104 <1> My soul, praise the Lord!
Lord my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with glory[540] and honor.
<2> You wear light like a person wears a robe.
You spread the skies like a curtain.
<3> You built your home above them.[541]
You use the thick clouds like a chariot[542]
and ride across the sky on the wings of the wind.
<4> You make the winds your messengers
and flames of fire your servants.[543]
<5> You built the earth on its foundations,
so it can never be moved.
<6> You covered it with water like a blanket.
The water covered even the mountains.
<7> But you gave the command,
and the water turned back.
You shouted at the water,
and it rushed away.
<8> The water flowed down from the mountains into the valleys,
to the places that you made for it.
<9> You set the limits for the seas,
and the water will never again rise to cover the earth.
<10> Lord, you cause water to flow
from the springs into the streams.
It flows down through the mountain streams.
<11> The streams provide water for all the wild animals.
Even the wild donkeys come there to drink.
<12> Wild birds come to live by the pools;
they sing in the branches of nearby trees.
<13> God sends rain down onto the mountains.
The earth gets everything it needs from what he has made.
<14> He makes the grass grow to feed the animals.
He provides the plants for us to grow- the plants that give us food from the earth.
<15> He gives us the wine that makes us happy,
the oil that makes our skin soft,[544]
and the food that makes us strong.
<16> The great cedar trees of Lebanon
belong to the Lord.
The Lord planted those trees,
and he gives them the water they need.
<17> Birds make their nests in those trees.
Large storks live in the fir trees.
<18> The high mountains are a home
for wild goats.
The large rocks are hiding places
for rock badgers.
<19> God, you made the moon
to show us when the festivals begin.
And the sun always knows when to set.
<20> You made darkness to be the night-
the time when wild animals come out and roam around.
<21> Lions roar as they attack,
as if they are asking God for the food he gives them.
<22> Then the sun rises, and the animals
go back to their homes and rest.
<23> Then people go out to do their work,
and they work until evening.
<24> Lord, you created many wonderful things.
You used wisdom to make them all.
The earth is filled with things you made.
<25> Look at the ocean. It is so big!
So many things live there!
There are creatures large and small-
too many to count!
<26> Ships travel over the ocean while
Leviathan,[545] the sea creature you made, plays there in the sea.
<27> God, all these things depend on you.
You give them food at the right time.
<28> You give all the living things
the food they eat.
You open your hands that are filled with good food,
and they eat until they are full.
<29> When you turn away from them,
they become frightened.
When you take away their breath,[546]
they grow weak and die
and their bodies return to the dust.
<30> But when you send out your life-giving breath,[547]
things come alive, and the world is like new again!
<31> May the Lord's glory continue forever!
May the Lord enjoy what he made.
<32> He can just look at the earth,
and it will tremble.
He can just touch the mountains,
and smoke will rise from them.
<33> I will sing to the Lord for the rest of my life.
I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.
<34> May my words make him happy.
I am happy with the Lord.
<35> I wish sinners would disappear from the earth.
I wish the wicked would be gone forever.
My soul, praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.