Psalms 69-72

Psalm 69 (of David)
Prayer for Deliverance from Persecution

• 1-3 Save me, O God. I am drowning; there is no foothold; I am weary with my crying
• 4-5 I can't count my enemies, they are so many, but you know my wrongs. I haven't hidden them from you.
• 6-8 Don't let your people be ashamed of me; it is for your sake that I have borne this reproach and become a stranger to my family
• 9-12 It is zeal for your house that has consumed me (John 2:17; also see notes on Isaiah 9:7); my devotion to you has made me a target for insults, gossip and drunkards' songs
• 13-15 But my prayer is to you, O LORD, in your faithful help, to rescue me at an acceptable time
• 16-18 Answer me, O LORD. According to your abundant mercy, set me free
• 19-21 You know how I've been insulted, I found no pity anywhere. They poisoned my food, "for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."
• 22-28 My revenge:
• Let them be trapped by their enemies
• Darken their eyes
• Pour out your burning anger over them
• Make their camp a desolation because they increase the punishment you give
• Add guilt to their guilt
• Let them be blotted out of the land of the living
• But let your salvation protect me

• 30-33 I will praise God with a song, which will please the LORD more than sacrifices. Let the oppressed who seek God revive, for the LORD does not despise his own that are in bonds.
• 34-36 Let heaven and earth and all that is in them praise God, for he will save his people, and those who love his name shall live in Jerusalem.

Psalm 70 (of David)
Psalm for Deliverance from Enemies

• O God, Be pleased to deliver me, to help me.
• Let those who seek my life be put to shame and be turned back
• Let those who seek you rejoice, and say evermore, "God is great!"
• O God, my help and deliverer, do not delay!

Psalm 71 (of David)
Psalm for Lifelong Protection and Help

• O LORD, I take refuge in your righteousness; hear me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
• Rescue me from the hand of the wicked, for you have been my hope and my trust since my birth.
• I praise you all day long; do not cast me off in my old age, for my enemies watch for the time when you are not there to deliver me.
• Do not be far from me, put my enemies to shame; I will continue to hope and praise you, telling of all your righteous deeds.
• From my youth you have taught me; do not forsake me in old age, while I proclaim your might for generations to come.
• Who is like you? You have made me see many troubles and have revived me, and you will honor and comfort me again.
• I will praise you with the harp, with the lyre, with my lips, my soul. and with my tongue, because my enemies have been put to shame and disgraced.

Psalm 72 (Of Solomon)
Prayer for Guidance and Support for the King

• O God, give the king your justice and righteousness, to judge the people.
  
• May the people be prosperous.
• May the king defend the cause of the poor and the needy and crush the oppressor.
• May he live a long time and bless the earth with righteousness.
• May he have dominion, may kings bow before him and all nations serve him.
• For he delivers the needy, and poor, the helpless, the weak.
• He protects them from oppression and violence.
• Long may he live! May he receive the gold of Sheba, prayers and blessings.
• May the land abound with crops and fruit.
• May his name endure forever, and all nations be blessed in him.
• Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, may his glory fill the whole earth.

The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended. The previous Psalm speaks of David in his old age, so these seem to have been the last psalms written by David before his death. Even though my Bible notes mention this is "of Solomon," it seems to at least have been dictated by David, a prayer not "of Solomon" but "for Solomon." Maybe, in that case, maybe it had some influence on Solomon's request to God at the beginning of reign not for wealth or power, but for wisdom (1 Kings 6:3-9).