Psalm 67
May all peoples praise You
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Read
What does it say?
This is a plain-language guide, not a translation. Check it against the Bible text any time.
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole passage, in shortThe main points of the whole passage, in a few sentences.
Psalm 67 is a harvest prayer, seven verses long, that carries the whole Abrahamic promise inside it. The opening echoes the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6: may God be gracious and cause His face to shine. But the reason for the blessing is the nations — "that Your ways may be known on earth." The refrain appears twice: let all the peoples praise You. The psalm ends where it began: from a harvest prayer to a vision of the whole earth fearing God.
Where it is in the Bible: Psalm 67
Before You Read
Who wrote it. Anonymous — "A psalm. A song."
What it is. A short harvest prayer that expands into a vision for all nations.
What it's about. Bless us, God — so that the nations see and praise You. Israel's blessing is not an end. It is a witness.
When the church sings it. On Sundays in Eastertide and Ordinary Time.
Map of the Psalm
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bless Us | 67:1–3 | May God be gracious — so all nations may know His way |
| 2. Let the Nations Praise | 67:4–5 | May peoples be glad and praise God who judges justly |
| 3. The Earth Has Yielded | 67:6–7 | The harvest comes; God blesses; the ends of the earth fear Him |
Section by Section
Section 1 of 3Bless Us
"May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us" (67:1).
The language echoes the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6. The priest spoke it over Israel — now Israel prays it for itself.
"that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations" (67:2).
The prayer for blessing is not for Israel's sake alone. The reason is the nations. What God does for Israel, the world will see.
"Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You" (67:3).
The refrain, sung twice in this psalm. The goal of Israel's blessing: all peoples praising God.
Section 2 of 3Let the Nations Praise
"Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples justly and lead the nations of the earth" (67:4).
Not just Israel — the nations themselves will be glad. God's rule is equity for all.
"Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You" (67:5).
The refrain again. The psalm is structured around this vision. It does not let go of it.
Section 3 of 3The Earth Has Yielded
"The earth has yielded its harvest; God, our God, blesses us" (67:6).
The harvest has come. The prayer has been answered. God has blessed.
"God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth shall fear Him" (67:7).
The blessing of one people — Israel — reaches the ends of the earth. The circle closes: from a harvest prayer to a vision of the whole world fearing God.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "May God be gracious to us and bless us" (67:1) | The Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24–26) becomes a prayer Israel prays for itself. |
| "that Your ways may be known on earth" (67:2) | Israel's blessing has a purpose: the nations learning who God is. |
| "You judge the peoples justly" (67:4) | God's just rule is good news for all peoples, not a threat. |
| "Let all the peoples praise You" (67:5) | The refrain says twice what the psalm is about: universal praise. |
| "all the ends of the earth shall fear Him" (67:7) | The harvest prayer ends with a worldwide vision. |
Back Then
The Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24–26) was spoken by the priests over Israel after worship. "May God be gracious to you... may His face shine upon you." Psalm 67 opens with the same words — now as a prayer rather than a spoken blessing. The congregation prays what the priest once proclaimed.
This is a short psalm — seven verses — but it carries the whole Abrahamic promise inside it. God blessed Abraham so that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3). Psalm 67 is that promise still alive: bless us, so the nations praise You.
"The earth has yielded its harvest" (67:6) — this was likely a harvest festival psalm. But the harvest becomes a metaphor: what God grows in Israel spills out to the nations.
Literal Reader Alert
"that Your ways may be known on earth" (67:2) — Why is Israel's blessing the way the nations learn about God? Because God chose to work through a particular people to show the whole world who He is. That is not favoritism — it is strategy. The blessing was never meant to stop at the borders.
"all the ends of the earth shall fear Him" (67:7) — "Fear" here is the reverent awe of someone who has seen what God is and knows He is real. It is not the fear of a condemned person. It is the fear that leads to worship.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Israel | Hopeful | God has blessed with a harvest (67:6) |
| Israel | Outward | The prayer is for the nations, not just for themselves |
| The nations | Invited | God's equitable rule is good news for them too (67:4) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What does this psalm speak into? Tap one.
I want God to bless me
Pray it — and notice the reason: so His way becomes known.
I wonder if God cares about people outside my group
He rules all peoples with equity. He guides all nations.
My life feels small and unimportant
God's blessing on one person ripples to the ends of the earth.
I want a bigger vision
The harvest prayer becomes a worldwide vision. That is where this psalm goes.
You Might Have Heard
"Blessing is for the chosen, not for everyone."
What's true: God did choose Israel as a particular people.
What the passage is mainly about: The choosing was never meant to be exclusive. The blessing flows through Israel to all peoples. "May all the peoples praise You" — said twice — is the destination. God's election of Israel is the means, not the end. The end is the nations praising.
Where Jesus is: He is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise this psalm carries. Through Him, the way of God was made known to every nation. The harvest of the earth is His — and the ends of the earth hearing is what the church was sent to accomplish (Matthew 28:19). Paul quotes the Psalms on exactly this: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people" (Romans 15:10).
Good News
"God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth shall fear Him" (67:7).
The blessing you receive is not just for you. What God does in your life has a direction — outward, to the ends of the earth.
Psalm 67: may God be gracious and bless us — so the nations know His way. May all peoples praise Him. The earth has yielded; God has blessed; the ends of the earth will fear Him.
Big Idea
Psalm 67: may God bless Israel so the nations praise Him. He rules all peoples with equity. The harvest has come, God has blessed us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.
If this passage brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It appoints Psalm 67 on the Sixth Sunday of Easter in Year C and on other Sundays in Ordinary Time.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Psalm 67, explained in plain words. A harvest prayer that becomes a vision for all nations: bless us, God — so the nations see and praise You. Israel's blessing has a direction outward. About 8 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/psalm-67/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church