Psalm 65:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.

NIV: The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.

NASB: The meadows are clothed with flocks And the valleys are covered with grain; They shout for joy, yes, they sing.

CSB: The pastures are clothed with flocks and the valleys covered with grain. They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.

NLT: The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!

KJV: The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

NKJV: The pastures are clothed with flocks; The valleys also are covered with grain; They shout for joy, they also sing.

As with the prior verses, David praises God for His gracious provision through nature (Psalm 65:9–12). He sees meadows covered with livestock and the valleys covered with crops. Because God sends abundant rain, grass flourishes and provides food for sheep and herds. The Lord's care allows valleys to produce lush grain crops, forming an overflowing food supply for His people. David poetically says these natural scenes shout and sing. God's work in nature reflects His power and His nature (Romans 1:18–20; Psalm 19:1).

What David sees, God's people ought to recognize, as well. The proper response is to rejoice in God's blessings, thank Him for His goodness, and endeavor to care for the environment. Psalm 107:1 calls upon everyone to "give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" The same passage says God "satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things" (Psalm 107:9).

Psalm 65:9–13 closes the song with a focus on God's providential care of the earth and gracious provision for mankind. The Lord faithfully prepares the earth for harvest. Evidence of His goodness is clearly seen in nature (Romans 1:18–20; Psalm 19:1). Likewise, the Lord should be given credit for what farms and fields produce (1 Corinthians 3:7). This passage seems a straightforward praise to the Lord for good crops. At the same time, this passage foreshadows the eternal, spiritual blessings which come through God's grace (John 4:36; James 3:18; Galatians 6:8).

David begins by anticipating praise to the Lord, expecting that He will bring atonement, fellowship, and blessing. The psalm mentions God's miraculous examples before referring to various natural examples of His provision. These benefits are both visible and available to all people of the world.

Psalms 65—68 express praise to the Lord using frequent references to nature and harvest. Only this and psalm 68 are explicitly credited to David. This song also thanks God for His kindness to His people; it encourages worshipers to offer thanksgiving. The song might have been meant to celebrate an especially abundant harvest.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/22/2024 3:00:04 PM