Psalm 72

W. van der Kamp, 1972, & William Helder, 1980

1. O God, give to the king Thy justice,
   His son Thy righteousness.
   Thou art the God in whom our trust is;
   Thy hand alone can bless.
   May he, the royal son, be reigning
   With judgments true and sure,
   To all Thy people right ordaining
   And justice to Thy poor.
   
2. May for the people hill and mountain
   Bring forth the peace they seek,
   And justice, gushing like a fountain,
   Restore the faint and meek.
   May he defend the poor and needy,
   May he their children save,
   And crush oppressors, proud and greedy,
   Who for their downfall crave.
   
3. May he, so high above the nations,
   Live while the sun endures,
   He, who throughout all generations
   Our joy and peace ensures;
   And may he be like rain that drenches
   The meadows parched and pale,
   Like showers whose abundance quenches
   The thirst of hill and vale.
   
4. May in his days Thy justice flourish,
   The earth with peace abound,
   Thy righteousness the people nourish,
   And evil not be found.
   Long may he live, and rule our nation
   While sun and moon endure;
   May he in every generation
   Their peace and joy ensure.
   
5. For evermore may his dominion
   From sea to sea extend,
   And from the River to the regions
   Of earth’s remotest ends.
   May every tribe and tongue adore him,
   And may from east and west
   His foes all come to bow before him,
   His haters lick the dust.
   
6. May princes, moved by awe and wonder,
   Then travel miles on miles,
   That they may him the tribute render
   Of Tarshish and the isles.
   May Sheba’s king with gifts adore him,
   And Seba treasures bring.
   May rulers all fall down before him
   And serve him as their king.
   
7. The helpless poor he will deliver
   And hear them when they call,
   For he, the great and gracious giver,
   Has pity on them all.
   He saves them from oppressors greedy
   And hears their anguished cries;
   The blood of all the poor and needy
   Is precious in his eyes.
   
8. Long may he live, and may they render
   Him Sheba’s choicest gold!
   Long may his arm in light and splendor
   God’s right and might uphold.
   For him the prayers shall without ceasing
   Ascend to heaven’s throne;
   All day we shall, our songs increasing,
   Praise him with joyful tone.
   
9. May in the land the grain be growing
   From plain to mountain top,
   Like Lebanon, with riches glowing
   A rustling, bounteous crop.
   May in the cities people flower
   Like hillsides in the spring;
   May all the earth acclaim his power,
   His glory’s fullness sing.
   
10. The king, whose name we are professing,
    Shall like the sun endure.
    In him all nations find their blessing;
    Make Thou his throne secure!
    Blest be the LORD, for He so glorious
    Alone does wondrous things.
    O God, in all the earth our chorus
    With “Amen, Amen” rings.