Psalm 72-73

New American Standard Bible

^5 [h]May they fear You ^(G)while the sun shines,
And ^[i]as long as the moon shines, throughout all generations.
^6 [j]May he come down ^(H)like rain upon the mown grass,
Like ^(I)showers that water the earth.
^7 [k]May the ^(J)righteous flourish in his days,
As well as an ^(K)abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.

⁸ May he also rule ^(L)from sea to sea,
And from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
^9 [l]May ^(M)the nomads of the desert ^(N)bow before him,
And his enemies ^(O)lick the dust.
^10 [m]May the kings of ^(P)Tarshish and of the ^[n](Q)islands bring gifts;
May the kings of ^(R)Sheba and ^(S)Seba ^(T)offer tributes.
^11 [o]And may all ^(U)kings bow down before him,
All ^(V)nations serve him.

¹² For he will ^(W)save the needy when he cries for help,
The ^[p]afflicted also, and him who has no helper.
¹³ He will have ^(X)compassion on the poor and needy,
And he will save the ^[q]lives of the needy.
¹⁴ He will ^[r](Y)rescue their ^[s]life from oppression and violence,
And their blood will be ^(Z)precious in his sight;
¹⁵ So may he live, and may the ^(AA)gold of Sheba be given to him;
And ^[t]they are to pray for him continually;
^[u]They are to bless him all day long.

¹⁶ May there be abundance of grain on the earth on top of the mountains;
Its fruit will wave like the cedars of ^(AB)Lebanon;
And may those from the city flourish like the ^(AC)vegetation of the earth.
¹⁷ May his ^(AD)name endure forever;
May his name produce descendants ^[v](AE)as long as the sun shines;
And may people ^(AF)wish blessings on themselves by him;
^(AG)May all nations call him blessed.

^18 (AH)Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who alone ^(AI)works wonders.
¹⁹ And blessed be His ^(AJ)glorious name forever;
And may the whole ^(AK)earth be filled with His glory.
^(AL)Amen and Amen.

²⁰ The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

¹⁰ Therefore ^[ad]his people return here,
And ^(AZ)abundant waters are drunk by them.
¹¹ They say, “^(BA)How does God know?
And is there knowledge ^[ae]with the Most High?”
¹² Behold, ^(BB)these are the wicked;
And always ^(BC)at ease, they have increased in wealth.
¹³ Surely ^(BD)in vain I have ^[af]kept my heart pure
And ^(BE)washed my hands in innocence;
¹⁴ For I have been stricken ^(BF)all day long,
And ^[ag](BG)punished every morning.

¹⁵ If I had said, “I will speak this way,”
Behold, I would have betrayed the ^(BH)generation of Your children.
¹⁶ When I ^(BI)thought of understanding this,
It was ^[ah]troublesome in my sight
¹⁷ Until I entered the ^[ai](BJ)sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their ^(BK)end.
¹⁸ You indeed put them on ^(BL)slippery ground;
You dropped them into ^[aj](BM)ruin.
¹⁹ How they are ^[ak](BN)destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by ^(BO)sudden terrors!
²⁰ Like a ^(BP)dream when one awakes,
Lord, when ^(BQ)stirred, You will ^(BR)despise their image.

²¹ When my ^(BS)heart was embittered
And I was ^(BT)pierced ^[al]within,
²² Then I was ^(BU)stupid and ignorant;
I was like an ^(BV)animal ^[am]before You.
²³ Nevertheless ^(BW)I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
²⁴ You will ^(BX)guide me with Your plan,
And afterward ^(BY)receive me ^[an]to glory.

^25 (BZ)Whom do I have in heaven but You?
And with You, I desire nothing on earth.
²⁶ My ^(CA)flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the ^[ao]strength of my heart and my ^(CB)portion forever.
²⁷ For, behold, ^(CC)those who are far from You will ^(CD)perish;
You have destroyed all those who ^[ap](CE)are unfaithful to You.
²⁸ But as for me, ^(CF)the nearness of God is good for me;
I have made the Lord ^[aq]God my ^(CG)refuge,
So that I may ^(CH)tell of all Your works.