Psalms
Chapter 67
2
May the Peoples Give Thanks To You, O God
May God be gracious and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us;
3
that your way be known on earth and your salvation, among the nations.
4
May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you!
5
May the countries be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with justice; and guide the nations of the world.
6
May the peoples praise you, O God, may all the peoples praise you!
7
The land has given its harvest; God, our God, has blessed us.
8
May God bless us and be revered, to the very ends of the earth.
Commentaries
67
This joyful song celebrates a successful harvest, but the psalmist can look beyond personal gain. The success of a good harvest—or industrial prosperity—should remind us of places where the harvest fails. God is the same there, and humans are still made in his image. If God governs the entire world justly, humans should strive to follow his example. Ecumenism and economics can sometimes be seen as connected. The blessing in the psalm brings us to the start of the letter to Ephesians (Eph 1:3). We can pray with this psalm to thank God for the goodness of the earth.