Sermon Central
Psalm 72-73
Psalm 72 1Of Solomon. Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
2May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
3May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.
5May he endure
6May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
7In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
8May he rule from sea to sea and from the River
9May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust.
10May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.
11May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
12For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
13He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
14He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
15Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.
16May grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. May the crops flourish like Lebanon and thrive
17May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him,
18Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
19Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. 20This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.
BOOK III 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 slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7From their callous hearts comes iniquity
8They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
12This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
17till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 28But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.