Psalms 104
The psalmist praises God for his greatness and beauty, describing how he created and sustains the world, from the heavens and the earth to the creatures that inhabit it. God's power is evident in the natural world, from the mountains and valleys to the seas and the creatures that live in them. The psalmist also notes that God's care and provision for all living things is evident in the way he provides for their needs. The psalm concludes with the psalmist expressing his own delight in God and calling for sinners to be removed from the earth.
To David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are exceedingly great. You have clothed yourself with confession and beautyyou are dressed with light like a garment, while you stretch out heaven like a tentYou cover its heights with water. You set the clouds as your stairs. You walk upon the wings of the windsYou make your Angels a breath of life, and your ministers a burning fireYou founded the earth upon its stable base. It will not be bent from age to ageThe abyss, like a garment, is its clothing. The waters will remain standing above the mountainsAt your rebuke, they will flee. At the voice of your thunder, they will dreadThe mountains ascend, and the plains descend, to the place which you have founded for themYou have set a limit that they will not cross. And they will not return to cover the earthYou spring forth fountains in steep valleys. The waters will cross through the midst of the mountainsAll the wild beasts of the field will drink. The wild donkeys will anticipate in their thirstAbove them, the flying things of the air will dwell. From the midst of the rocks, they will utter voicesYou irrigate the mountains from your heights. The earth will be satiated from the fruit of your worksproducing grass for cattle and herbs for the service of men. So may you draw bread from the earthand wine, in order to cheer the heart of man. Then he may gladden his face with oil, and bread will confirm the heart of manThe trees of the field will be saturated, along with the cedars of Lebanon, which he plantedThere, the sparrows will make their nests. The leader of them is the house of the heronThe heights of the hills are for the deer; the rock is a refuge for the hedgehogHe has made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its settingYou appointed darkness, and it has become night; all the beasts of the forest will cross through itThe young lions will roar, while searching for and seizing their meal from GodThe sun arose, and they were gathered together; and in their dens, they will lie down togetherMan will go forth to his work and to his activities, until the eveningHow great are your works, O Lord! You have made all things in wisdom. The earth has been filled with your possessionsThis sea is great and its hands are spacious. There are creeping things without number: the small animals with the greatThere, the ships will pass by this sea-serpent that you have formed to mock themAll these expect you to give them food in due timeWhat you give to them, they will gather. When you open your hand, they will all be filled with goodnessBut if you turn your face away, they will be disturbed. You will take away their breath, and they will fail, and they will return to their dustYou will send forth your Spirit, and they will be created. And you will renew the face of the earthMay the glory of the Lord be for all ages. The Lord will rejoice in his worksHe considers the earth, and he makes it tremble. He touches the mountains, and they smokeI will sing to the Lord with my life. I will sing psalms to my God, as long as I amMay my speech be pleasing to him. Truly, I will take delight in the LordLet sinners fade away from the earth, along with the unjust, so that they may not be. Bless the Lord, O my soul
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