Psalms72

English Standard Version

TranslationKJV WEB ASV ESV NIV NASB NKJV NLT

¹Of . the your , O , and your to the !

²May he your with , and your with !

³Let the for the , and the , in !

⁴May he defend the of the of the , to the of the , and the !

⁵May they the , and as long as the , throughout !

⁶May he be like that the , like that the !

⁷In his may the , and , the be no !

⁸May he have , and the the of the !

⁹May him, and his the !

¹⁰May the of and of the him ; may the of and !

¹¹May fall before him, him!

¹² he the when he , the and him who has .

¹³He has the and the , and the of the .

¹⁴ he their , and is their in his .

¹⁵Long may he ; may of be to him! May prayer be for him , and for him the !

¹⁶May there be of in the ; on the of the may it ; may its be like ; and may in the like the of the !

¹⁷May his endure , his as the ! May people be in him, !

¹⁸ be the Lord, the of , who wondrous .

¹⁹ be his ; may the be with his ! and !

²⁰The of , the of , are . Book Three

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 72.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: David begins with a prayer for Solomon. (1). He passes into a prophecy of the glories of his reign, and of Christ's kingdom. (2–17). Praise to God. (18–20).

v1

This psalm belongs to Solomon in part, but to Christ more fully and clearly. Solomon was both the king and the king's son, and his pious father desired that the wisdom of God might be in him, that his reign might be a remembrance of the kingdom of the Messiah. It is the prayer of a father for his child; a dying blessing. The best we can ask of God for our children is, that God would give them wisdom and grace to know and to do their duty.

vv2-17

This is a prophecy of the kingdom of Christ; many passages in it cannot be applied to the reign of Solomon. There were righteousness and peace at first in the administration of his government; but, before the end of his reign, there were troubles and unrighteousness. The kingdom here spoken of is to last as long as the sun, but Solomon's was soon at an end. Even the Jewish expositors understood it of the kingdom of the Messiah. Observe many great and precious promises here made, which were to have full accomplishment only in the kingdom of Christ. As far as his kingdom is set up, discord and contentions cease, in families, churches, and nations. The law of Christ, written in the heart, disposes men to be honest and just, and to render to all their due; it likewise disposes men to live in love, and so produces abundance of peace. Holiness and love shall be lasting in Christ's kingdom. Through all the changes of the world, and all the changes of life, Christ's kingdom will support itself. And he shall, by the graces and comforts of his Spirit, come down like rain upon the mown grass; not on that cut down, but that which is left growing, that it may spring again. His gospel has been, or shall be, preached to all nations. Though he needs not the services of any, yet he must be served with the best. Those that have the wealth of this world, must serve Christ with it, do good with it. Prayer shall be made through him, or for his sake; whatever we ask of the Father, should be in his name. Praises shall be offered to him: we are under the highest obligations to him. Christ only shall be feared throughout all generations. To the end of time, and to eternity, his name shall be praised. All nations shall call HIM blessed.

vv18-20

We are taught to bless God in Christ, for all he has done for us by him. David is earnest in prayer for the fulfilment of this prophecy and promise. It is sad to think how empty the earth is of the glory of God, how little service and honour he has from a world to which he is so bountiful. May we, like David, submit to Christ's authority, and partake of his righteousness and peace. May we bless him for the wonders of redeeming love. May we spend our days, and end our lives, praying for the spread of his gospel.

Key Words

SolomonH8010Hebrew

שְׁלֹמֹה: Shelomah, David's successor

GiveH5414Hebrew

נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

kingH4428Hebrew

מֶלֶךְ: a king

justiceH4941Hebrew

מִשְׁפָּט: properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style

GodH430Hebrew

אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

righteousnessH6666Hebrew

צְדָקָה: rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)

sonH1121Hebrew

בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)

judgeH1777Hebrew

דִּין: a straight course, i.e. sail direct

peopleH5971Hebrew

עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

righteousnessH6664Hebrew

צֶדֶק: the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity