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16 May grain abound throughout the land,
    even growing abundantly on the mountain tops.
May its crops[a] be as plenteous as those of Lebanon,
    and may its people flourish like the grass of the field.
17 May his name[b] be blessed forever;
    may it endure as long as the sun.
May all peoples be blessed in him;
    may all the nations proclaim his greatness.
18 [c]Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    who alone can perform such wondrous deeds.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 72:16 Fertility of the land was one of the blessings of the Messianic age (see Hos 14:6f; Am 9:13). May its crops . . . Lebanon: may its crops possess the same vital power that the majestic cedars of Lebanon display.
  2. Psalm 72:17 Name: see note on Ps 5:12. All peoples: an echo of the promise to the patriarchs (see Gen 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14).
  3. Psalm 72:18 This doxology is not part of the psalm; it concludes the second of the five Books of the Psalter (see Pss 41:14; 89:53; 106:48; 150). Praise of the Lord is the most profound religious attitude and ends every authentic prayer.

16 May grain(A) abound throughout the land;
    on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops(B) flourish like Lebanon(C)
    and thrive[a] like the grass of the field.(D)
17 May his name endure forever;(E)
    may it continue as long as the sun.(F)

Then all nations will be blessed through him,[b]
    and they will call him blessed.(G)

18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,(H)
    who alone does marvelous deeds.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 72:16 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text Lebanon, / from the city
  2. Psalm 72:17 Or will use his name in blessings (see Gen. 48:20)