Psalms 104

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 104

1¶ Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

2Who coverest [thyself] with light as [with] a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

3Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

4Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

5[Who] laid the foundations of the earth, [that] it should not be removed for ever.

6Thou coveredst it with the deep as [with] a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

7At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

8They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

9Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

10¶ He sendeth the springs into the valleys, [which] run among the hills.

11They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.

12By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, [which] sing among the branches.

13He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

14He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

15And wine [that] maketh glad the heart of man, [and] oil to make [his] face to shine, and bread [which] strengtheneth man's heart.

16The trees of the LORD are full [of sap]; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

17Where the birds make their nests: [as for] the stork, the fir trees [are] her house.

18The high hills [are] a refuge for the wild goats; [and] the rocks for the conies.

19¶ He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.

20Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep [forth].

21The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

22The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

23Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

24O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

25[So is] this great and wide sea, wherein [are] things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

26There go the ships: [there is] that leviathan, [whom] thou hast made to play therein.

27These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give [them] their meat in due season.

28[That] thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.

29Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

30Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

31¶ The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

32He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

33I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

34My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

35Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The psalm opens with a call to bless the Lord, acknowledging His immense majesty and power as the Creator. It describes God's establishment of the heavens, earth, and waters, and His ongoing provision for all living creatures, from the smallest to the great Leviathan. The psalmist marvels at God's wisdom in ordering all things, from the cycles of day and night to the sustenance of life, concluding with a personal vow of praise and a desire for the wicked to vanish.

Medium Summary

Psalm 104 is a hymn of praise to the Lord, celebrating His immeasurable greatness and majesty as the sovereign Creator. It vividly portrays God covering Himself with light, stretching out the heavens, and establishing the earth's foundations, setting bounds for the waters. The psalm then details God's meticulous provision for all life, sending springs to water the valleys, causing vegetation to grow for both cattle and man, and providing habitats for various creatures. It highlights His ordering of day and night, where wild beasts seek prey in darkness and man labors by day. The psalmist marvels at the manifold works of God, especially in the vast sea, and emphasizes that all creatures depend on Him for sustenance, living and dying at His command. The psalm concludes with an affirmation of God's enduring glory and the psalmist's personal commitment to praise the Lord throughout his life.

Long Summary

Psalm 104 begins with an invocation to bless the Lord, exalting His supreme greatness, honor, and majesty. The psalmist describes God's cosmic power, portraying Him as clothed with light, stretching out the heavens like a curtain, laying the beams of His chambers in the waters, and riding upon the clouds and wings of the wind. God is depicted as the one who laid the earth's foundations, covered it with the deep, and then, by His rebuke, caused the waters to recede to their appointed bounds, never again to cover the earth. The psalm transitions to God's detailed provision for the earth's inhabitants, sending springs into valleys to give drink to all beasts and fowls, and watering the hills from His chambers. He causes grass and herbs to grow for cattle and man, providing wine, oil, and bread for human sustenance and gladness. The Lord's care extends to the trees, birds, wild goats, and conies, each finding their appropriate dwelling and provision. The psalmist further observes God's ordering of time, appointing the moon for seasons and the sun for its going down, thereby creating the cycles of day and night, which govern the activities of both wild beasts and man. The psalm then expresses profound wonder at the multitude and wisdom of God's works, noting the earth's richness and the vastness of the sea with its innumerable creatures, including the Leviathan. All living beings are shown to be utterly dependent on God for their food, receiving it when He opens His hand, and perishing when He withdraws His presence or breath. Yet, through His Spirit, new life is created, and the face of the earth is renewed. The psalm culminates in a declaration of the Lord's enduring glory and His joy in His works, acknowledging His power to make the earth tremble and hills smoke. The psalmist resolves to sing praise to God throughout his life, finding meditation on Him sweet, and concludes with a final call to bless the Lord, desiring the removal of the wicked.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Majesty and CreationGod is depicted as supremely great, clothed in light and majesty, who stretched out the heavens, laid the earth's foundations, and set bounds for the waters. This concept emphasizes His cosmic power and role as the ultimate architect of the universe.
  • Sustaining ProvidenceThe psalm extensively details how God provides for all living creatures, sending springs, causing vegetation to grow for food, and ordering the cycles of day and night for their activities. This highlights God's continuous care and provision for the natural world.
  • Order in NatureGod establishes precise order in creation, from the moon's appointment for seasons to the sun's setting, and the fixed bounds for the waters. This demonstrates His wisdom in structuring the environment for life to thrive.
  • Dependence of LifeAll creatures, from wild beasts to man and the great Leviathan, are shown to be entirely dependent on God for their sustenance, life, and breath. They receive food when He gives it and perish when He withdraws His Spirit.
  • Renewal by God's SpiritThe psalm states that when God sends forth His spirit, creatures are created, and the face of the earth is renewed. This concept points to God's ongoing creative and life-giving power.
  • God's Enduring GloryThe psalmist proclaims that the glory of the Lord shall endure forever, and God rejoices in His works. This emphasizes the eternal nature of God's majesty and His satisfaction in His creation.
  • Psalmist's AdorationThe psalm begins and ends with a personal call to "Bless the LORD, O my soul," and includes a vow to sing praise throughout life. This demonstrates the psalmist's deep personal devotion and worship in response to God's works.