God Who Answers Prayer
Study note
Praise waits for God in Zion. He hears prayer and forgives sins. Blessed is the person God chooses to bring near and live in his courts.
1 God, praise is waiting for you in Zion. The promises people have made to you will be kept. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2 Every person on earth will come to you — the God who hears prayer. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
3 My sins pile up and overpower me. But you wipe away every one of our wrongs. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
4 What a blessing it is to be someone you choose and invite to live close to you in your courts! We will be completely filled up with the wonderful things found in your house — your holy temple. Blessed 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.
God's Awesome Deeds
Study note
God answers prayer with awesome deeds of righteousness. He is the hope of all the ends of the earth. He set the mountains in place and stilled the roaring seas.
5 You answer us with breathtaking displays of justice, God — you who save us. You are the hope of every person on earth, even those who live beside the most distant seas. By 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:
6 You formed the mountains with your power, wrapped in incredible strength. Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
7 You quiet the roaring ocean waves and the crashing of their surf, and you settle the uproar among the nations. Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
8 People living at the very edges of the earth are amazed by your wonders. You fill the sunrise and the sunset with shouts of joy. They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
God Waters the Earth
Study note
God visits the earth and waters it richly. He provides grain, softens the soil with showers, and blesses the growing crops. The hills are dressed with joy and the valleys shout and sing.
9 You visit the earth, and water it: you greatly enrich it with the river of God, which is full of water: you prepare them grain, when you have so provided for it. 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.
10 You soak the plowed rows and smooth out the ridges. You soften the soil with rain showers and bless everything that grows. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
11 You crown the year with a harvest of good things, and everywhere you walk, abundance spills over. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
12 Even the wild grasslands overflow with plenty, and the hillsides are dressed in joy. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
13 The pastures are blanketed with flocks, and the valleys are draped in grain. Everything bursts out in shouts of joy and breaks into song. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.