The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
The heaven, (even) the heavens, are the Lord's; but the earth hath he given to the children of men. Though He owns earth and heaven alike (Psalms 89:11), He has given, in His goodness, the earth to be man's heritage, wherein God lavishes upon man His blessings, and expects man's praises (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 9:1). God will not allow His loving purpose to be frustrated by letting His elect people among "the children of men" to be extirpated from the earth by their enemies. Compare Habakkuk 1:14-17 - Hebrew, 'the heavens, heavens;' the latter without the article: perhaps the former point to the visible heavens; the latter, the general name for all that is above the earth.