Note. The psalm appears to be in three parts with a hint of chiastic inversion within each. The first is about the grace of God which forgives sins and allows us to fellowship with Him. The second is about the worldwide reach of God’s salvation, and the third is a picture of a harvest cycle and the rain that softens the earth and allows ploughing, sowing and growth – a metaphor for the blessing of the Kingdom of God.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm and Song of David.
A. 1 Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion:
and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2 O thou that hearest prayer,
unto thee shall all flesh come.
B. 3 Iniquities prevail against me:
as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
B’. 4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest,
and causest to approach unto thee,
that he may dwell in thy courts:
A’. we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house,
even of thy holy temple.
A. 5 By terrible (yare) 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:
B. 6 Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains;
being girded with power:
B’. 7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas,
the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
A’. 8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid (yare) at thy tokens:
thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
A. – the harvest promise – 9 Thou 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.
B. 10 – early rain – Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly:
thou settlest the furrows thereof:
thou makest it soft with showers:
thou blessest the springing thereof.
B’. – latter rain – 11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness;
and thy paths drop fatness.
12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness:
and the little hills rejoice on every side.
A’. – the promise fulfilled – 13 The pastures are clothed with flocks;
the valleys also are covered over with corn;
they shout for joy, they also sing.