David
Psalm 104
Unknown
Scripture (KJV)
1Bless 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:
5Who 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.
10He 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.
19He 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.
25So 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.
28That 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.
31The 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.
Summary
Psalm 104 is a majestic hymn of creation that echoes Genesis 1, portraying the Lord as very great, clothed with light, stretching out the heavens like a curtain, and riding the clouds as His chariot. The psalm moves through the days of creation: the foundations of the earth, the waters that fled at God’s rebuke to their appointed place, springs that give drink to beasts and birds, vegetation and wine and oil and bread for man, trees for nesting birds, hills for wild goats, the moon and sun governing seasons, night for beasts of the forest and day for man’s labor, and finally the teeming sea with leviathan playing in it. All creatures wait on God for their food in due season.
The psalmist then confesses that God’s works are manifold and made in wisdom, that the earth is full of His riches, and that the Lord rejoices in His works. The closing verses turn from contemplation to commitment—“I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live”—and end with a prayer that sinners be consumed and a final summons: “Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord.” The major themes are creation, providence, God’s wisdom, sustenance, and praise. Practically, the psalm trains the eye to see creation as the theater of God’s glory and providence. The great lesson is that the God who made all things in wisdom still rejoices in them and renews the face of the earth by His Spirit.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 104
Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great, clothed with honor and majesty. You cover Yourself with light, stretch out the heavens like a curtain, and ride the wings of the wind. You laid the foundations of the earth and set a bound for the sea. You send springs into the valleys, cause grass to grow for the cattle, and give wine, oil, and bread to gladden and strengthen man. The trees, hills, moon, sun, beasts, and sea all declare Your wisdom. Every creature waits on You for food in due season; You open Your hand and they are filled with good. Send forth Your Spirit to renew the face of the earth. Let Your glory endure forever, and let me rejoice in Your works all my days. Let my meditation of You be sweet. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1Which part of creation most moves me to bless the Lord today?
- 2How does seeing all creatures “wait on God” for their food shape my view of provision?
- 3What would it look like for my “meditation of Him” to be sweet this week?
- 4How can I join creation’s praise in my daily work and rest?
Related Psalms
Psalm 103
“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
Psalm 103 is a soaring hymn of thanksgiving for God’s mercies.
Read morePsalm 148
“Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.”
Psalm 148 is a cosmic call to praise that summons every level of creation to worship the Lord.
Read morePsalm 19
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
God revealed in creation and Scripture, ending in a prayer of surrender.
Read morePsalm 33
“Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.”
A call to praise the Creator whose word and counsel stand forever.
Read morePsalm 145
“I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.”
Psalm 145 is an acrostic of praise, the only psalm titled "David’s Psalm of praise," and the gateway to the final doxology of the Psalter (Psalms 145-150).
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