The poet stands in the joyous time when all the beauty of summer flushes the earth, and the harvest is yet a hope, not a possibly disappointing reality. It is near enough to fill his song with exultation. It is far enough off to let him look on the whitened fields, and not on the bristly stubble. So he regards the "crown" as already set on a year of goodness. He sees God's chariot passing in triumph and blessing over the land, and leaving abundance wherever its wheel-tracks go. Out in the uncultivated prairie, where sweet grass unsown by man grows, is the flush of greenery, where, before the rain, was baked and gaping earth. The hills, that wear a girdle of forest trees half-way up towards their barren summits, wave their foliage, as if glad. The white fleeces of flocks are dotted over the vivid verdure of every meadow, and one cannot see the ground for the tall corn that stands waiting for the sickle, in each fertile plain. The psalmist hears a hymn of glad praise rising from all these happy and sunny things; and for its melody he hushes his own, that he and we may listen to "The fair music that all creatures make To their great Lord." PSALM LXVI. 1 Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, 2 Harp [unto] the glory of His name, Render glory [to Him by] His praise. 3 Say to God, How dread are Thy works! For the greatness of Thy strength shall Thy enemies feign [submission] to Thee. 4 All the earth shall bow down to Thee, and harp to Thee, They shall harp [to] Thy name. Selah. 5 Come, and behold the deeds of God; He is dread in His doing towards the sons of men, 6 He turned the sea to dry land, They went through the river on foot, There let us rejoice in Him. 7 He rules by His might for ever; His eyes watch the nations, The rebellious--let them not exalt themselves. Selah. 8 Bless our God, ye peoples, And let the voice of His praise be heard! 9 Who has set our soul in life, And has not let our foot slip. 10 For Thou hast proved us, O God, Thou hast refined us, as silver is refined. 11 Thou hast brought us into the fortress-dungeon, Thou hast laid a heavy burden on our loins. 12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our head, We have come into the fire and into the water, But Thou broughtest us out into abundance. 13 I will go into Thy house with burnt offerings, I will render to Thee my vows, 14 Which my lips uttered, And my mouth spoke, in my straits. 15 Burnt offerings of fatlings will I offer to Thee, With the savour of rams, I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.