Psalm 72-73

New International Version

³ May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
    the hills the fruit of righteousness.
⁴ May he defend the afflicted^(C) among the people
    and save the children of the needy;^(D)
    may he crush the oppressor.^(E)
5 May he endure^[a](F) as long as the sun,
    as long as the moon, through all generations.^(G)
6 May he be like rain^(H) falling on a mown field,
    like showers watering the earth.
⁷ In his days may the righteous flourish^(I)
    and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

⁸ May he rule from sea to sea
    and from the River^[b](J) to the ends of the earth.^(K)
9 May the desert tribes bow before him
    and his enemies lick the dust.
¹⁰ May the kings of Tarshish^(L) and of distant shores^(M)
    bring tribute to him.
May the kings of Sheba^(N) and Seba
    present him gifts.^(O)
11 May all kings bow down^(P) to him
    and all nations serve^(Q) him.

¹² For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
    the afflicted who have no one to help.
¹³ He will take pity^(R) on the weak and the needy
    and save the needy from death.
¹⁴ He will rescue^(S) them from oppression and violence,
    for precious^(T) is their blood in his sight.

¹⁵ Long may he live!
    May gold from Sheba^(U) be given him.
May people ever pray for him
    and bless him all day long.^(V)
16 May grain^(W) abound throughout the land;
    on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops^(X) flourish like Lebanon^(Y)
    and thrive^[c] like the grass of the field.^(Z)
17 May his name endure forever;^(AA)
    may it continue as long as the sun.^(AB)

Then all nations will be blessed through him,^[d]
    and they will call him blessed.^(AC)

¹⁸ Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,^(AD)
    who alone does marvelous deeds.^(AE)
19 Praise be to his glorious name^(AF) forever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory.^(AG)
Amen and Amen.^(AH)

²⁰ This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.^(AI)

² But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;^(AK)
    I had nearly lost my foothold.^(AL)
3 For I envied^(AM) the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.^(AN)

⁴ They have no struggles;
    their bodies are healthy and strong.^[e]
5 They are free^(AO) from common human burdens;
    they are not plagued by human ills.
⁶ Therefore pride^(AP) is their necklace;^(AQ)
    they clothe themselves with violence.^(AR)
7 From their callous hearts^(AS) comes iniquity^[f];
    their evil imaginations have no limits.
⁸ They scoff, and speak with malice;^(AT)
    with arrogance^(AU) they threaten oppression.^(AV)
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
¹⁰ Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.^[g]
11 They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Most High know anything?”

¹² This is what the wicked are like—
    always free of care,^(AW) they go on amassing wealth.^(AX)

¹³ Surely in vain^(AY) I have kept my heart pure
    and have washed my hands in innocence.^(AZ)
14 All day long I have been afflicted,^(BA)
    and every morning brings new punishments.

¹⁵ If I had spoken out like that,
    I would have betrayed your children.
¹⁶ When I tried to understand^(BB) all this,
    it troubled me deeply
¹⁷ till I entered the sanctuary^(BC) of God;
    then I understood their final destiny.^(BD)

¹⁸ Surely you place them on slippery ground;^(BE)
    you cast them down to ruin.^(BF)
19 How suddenly^(BG) are they destroyed,
    completely swept away^(BH) by terrors!
²⁰ They are like a dream^(BI) when one awakes;^(BJ)
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.^(BK)

²¹ When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
²² I was senseless^(BL) and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast^(BM) before you.

²³ Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.^(BN)
24 You guide^(BO) me with your counsel,^(BP)
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?^(BQ)
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.^(BR)
26 My flesh and my heart^(BS) may fail,^(BT)
    but God is the strength^(BU) of my heart
    and my portion^(BV) forever.

²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish;^(BW)
    you destroy all who are unfaithful^(BX) to you.
²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God.^(BY)
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;^(BZ)
    I will tell of all your deeds.^(CA)