Read the Bible

¹ Please help the king
to be honest and fair
    just like you, our God.
² Let him be honest and fair
with all your people,
    especially the poor.
³ Let peace and justice rule
    every mountain and hill.
⁴ Let the king defend the poor,
rescue the homeless,
    and crush
    everyone who hurts them.
⁵ Let the king live^[a] forever
    like the sun and the moon.
⁶ Let him be as helpful as rain
    that refreshes the meadows
    and the ground.
⁷ Let the king be fair
    with everyone,
and let there be peace
    until the moon
    falls from the sky.

⁸ Let his kingdom reach
    from sea to sea,
    from the Euphrates River
    across all the earth.
⁹ Force the desert tribes
    to accept his rule,
    and make his enemies
    crawl in the dirt.
¹⁰ Force the rulers of Tarshish^[b]
and of the islands
    to pay taxes to him.
Make the kings of Sheba
    and of Seba^[c] bring gifts.
¹¹     Make other rulers bow down
    and all nations serve him.

¹² Do this because the king
rescues the homeless
    when they cry out,
    and he helps everyone
    who is poor and in need.
¹³ The king has pity
on the weak and the helpless
    and protects those in need.
¹⁴ He cares when they hurt,
    and he saves them from cruel
    and violent deaths.

¹⁵ Long live the king!
    Give him gold from Sheba.
    Always pray for the king
    and praise him each day.
¹⁶ Let cities overflow with food
and hills be covered with grain,
    just like Mount Lebanon.
Let the people in the cities
    prosper like wild flowers.
¹⁷ May the glory of the king
shine brightly forever
    like the sun in the sky.
Let him make nations prosper
    and learn to praise him.

¹⁸ Lord God of Israel,
we praise you.
    Only you can work miracles.
¹⁹ We will always praise
    your glorious name.
Let your glory be seen
everywhere on earth.
    Amen and amen.

²⁰ This ends the prayers
    of David, the son of Jesse.