Psalm 72:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!

NIV: May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.

NASB: May he vindicate the afflicted of the people, Save the children of the needy, And crush the oppressor.

CSB: May he vindicate the afflicted among the people, help the poor, and crush the oppressor.

NLT: Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.

KJV: He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

NKJV: He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.

Psalm 72:1–7 opens a prayer with multiple meanings. These may be words prayed by David, or by Solomon. What they ask is both a request for Solomon's rule and a prophetic view of the reign of the Messiah on earth. Righteousness is an especially clear theme. Other key ideas include justice, compassion, peace, and prosperity.

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.

Accessed 11/23/2024 7:55:31 AM