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Praise to God Who Made the World

104 ·My whole being [T O my soul], ·praise [bless] the Lord.
    Lord my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with ·glory [splendor] and ·majesty [beauty];
    you ·wear [L wrap yourself in] light like a robe [Hab. 3:4; 1 John 1:5].
You stretch out the ·skies [heavens] like a tent [Is. 40:22].
    You ·build your room above the clouds [L set the beams of your upper room on the waters].
You make the clouds your chariot [18:10–19; 68:4; Is. 19:1; Dan. 7:13–14; Luke 21:27; Rev. 1:7],
    and you ride on the wings of the wind.
You make the winds your messengers,
    and flames of fire are your ·servants [ministers; Heb. 1:7].

You ·built [founded] the earth on its foundations
    so it can never be moved.
You covered the earth with ·oceans [L the deeps];
    the water ·was above [L stood over] the mountains.
But at your ·command [reprimand; rebuke], the water ·rushed away [fled].
    ·When you thundered your orders [L At the sound of your thunder], it hurried away.
The mountains rose; the valleys sank.
    The water went to the places you ·made [founded] for it.
You set borders for the seas that they cannot ·cross [pass],
    so water will never cover the earth again [C as before the third day creation or during the Flood; Gen. 1:9–10; 9:9–17; Job 38:8–11; Prov. 8:29].

10 You make springs pour into the ·ravines [wadis];
    they flow between the mountains.
11 They water all the ·wild animals [L creatures of the field];
    the wild donkeys ·come there to drink [L quench their thirst].
12 ·Wild birds [Birds of the sky/heavens] ·make nests by the water [L dwell by them];
    they ·sing [L give voice] among the tree branches.
13 You water the mountains from ·above [L your high dwelling].
    The earth is ·full of [or satisfied by] ·the things you made [L the fruit of your works].
14 You make the grass grow for cattle
    and ·vegetables [plants] for the people to ·use [cultivate].
    You make ·food [or bread] ·grow [L come out] from the earth.
15 You give us wine that ·makes happy hearts [rejoices the hearts of people; John 2:1–12]
    and olive oil that makes our faces shine [C soothing skin in a dry climate; Luke 7:46].
    You give us bread that gives us ·strength [sustenance].
16 The Lord’s trees ·have plenty of water [flourish];
    they are the cedars of Lebanon [C the most majestic trees known], which he planted.
17 The birds make their nests there;
    the stork’s home is in the fir trees.
18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats.
    The rocks are ·hiding places [refuge] for the badgers.

19 You made the moon ·to mark the seasons [for appointed times; Gen. 1:14; Lev. 23:2, 4, 37, 44],
    and the sun always knows when to set.
20 You make it dark, and it becomes night.
    Then all the ·wild animals [L creatures of the forest] ·creep [swarm] around.
21 The lions roar ·as they attack [L for prey].
    They ·look to [seek] God for food.
22 When the sun rises, they leave
    and go back to their dens to lie down.
23 Then people go to work
    and ·work [labor] until evening.

24 Lord, ·you have made many things;
    with your wisdom you made them all [Prov. 8:22–31].
    The earth is full of your ·riches [or creatures].
25 Look at the sea, so big and wide,
    with creatures large and small, ·creeping [swarming] things that cannot be counted.
26 Ships travel over the ocean,
    and there is Leviathan [C a sea monster and symbol of chaos; 74:14; Job 3:8; 41:1; Is. 27:1],
which you made to play there.

27 All these things ·depend [hope; wait] on you
    to give them their food at the right time.
28 When you give it to them,
    they gather it up.
When you open your hand,
    they are ·filled [satisfied] with good food.
29 When you ·turn away [L hide your face] from them,
    they ·become frightened [are terrified].
When you take away their breath,
    they ·die [expire] and turn to dust [Gen. 2:7; Eccl. 12:7].
30 When you ·breathe [L send your breath/or Spirit] on them,
    they are created [Gen. 2:7],
and you make the land new again.

31 May the glory of the Lord [C his manifest presence] be forever.
    May the Lord ·enjoy [rejoice in] what he has made.
32 He just looks at the earth, and it ·shakes [trembles].
    He touches the mountains, and they smoke.

33 I will sing to the Lord all my life;
    I will ·sing praises [make a psalm] to my God as long as I live.
34 May my ·thoughts [meditations] please him;
    I ·am happy [will rejoice] in the Lord.
35 Let sinners be ·destroyed [obliterated] from the earth,
    and let the wicked live no longer.

·My whole being [T O my soul], ·praise [bless] the Lord.
Praise the Lord.

Psalm 104

Praise the Lord, my soul.(A)

Lord my God, you are very great;
    you are clothed with splendor and majesty.(B)

The Lord wraps(C) himself in light(D) as with a garment;
    he stretches(E) out the heavens(F) like a tent(G)
    and lays the beams(H) of his upper chambers on their waters.(I)
He makes the clouds(J) his chariot(K)
    and rides on the wings of the wind.(L)
He makes winds his messengers,[a](M)
    flames of fire(N) his servants.

He set the earth(O) on its foundations;(P)
    it can never be moved.
You covered it(Q) with the watery depths(R) as with a garment;
    the waters stood(S) above the mountains.
But at your rebuke(T) the waters fled,
    at the sound of your thunder(U) they took to flight;
they flowed over the mountains,
    they went down into the valleys,
    to the place you assigned(V) for them.
You set a boundary(W) they cannot cross;
    never again will they cover the earth.

10 He makes springs(X) pour water into the ravines;
    it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water(Y) to all the beasts of the field;
    the wild donkeys(Z) quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky(AA) nest by the waters;
    they sing among the branches.(AB)
13 He waters the mountains(AC) from his upper chambers;(AD)
    the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.(AE)
14 He makes grass grow(AF) for the cattle,
    and plants for people to cultivate—
    bringing forth food(AG) from the earth:
15 wine(AH) that gladdens human hearts,
    oil(AI) to make their faces shine,
    and bread that sustains(AJ) their hearts.
16 The trees of the Lord(AK) are well watered,
    the cedars of Lebanon(AL) that he planted.
17 There the birds(AM) make their nests;
    the stork has its home in the junipers.
18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;(AN)
    the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.(AO)

19 He made the moon to mark the seasons,(AP)
    and the sun(AQ) knows when to go down.
20 You bring darkness,(AR) it becomes night,(AS)
    and all the beasts of the forest(AT) prowl.
21 The lions roar for their prey(AU)
    and seek their food from God.(AV)
22 The sun rises, and they steal away;
    they return and lie down in their dens.(AW)
23 Then people go out to their work,(AX)
    to their labor until evening.(AY)

24 How many are your works,(AZ) Lord!
    In wisdom you made(BA) them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.(BB)
25 There is the sea,(BC) vast and spacious,
    teeming with creatures beyond number—
    living things both large and small.(BD)
26 There the ships(BE) go to and fro,
    and Leviathan,(BF) which you formed to frolic(BG) there.(BH)

27 All creatures look to you
    to give them their food(BI) at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
    they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
    they are satisfied(BJ) with good things.
29 When you hide your face,(BK)
    they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
    they die and return to the dust.(BL)
30 When you send your Spirit,(BM)
    they are created,
    and you renew the face of the ground.

31 May the glory of the Lord(BN) endure forever;
    may the Lord rejoice in his works(BO)
32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,(BP)
    who touches the mountains,(BQ) and they smoke.(BR)

33 I will sing(BS) to the Lord all my life;
    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
    as I rejoice(BT) in the Lord.
35 But may sinners vanish(BU) from the earth
    and the wicked be no more.(BV)

Praise the Lord, my soul.

Praise the Lord.[b](BW)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 104:4 Or angels
  2. Psalm 104:35 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; in the Septuagint this line stands at the beginning of Psalm 105.