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Endow the King with Your Justice

(1 Kings 3:1-5; 2 Chronicles 1:1-6; Psalm 45:1-17)

¹ Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.

² He will judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.³ May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness.⁴ May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor.⁵ May they fear him^(a) as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.⁶ May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.⁷ May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound, until the moon is no more.⁸ May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates^(a) to the ends of the earth.⁹ May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.¹⁰ May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.¹¹ May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.¹² For he shall deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.¹³ He will have compassion on the poor and needy and save the lives of the oppressed.¹⁴ He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.¹⁵ Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him; may they bless him all day long.¹⁶ May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, and its people like the grass of the field.¹⁷ May his name endure forever; may his name increase as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.

¹⁸ Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.¹⁹ And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.²⁰ This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.