104 Benedic, anima mea

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; *
O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness!
you are clothed with majesty and splendor.

2 You wrap yourself with light as with a cloak *
and spread out the heavens like a curtain.

3 You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters above; *
you make the clouds your chariot;
you ride on the wings of the wind.

4 You make the winds your messengers *
and flames of fire your servants.

5 You have set the earth upon its foundations, *
so that it never shall move at any time.

6 You covered it with the Deep as with a mantle; *
the waters stood higher than the mountains.

7 At your rebuke they fled; *
at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.

8 They went up into the hills and down to the valleys beneath, *
to the places you had appointed for them.

9 You set the limits that they should not pass; *
they shall not again cover the earth.

10 You send the springs into the valleys; *
they flow between the mountains.

11 All the beasts of the field drink their fill from them, *
and the wild asses quench their thirst.

12 Beside them the birds of the air make their nests *
and sing among the branches.

13 You water the mountains from your dwelling on high; *
the earth is fully satisfied by the fruit of your works.

14 You make grass grow for flocks and herds *
and plants to serve mankind;

15 That they may bring forth food from the earth, *
and wine to gladden our hearts,

16 Oil to make a cheerful countenance, *
and bread to strengthen the heart.

17 The trees of the Lord are full of sap, *
the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,

18 In which the birds build their nests, *
and in whose tops the stork makes his dwelling.

19 The high hills are a refuge for the mountain goats, *
and the stony cliffs for the rock badgers.

20 You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, *
and the sun knows the time of its setting.

21 You make darkness that it may be night, *
in which all the beasts of the forest prowl.

22 The lions roar after their prey *
and seek their food from God.

23 The sun rises, and they slip away *
and lay themselves down in their dens.

24 Man goes forth to his work *
and to his labor until the evening.

25 O Lord, how manifold are your works! *
in wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

26 Yonder is the great and wide sea
with its living things too many to number, *
creatures both small and great.

27 There move the ships,
and there is that Leviathan, *
which you have made for the sport of it.

28 All of them look to you *
to give them their food in due season.

29 You give it to them; they gather it; *
you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

30 You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
you take away their breath,
and they die and return to their dust.

31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.

32 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; *
may the Lord rejoice in all his works.

33 He looks at the earth and it trembles; *
he touches the mountains and they smoke.

34 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being.

35 May these words of mine please him; *
I will rejoice in the Lord.

36 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, *
and the wicked be no more.

37 Bless the Lord, O my soul. *
Hallelujah!

Web Author: Charles Wohlers
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