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Psalms 115:16

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

The heavens belong to the LORD, but He has given the earth to humanity.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is saying that while He owns and rules the heavens, He has entrusted the earth to human beings to care for and manage.

📚 Historical Context

In the context of the Old Testament, Psalms 115 was likely written during the post-exilic period when the Israelites were reaffirming their faith in God's sovereignty amid the idolatry of surrounding nations. This verse draws from the creation narrative in Genesis, emphasizing that God created the heavens and earth and assigned humanity a role in managing the earth. It serves as a declaration of God's ultimate authority, contrasting divine ownership of the heavens with human stewardship of the earth.

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