Psalms 65

1 God, it is right/appropriate [for us] to praise you in Jerusalem, and to do what [we] have promised you that [we] would do,

For the music director. A psalm of David. A song. God, you deserve to be praised, and in Zion we will keep our promises to you.

2 [because] you answer our prayers. People everywhere will come to you

You hear our prayers; everyone comes to you.

3 because of the sins [that they have committed]. Our many sins are like a very heavy burden to us, but you forgive us.

Even though we're drowning in our sins and our disobedience, you forgive us.

4 You are pleased with those whom you have chosen to live close to your temple. We are happy with all the blessings that we receive from [worshiping in] your sacred temple.

Happy are those you choose to keep close to you, those who live in your courts! We are delighted with the blessings we receive in your house, your holy Temple!

5 [God, when we pray to you], you answer us and save us by doing awesome deeds; you are the one who rescues us; people who live in very remote places on the earth, on the other side of the oceans, trust in you.

In your goodness you answer us through the wonderful things you do, God of our salvation. You can be trusted by everyone on earth, including those sailing distant oceans.

6 By your strength you put the mountains in their places, [showing that] you are very powerful.

You made the mountains by your power, for you have great strength.

7 You calm the seas when they roar, and you stop the waves from crashing [on the shore]; you [also] calm people when they (make a great uproar/shout angrily together).

You calm the raging seas and crashing waves, you silence the noisy shouts of the nations.

8 People who live in very remote/distant places on the earth (are awed by/revere) you because of the miracles that you perform; because of what you do, people who live far to the west and far to the east shout joyfully.

Everyone, even those in distant lands, are amazed by the wonderful things you do, from the east to the west they sing for joy.

9 You take care of the soil and send rain, causing many good things to grow; you fill the streams with water, and cause grain/crops to grow. That is what you have determined/said would happen.

You care for the earth and water it; you make it very productive. God, your river is full of water to grow the grain—this is what you have planned.

10 You [send plenty of rain] on the fields that have been plowed, and you fill the furrows with water. With showers you soften the [hard clods/lumps of] soil, and you bless the soil by causing young plants to grow.

You fill the ploughed furrows with water, you soften the ridges; you bless the growing crops.

11 Because you bless the soil, there are very good crops at harvest season; wherever you have gone [MTY], good crops are very abundant [IDM].

You make the high point of the year a wonderful harvest, filling the wagons with good things.

12 The pastures are full of flocks [of sheep and goats]; [it is as though] the hills are very joyful.

The pastures in the wilderness grow lush; the hillsides are clothed in bright flowers.

13 The meadows are full of sheep and goats, and the valleys are full of grain; [it is as though] they [also] sing and shout joyfully.

The meadows are covered with flocks of sheep, and the valleys with fields of grain. Everything triumphantly sings for joy.