Psalms 65 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
1Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
PSALM 65
Psa 65:1-13. This is a song of praise for God's spiritual blessings to His people and His kind providence over all the earth.
1. Praise waiteth for thee--literally, "To Thee silence praise," or (compare Psa 62:1), To Thee silence is praise--that is, Praise is waiting as a servant; it is due to Thee. So the last clause expresses the duty of paying vows. These two parts of acceptable worship, mentioned in Psa 50:14, are rendered in Zion, where God chiefly displays His mercy and receives homage.
2O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
2. All are encouraged to pray by God's readiness to hear.
3Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
3. God's mercy alone delivers us from the burden of iniquities, by purging or expiating by an atonement the transgressions with which we are charged, and which are denoted by--
Iniquities--or, literally, "Words of iniquities."
4Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
4. dwell in thy courts; ... [and] satisfied with the goodness ... temple--denote communion with God (Psa 15:1; 23:6; compare Psa 5:7). This is a blessing for all God's people, as denoted by the change of number.
5By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
5. terrible things--that is, by the manifestation of justice and wrath to enemies, accompanying that of mercy to His people (Psa 63:9-11; 64:7-9).
the confidence--object of it.
of all ... earth--the whole world; that is, deservedly such, whether men think so or not.
6Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
6-13. God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psa 26:7; 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.
7Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
6-13. God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psa 26:7; 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.
8They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
6-13. God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psa 26:7; 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.
9Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
6-13. God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psa 26:7; 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.
10Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
6-13. God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psa 26:7; 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.
11Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
6-13. God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psa 26:7; 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.
12They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
6-13. God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psa 26:7; 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.
13The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
6-13. God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psa 26:7; 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.