12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
    the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
    and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
    for precious is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live!
    May gold from Sheba be given to him.
May people ever pray for him
    and bless him all day long.
16 May corn abound throughout the land;
    on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops flourish like Lebanon
    and thrive[a] like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure for ever;
    may it continue as long as the sun.

Then all nations will be blessed through him,[b]
    and they will call him blessed.

18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,
    who alone does marvellous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name for ever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.

20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.

Book III

Psalms 73 – 89

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

Surely God is good to Israel,
    to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
    I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 72:16 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text Lebanon, / from the city
  2. Psalm 72:17 Or will use his name in blessings (see Gen. 48:20)