Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
Drop down ye heavens - namely, the fertilizing rain (Psalms 65:12).
Let the skies - clouds. Lower than the "heavens."
Pour down righteousness - i:e., the dews of the Holy Spirit, whereby "righteousness" shall spring up.
Let the earth open - figuratively for the hearts of men on it, opened so as to receive the truth by the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:14).
Let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it.
"Them," the earth and the heavens. Horsley prefers, with Queen Elizabeth's Bible, 'let the earth open, and let salvation and justice grow forth (literally, fructify: yipruw (H6509)) let it bring them forth together; I the Lord have created him' (Isaiah 45:13) (Psalms 72:3; Psalms 72:6-7). The revival of religion after the return from Babylon suggests to the prophet the diffusion of Messiah's Gospel, especially in days still future; hence, the elevation of the language to a pitch above what is applicable to the state of religion after the return.