Psalms104
World English Bible · Public Domain
1 Bless Yahweh, my soul. Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty.
2 He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
3 He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes his messengers winds, and his servants flames of fire.
5 He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a cloak. The waters stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they fled. At the voice of your thunder they hurried away.
8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down, to the place which you had assigned to them.
9 You have set a boundary that they may not pass over, that they don’t turn again to cover the earth.
10 He sends springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains.
11 They give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from his rooms. The earth is filled with the fruit of your works.
14 He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may produce food out of the earth:
15 wine that makes the heart of man glad, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart.
16 Yahweh’s trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted,
17 where the birds make their nests. The stork makes its home in the cypress trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
19 He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set.
20 You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the animals of the forest prowl.
21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises, and they steal away, and lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work, to his labor until the evening.
24 Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom, you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches.
25 There is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals.
26 There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there.
27 These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season.
28 You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good.
29 You hide your face; they are troubled. You take away their breath; they die and return to the dust.
30 You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground.
31 Let Yahweh’s glory endure forever. Let Yahweh rejoice in his works.
32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.
34 Let my meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in Yahweh.
35 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless Yahweh, my soul. Praise Yah!
Study
Psalms 104Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 104. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's majesty in the heavens, The creation of the sea, and the dry land. (1–9). His provision for all creatures. (10–18). The regular course of day and night, and God's sovereign power over all the creatures. (19–30). A resolution to continue praising God. (31–35).
vv1-9
Every object we behold calls on us to bless and praise the Lord, who is great. His eternal power and Godhead are clearly shown by the things which he hath made. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. The Lord Jesus, the Son of his love, is the Light of the world.
vv10-18
When we reflect upon the provision made for all creatures, we should also notice the natural worship they render to God. Yet man, forgetful ungrateful man, enjoys the largest measure of his Creator's kindness. the earth, varying in different lands. Nor let us forget spiritual blessings; the fruitfulness of the church through grace, the bread of everlasting life, the cup of salvation, and the oil of gladness. Does God provide for the inferior creatures, and will he not be a refuge to his people?
vv19-30
We are to praise and magnify God for the constant succession of day and night. And see how those are like to the wild beasts, who wait for the twilight, and have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Does God listen to the language of mere nature, even in ravenous creatures, and shall he not much more interpret favourably the language of grace in his own people, though weak and broken groanings which cannot be uttered? There is the work of every day, which is to be done in its day, which man must apply to every morning, and which he must continue in till evening; it will be time enough to rest when the night comes, in which no man can work. The psalmist wonders at the works of God. The works of art, the more closely they are looked upon, the more rough they appear; the works of nature appear more fine and exact. They are all made in wisdom, for they all answer the end they were designed to serve. Every spring is an emblem of the resurrection, when a new world rises, as it were, out of the ruins of the old one. But man alone lives beyond death. When the Lord takes away his breath, his soul enters on another state, and his body will be raised, either to glory or to misery. May the Lord send forth his Spirit, and new-create our souls to holiness.
Key Words
בָרַךְ: to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason)
נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
מְאֹד: properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated)
גָּדַל: to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)
לָבַשׁ: properly, wrap around, i.e. (by implication) to put on agarment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively
הוֹד: grandeur (i.e. an imposing form and appearance)
הָדָר: magnificence, i.e. ornament or splendor
עָטָה: to wrap, i.e. cover, veil, cloth, or roll
אוֹר: illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
Cross References
Psalms 104Directly quoted in the NT to contrast the subordinate nature of angels with the Son.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Echoes God being clothed in unapproachable, glorious light as His royal garment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallel imagery of God riding upon a cherub and walking/flying on wings of the wind.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Poetic counterpart describing the laying of the earth's foundations and measures.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Refers to the earth standing out of and in the water in creation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Describes God setting a decree/boundary for the waters that they should not pass.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallel celebration of all eyes waiting on God to receive meat in due season.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The creation of light on Day One, which God wraps Himself in as a garment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Describes God building His stories in the heaven and calling for waters of the sea.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Further NT theological development of angels acting as ministering spirits.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The primary biblical exposition of the great sea creature Leviathan.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Creation context where the deep and waters initially covered the unformed earth.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel phrasing of God preparing rain and making grass to grow upon the mountains.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Echoes the exact poetic sentiment of wine cheering or making glad the heart of man.
Supported by JFB
The NT culmination of praise using 'Hallelujah' (Praise ye the Lord) over judged wicked.
Supported by JFB