there was yet no vegetation, grains of the field, or shrubs sprouting on the earth, for there was no one to cultivate the land, and Yahweh-God had not yet sent rain.
For men’s hearts are just like the soil that drinks up the showers which often fall upon it. Some soil will yield crops as God’s blessing upon the field.
Can any of the false gods of foreign nations give us rain? Can the skies by themselves give showers? Only you can, O Yahweh, our God! So, we place all our hope in you, for only you accomplish all these things.
Your compassion brings the earth’s harvest, feeding the hungry. You cause the grass to grow for livestock, along with the fruit, grains, and vegetables to feed mankind.
For that will reveal your identity as children of your heavenly Father. He is kind to all by bringing the sunrise to warm and rainfall to refresh whether a person does what is good or evil.
When he speaks, the heavenly ocean roars! He makes the clouds rise from the distant horizon. He launches his lightning in the midst of the rain and unleashes his stormy winds from heaven’s storehouses. Out of his treasuries of rain, lightning bolts, and stormy winds, he launches them forth.