A King Who Rules with Justice
Study note
The psalmist asks God to give the king divine justice. This king will defend the poor, save the needy, and crush the oppressor. He will come like rain on freshly mown grass.
1 God, pour your justice into the king. Pour your righteousness into the king's son. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.
2 Let him judge your people with fairness and your suffering ones with justice. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
3 May the mountains carry peace to the people and the hills bring righteousness. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
4 Let him stand up for the poor and save the children of those in need. Let him crush anyone who hurts them. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
5 May people honor you as long as the sun and moon shine. May they honor you for every generation to come. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
6 May his rule be like rain falling gently on freshly cut grass — like soft showers soaking into the earth. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
7 During his reign, may people who do right thrive and peace overflow until the moon no longer exists. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
A Worldwide Kingdom
Study note
This king will rule from sea to sea. Desert tribes, distant kings, and all nations will bow before him. He will rescue the needy because their lives are precious to him.
8 May his kingdom stretch from ocean to ocean, from the Euphrates River to the farthest corners of the earth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
9 May the tribes who live in the desert kneel before him, and may his enemies grovel in the dirt. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish and the faraway islands bring tribute. May the kings of Sheba and Seba arrive with gifts. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
11 Let every king on earth bow low before him. Let every nation serve him. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
12 He will rescue the poor when they call for help, and the suffering who have nobody to stand up for them. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13 He will look with compassion on the weak and the needy, and he will save the lives of those who are desperate. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
14 He will buy them back from those who oppress them and from those who are violent, because their lives are precious to him. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
An Everlasting Name
Study note
People will pray for him and bless him daily. Grain will flourish on the mountaintops. His name will endure forever and all nations will be blessed through him. The psalm ends with praise to God and a closing note to Book 2.
15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given to him. May people pray for him without stopping and speak blessings over him all day long. 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 May the land be overflowing with grain. May it wave on the mountaintops. May its fruit be as rich as Lebanon. May people in the cities spring up like grass in a field. 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 May his name go on forever. May his reputation last as long as the sun shines. May every nation on earth be blessed through him, and may they all call him blessed. 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 All praise to the Lord God, the God of Israel — the only one who does things this amazing. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
19 All praise to his glorious name forever. May the whole earth be overflowing with his glory. Amen and Amen. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.