחִ֗י וְיִתֶּן־לוֹ֮ מִזְּהַ֪ב שְׁ֫בָ֥א וְיִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל בַּעֲד֣וֹ תָמִ֑יד כָּל־הַ֝יּ֗וֹם יְבָרֲכֶֽנְהֽוּ׃

    And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.

  16. 16

    יְהִ֤י פִסַּת־בַּ֨ר ׀ בָּאָרֶץ֮ בְּרֹ֪אשׁ הָ֫רִ֥ים יִרְעַ֣שׁ כַּלְּבָנ֣וֹן פִּרְי֑וֹ וְיָצִ֥יצוּ מֵ֝עִ֗יר כְּעֵ֣שֶׂב הָאָֽרֶץ׃

    There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

  17. 17

    יְהִ֤י שְׁמ֨וֹ לְֽעוֹלָ֗ם לִפְנֵי־שֶׁמֶשׁ֮ ינין שְׁ֫מ֥וֹ וְיִתְבָּ֥רְכוּ ב֑וֹ כָּל־גּוֹיִ֥ם יְאַשְּׁרֽוּהוּ׃

    His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

  18. 18

    בָּר֤וּךְ ׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עֹשֵׂ֖ה נִפְלָא֣וֹת לְבַדּֽוֹ׃

    Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

  19. 19

    וּבָר֤וּךְ ׀ שֵׁ֥ם כְּבוֹד֗וֹ לְע֫וֹלָ֥ם וְיִמָּלֵ֣א כְ֭בוֹדוֹ אֶת־כֹּ֥ל הָאָ֗רֶץ אָ֘מֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃

    And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

  20. 20

    כָּלּ֥וּ תְפִלּ֑וֹת דָּ֝וִ֗ד בֶּן־יִשָֽׁי׃

    The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

Free to read, copy and print. No sign-in.

When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 72 when praying for leaders, justice and the protection of vulnerable people. In the Christian tradition, it is also read at Epiphany, when its images of kings bringing gifts are connected with the visit of the Magi to Jesus.

  • Epiphany
  • For leaders
  • For justice
  • For peace

Where it comes from

Psalm 72 comes from the Bible's Book of Psalms and belongs to the royal psalms, which concern the king and his rule. Its heading associates it with Solomon, though this does not establish its authorship with certainty. Christians have also read its vision of a righteous king as pointing to Christ.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

The Library of Alexandria

Every prayer, and the books they come from

Unlimited eBooks, audiobooks and 15-minute summaries, and printed books at cost price: paperback, hardcover and large print. 5 accounts for the price of one, in 25 languages. Free to start.

  • The scriptures, saints and mystics of every faith
  • 5 accounts for the price of one, for your whole household
  • Paperback, hardcover and large print, at the cost of printing
Start free

Free to start. Renews every year. Cancel anytime.

Questions about Psalm 72

How many verses are in Psalm 72?

Psalm 72 has 20 verses.

What is Psalm 72 about?

It asks God to grant the king justice and righteousness, so that he may defend the poor and bring peace. It pictures a reign whose blessings extend to all nations.

Who wrote Psalm 72?

Its heading associates it with Solomon. The identity of its author is not certain.

Why is Psalm 72 read at Epiphany?

In the Christian tradition, its description of kings bringing gifts is connected with the Magi bringing gifts to Jesus. Its vision of the nations honouring the king also fits Epiphany's theme of Christ being revealed to the nations.

How long does Psalm 72 take to recite?

Allow about 1 minute to recite it, though the pace and time spent pausing will vary.

Prayers, scriptures and 200,000+ moreFree to start · Renews every year
Start free