Psalm 65:13
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.
What does Psalm 65:13 mean?
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.
