Psalms 72:6

He ¹  will descend like rain on the mown grass, ²  like showers that drench ³  the earth. ⁴ 

He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.

May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, Like showers that water the earth.

May his reign be as refreshing as the springtime rains––like the showers that water the earth.

Be rainfall on cut grass, earth-refreshing rain showers.

May he come down like rain on the cut grass; like showers watering the earth.

May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.

He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth.

He ¹  will descend like rain on the mown grass, ²  like showers that drench ³  the earth. ⁴ 

¹ tn That is, the king (see vv. 2, 4).

² tn The rare term zg refers to a sheep’s fleece in Deut 18:4 and Job 31:20, but to “mown” grass or crops here and in Amos 7:1.

³ tc The form in the Hebrew text appears to be an otherwise unattested noun. Many prefer to emend the form to a verb from the root זָרַף (zaraf). BHS in textual note b on this verse suggests a Hiphil imperfect, third masculine plural יַזְרִיפוּ (yazrifu), while HALOT 283 s.v. *זרף prefers a Pilpel perfect, third masculine plural זִרְזְפוּ (zirzÿfu). The translation assumes the latter.

⁴ sn The imagery of this verse compares the blessings produced by the king’s reign to fructifying rains that cause the crops to grow.