Psalm 72:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!

NIV: May grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. May the crops flourish like Lebanon and thrive like the grass of the field.

NASB: May there be abundance of grain on the earth on top of the mountains; Its fruit will wave like the cedars of Lebanon; And may those from the city flourish like the vegetation of the earth.

CSB: May there be plenty of grain in the land; may it wave on the tops of the mountains. May its crops be like Lebanon. May people flourish in the cities like the grass of the field.

NLT: May there be abundant grain throughout the land, flourishing even on the hilltops. May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon, and may the people thrive like grass in a field.

KJV: There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

NKJV: There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, On the top of the mountains; Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon; And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

Psalm 72:15–17 continues to blend requests for Solomon's rule with a prophetic look to the end times. There, the Messiah—Jesus Christ—will rule the world in person. This segment asks for blessings over Solomon's reign: a long-lasting rule bringing prosperity to the entire nation. And, eventually, to the world. What comes next (Psalms 72:18–20) is probably a marker for the end of Book Two of the psalms.

The psalmist prays for a king to rule successfully, and that he would serve as the ideal leader of a successful, stable, prosperous nation. This appears to be a request made to God regarding the rule of Solomon. It also has prophetic meaning: the descriptions given here preview the rule of Messiah on earth. The final verses are a formal statement of praise which marks the end of "Book Two" of the psalms.

This is one of two psalms (Psalm 127:1) connected to Solomon. It might have been dedicated to him by his father, David (1 Kings 2:1–4). The final verse refers to David and a conclusion of his prayers. Yet, psalms are not numbered in chronological order, and the style of this psalm is much more like that of the book of Proverbs, most of which are attributed to Solomon. In either case, this psalm is both a prayer and a prophecy. It asks for God's blessings on a king's rule: praying he would be the ideal leader. This continues to depict a kingdom which blesses the entire world.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.