Pray for Each Other - Praying the Psalms

Psalm 72 is a psalm from King Solomon. It is a prayer on behalf of a king. As you pray this prayer, there are certainly parts that we should pray for all of our leaders. In its entirety it is also a prayer for Christ the King as he acts on behalf of and rules his people and his kingdom.

Psalm 72

Of Solomon.

¹ Endow the king with your justice, O God,

the royal son with your righteousness.

² May he judge your people in righteousness,

your afflicted ones with justice.

³ May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,

the hills the fruit of righteousness.

⁴ May he defend the afflicted among the people

and save the children of the needy;

may he crush the oppressor.

⁵ May he endure as long as the sun,

as long as the moon, through all generations.

⁶ May he be like rain falling on a mown field,

like showers watering the earth.

⁷ In his days may the righteous flourish

and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

⁸ May he rule from sea to sea

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

⁹ May the desert tribes bow before him

and his enemies lick the dust.

¹⁰ May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores

bring tribute to him.

May the kings of Sheba and Seba

present him gifts.

¹¹ May all kings bow down to him

and all nations serve him.

¹² For he will deliver the needy who cry out,

the afflicted who have no one to help.

¹³ He will take pity on the weak and the needy

and save the needy from death.

¹⁴ He will rescue them from oppression and violence,

for precious is their blood in his sight.

¹⁵ Long may he live!

May gold from Sheba be given him.

May people ever pray for him

and bless him all day long.

¹⁶ May grain abound throughout the land;

on the tops of the hills may it sway.

May the crops flourish like Lebanon

and thrive like the grass of the field.

¹⁷ May his name endure forever;

may it continue as long as the sun.

Then all nations will be blessed through him,

and they will call him blessed.

¹⁸ Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,

who alone does marvelous deeds.

¹⁹ Praise be to his glorious name forever;

may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen and Amen.