104:1
Bless Yahweh, my soul, Yahweh, my God, how great you are! Clothed in majesty and splendour,
104:2
wearing the light as a robe! You stretch out the heavens like a tent,
104:3
build your palace on the waters above, making the clouds your chariot, gliding on the wings of the wind,
104:4
appointing the winds your messengers, flames of fire your servants.
104:5
You fixed the earth on its foundations, for ever and ever it shall not be shaken;
104:6
you covered it with the deep like a garment, the waters overtopping the mountains.
104:7
At your reproof the waters fled, at the voice of your thunder they sped away,
104:8
flowing over mountains, down valleys, to the place you had fixed for them;
104:9
you made a limit they were not to cross, they were not to return and cover the earth.
104:10
In the ravines you opened up springs, running down between the mountains,
104:11
supplying water for all the wild beasts; the wild asses quench their thirst,
104:12
on their banks the birds of the air make their nests, they sing among the leaves.
104:13
From your high halls you water the mountains, satisfying the earth with the fruit of your works:
104:14
for cattle you make the grass grow, and for people the plants they need, to bring forth food from the earth,
104:15
and wine to cheer people's hearts, oil to make their faces glow, food to make them sturdy of heart.
104:16
The trees of Yahweh drink their fill, the cedars of Lebanon which he sowed;
104:17
there the birds build their nests, on the highest branches the stork makes its home;
104:18
for the wild goats there are the mountains, in the crags the coneys find refuge.
104:19
He made the moon to mark the seasons, the sun knows when to set.
104:20
You bring on darkness, and night falls, when all the forest beasts roam around;
104:21
young lions roar for their prey, asking God for their food.
104:22
The sun rises and away they steal, back to their lairs to lie down,
104:23
and man goes out to work, to labour till evening falls.
104:24
How countless are your works, Yahweh, all of them made so wisely! The earth is full of your creatures.
104:25
Then there is the sea, with its vast expanses teeming with countless creatures, creatures both great and small;
104:26
there ships pass to and fro, and Leviathan whom you made to sport with.
104:27
They all depend upon you, to feed them when they need it.
104:28
You provide the food they gather, your open hand gives them their fill.
104:29
Turn away your face and they panic; take back their breath and they die and revert to dust.
104:30
Send out your breath and life begins; you renew the face of the earth.
104:31
Glory to Yahweh for ever! May Yahweh find joy in his creatures!
104:32
At his glance the earth trembles, at his touch the mountains pour forth smoke.
104:33
I shall sing to Yahweh all my life, make music for my God as long as I live.
104:34
May my musings be pleasing to him, for Yahweh gives me joy.
104:35
May sinners vanish from the earth, and the wicked exist no more! Bless Yahweh, my soul.
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