A Prayer for an Election Year

O God, grant the next President the ability to make just decisions!
     Grant the Vice President the ability to make fair decisions!
That he will govern Your people fairly,
     and Your oppressed ones equitably.
May the mountains bring news of peace to the people,
     and the prairies announce justice.
May he defend the oppressed among the people;
     and deliver the children of the poor and crush the oppressor.
Then people will fear You as long as the sun and moon remain in the sky,
     for generation after generation.
O, that his words will descend like rain on the mown grass,
     like showers that drench the earth.
May the Godly flourish during his days;
     and may peace prevail as long as the moon remains in the sky.
May he be respected from sea to shining sea,
     and from the Rio Grande to the Great Lakes!
Before him may the violent lands calm down,
     and may his enemies be ashamed of their actions.
May the rulers of Iran and the Middle East offer gifts;
     the leaders of China and North Korea bring their respects.
Grant him respect from all other world leaders;
     may the entire world align in interests and goals.
For he will be rescuing the needy when they cry out for help,
     and the oppressed who have no defender.
He will be taking pity on the poor and needy;
     the lives of the needy he will save through his policies.
From harm and violence he will be defending them;
     he will value their lives as he values his own.
May he flourish!  May they offer him gifts from Europe!
     May they continually pray for him!
     May they pronounce blessings on him all day long!
May there be no famine in all the earth, nor drought;
     may prosperity come to all the peoples of the earth!
May America's people flourish to bless the whole earth!
     May its crops be as abundant as the grass of the earth!
May he meet with the approval of all citizens;
     and may his legacy last as long as the sun remains in the sky!
People will use his name when they think of blessings,
     and all the world will consider him to be favored by God!

The Lord God, the God of the Bible, deserves praise!
     He alone accomplishes all great things!
His glorious name deserves praise forevermore!
     May his majestic splendor fill the whole earth!
We agree....we agree!

....adapted from Psalm 72