A psalm of Solomon

“Give the king your justice!

O God!

Give your righteousness

To a king’s son!

May he judge your people

With righteousness!

May he judge your poor

With justice!

May the mountains yield prosperity

For the people!

May the hills yield

In righteousness!

May he defend

The cause of the poor people!

May he give

Deliverance to the needy!

May he

Crush the oppressor!”

Psalm 72 is a long blessing for a king. The only name mentioned is King Solomon, so that it might have been on his coronation. This is more or less a portrait of an ideal king. In this first section there is an emphasis on just judgments, especially for the helpless and the weak. The king is to rule with the justice and the righteousness of God. The mountains and the hills were to bring prosperity to the people. However, the primary task of the king was to defend the poor and the needy so that they would be delivered from their oppressors.