Comment – He who wrote Psalm 104 begins by inviting himself to bless the Lord and, amazed at the greatness and beauty of creation, praises God with gratitude. He contemplates God recognizing him in his sovereignty that embraces the whole universe, as a glorious light that illuminate angels in heaven.
Psalm 104 complete
[1] Bless the Lord, my soul, Lord, my God, how great you are! Dressed in majesty and splendor,
[2] wrapped in light as a mantle. You stretch the sky like a curtain,
[3] build your dwelling on the water, make your chariot of the clouds, walk on the wings of the wind;
[4] make your messengers of the winds, your ministers of flickering flames.
[5] You founded the earth on its foundations, it will never waver.
[6] The ocean enveloped her like a mantle, the waters covered the mountains.
[7] At your threat they fled, at the roar of your thunder they trembled.
[8] The mountains emerge, the valleys descend to the place you have assigned them.
[9] You have set a limit to the waters: they will not pass it, they will not return to cover the earth.
[10] Let the springs spring into the valleys and flow between the mountains;
Recommended readings- Psalm 76: complete, commentary
- Psalm 62: complete, commentary
- Psalm 102: complete, commentary
- Psalm 6: complete, commentary
- Psalm 20: complete, commentary
[11] all the wild beasts drink from it and the agoons quench their thirst.
[12] Above them dwell the birds of the sky, sing among the branches.
[13] From your high dwellings you irrigate the mountains, with the fruit of your works satiated the earth.
[14] Grow hay for herds and grass to serve man, so that he can get food from the earth:
[15] the wine that cheers the heart of man; the oil that makes his face shine and the bread that sustains his vigor.
[16] The trees of the Lord are satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon planted by him.
[17] There the birds nest and the stork on the cypresses has its home.
[18] For chamois they are the high mountains, the rocks are refuge for the Iraqis.
[19] To mark the seasons you made the moon and the sun that knows its sunset.
[20] Spread the darkness and night comes and all the beasts of the forest wander;
[21] the lions roar in search of prey and ask God for their food.
[22] The sun rises, they retreat and crouch in the dens.
[23] Then the man goes out to his work, for his effort until the evening.
[24] How great, Lord, are your works! You did everything wisely, the earth is full of your creatures.
[25] Here is the spacious and vast sea: there small and large animals dart without number.
[26] The ships ply him, the Leviathan you have molded so that he can have fun in it.
[27] All of you are waiting for you to give them food in due time.
[28] You provide it, they pick it up, you open your hand, they are satisfied with goods.
[29] If you hide your face, they fail, take their breath away, die and return to their dust.
[30] Send your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
[31] The glory of the Lord be forever; rejoice the Lord of his works.
[32] He looks at the earth and makes it jump, touches the mountains and they smoke.
[33] I want to sing to the Lord as long as I live, sing to my God as long as I exist.
[34] May my song be pleasing to him; my joy is in the Lord.
[35] Sinners disappear from the earth and the wicked no longer exist. Bless the Lord, my soul.
