72:2 Then he will judge 1 your people fairly,
and your oppressed ones 2 equitably.
72:3 The mountains will bring news of peace to the people,
and the hills will announce justice. 3
72:4 He will defend 4 the oppressed among the people;
he will deliver 5 the children 6 of the poor
and crush the oppressor.
1 tn The prefixed verbal form appears to be an imperfect, not a jussive.
2 sn These people are called God’s oppressed ones because he is their defender (see Pss 9:12, 18; 10:12; 12:5).
3 tn Heb “[the] mountains will bear peace to the people, and [the] hills with justice.” The personified mountains and hills probably represent messengers who will sweep over the land announcing the king’s just decrees and policies. See Isa 52:7 and C. A. Briggs and E. G. Briggs, Psalms (ICC), 2:133.
4 tn Heb “judge [for].”
5 tn The prefixed verbal form appears to be an imperfect, not a jussive.
6 tn Heb “sons.”