Bible-Reading.comPsalm 72
1Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.
2May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.
3May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness.
4May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.
5May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.
6May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.
7May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound, until the moon is no more.
8May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
9May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
10May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
11May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
12For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.
13He will take pity on the poor and needy and save the lives of the oppressed.
14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.
15Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him; may they bless him all day long.
16May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, and its people like the grass of the field.
17May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.
18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
19And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.
20Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.
Psalm 73
1A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
5They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
6Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
7From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
10So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
11The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.
13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
14For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
15If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
16When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
17until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
18Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
19How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
20Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
21When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
23Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
24You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
25Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
28But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
Psalm 74
1A Maskil of Asaph. Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture?
2Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe of Your inheritance— Mount Zion where You dwell.
3Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins, to everything in the sanctuary the enemy has destroyed.
4Your foes have roared within Your meeting place; they have unfurled their banners as signs,
5like men wielding axes in a thicket of trees
6and smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks.
7They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; they have defiled the dwelling place of Your Name.
8They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely.” They burned down every place where God met us in the land.
9There are no signs for us to see. There is no longer any prophet. And none of us knows how long this will last.
10How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever?
11Why do You withdraw Your strong right hand? Stretch it out to destroy them!
12Yet God is my King from ancient times, working salvation on the earth.
13You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea;
14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.
15You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
16The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun.
17You set all the boundaries of the earth; You made the summer and winter.
18Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name.
19Do not deliver the soul of Your dove to beasts; do not forget the lives of Your afflicted forever.
20Consider Your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
21Do not let the oppressed retreat in shame; may the poor and needy praise Your name.
22Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! Remember how the fool mocks You all day long.
23Do not disregard the clamor of Your adversaries, the uproar of Your enemies that ascends continually.