Psalms 104
Psalms 104 is part of “Book IV: The Numbers Book” (90–106) in the outline of Psalms.
Psalms 104 summary
It is very probable that this psalm was penned by the same hand, and at the same time, as the former; for as that ended this begins, with "Bless the Lord, O my soul!" and concludes with it too. The style indeed is somewhat different, because the matter is so: the scope of the foregoing psalm was to celebrate the goodness of God and his tender mercy and compassion, to which a soft and sweet style was most agreeable; the scope of this is to celebrate his greatness, and majesty, and sovereign dominion, which ought to be done in the most stately lofty strains of poetry. David, in the former psalm, gave God the glory of his covenant-mercy and…
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It is very probable that this psalm was penned by the same hand, and at the same time, as the former; for as that ended this begins, with "Bless the Lord, O my soul!" and concludes with it too. The style indeed is somewhat different, because the matter is so: the scope of the foregoing psalm was to celebrate the goodness of God and his tender mercy and compassion, to which a soft and sweet style was most agreeable; the scope of this is to celebrate his greatness, and majesty, and sovereign dominion, which ought to be done in the most stately lofty strains of poetry. David, in the former psalm, gave God the glory of his covenant-mercy and love to his own people; in this he gives him the glory of his works of creation and providence, his dominion over, and his bounty to, all the creatures. God is there praised as the God of grace, here as the God of nature. And this psalm is wholly bestowed on that subject; not as Psa 19:1-14, which begins with it, but passes from it to the consideration of the divine law; nor as Psa 8:1-9, which speaks of this but prophetically, and with an eye to Christ. This noble poem is thought by very competent judges greatly to excel, not only for piety and devotion (that is past dispute), but for flight of fancy, brightness of ideas, surprising turns, and all the beauties and ornaments of expression, the Greek and Latin poets upon any subject of this nature. Many great things the psalmist here gives God the glory of I. The splendour of his majesty in the upper world (Psa 104:1-4). II. The creation of the sea and the dry land (Psa 104:5-9). III. The provision he makes for the maintenance of all the creatures according to their nature (Psa 104:10-18, Psa 104:27, Psa 104:28). IV. The regular course of the sun and moon (Psa 104:19-24). V. The furniture of the sea (Psa 104:25, Psa 104:26). IV. God's sovereign power over all the creatures (Psa 104:29-32). And, lastly, he concludes with a pleasant and firm resolution to continue praising God (Psa 104:33-35), with which we should heartily join in singing this psalm.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Psalms 104 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
O Lord My God, You Are Very Great
1Bless Jehovah, O my soul. O Jehovah my God, thou art very great; Thou art clothed with honor 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 winds his messengers; Flames of fire his ministers; 5Who laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be moved for ever. 6Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a vesture; The waters stood above the mountains. 7At thy rebuke they fled; At the voice of thy thunder they hasted away 8(The mountains rose, the valleys sank down) Unto the place which thou hadst 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 forth springs into the valleys; They run among the mountains; 11They give drink to every beast of the field; The wild asses quench their thirst. 12By them the birds of the heavens have their habitation; They sing among the branches. 13He watereth the mountains from his chambers: The earth is filled 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 that strengtheneth man’s heart. 16The trees of Jehovah are filled [with moisture], 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 mountains are for the wild goats; The rocks are a refuge 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 creep forth. 21The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their food from God. 22The sun ariseth, they get them away, And lay them down in their dens. 23Man goeth forth unto his work And to his labor until the evening. 24O Jehovah, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: The earth is full of thy riches. 25Yonder is the sea, great and wide, Wherein are things creeping innumerable, Both small and great beasts. 26There go the ships; There is leviathan, whom thou hast formed to play therein. 27These wait all for thee, That thou mayest give them their food in due season. 28Thou givest unto them, they gather; Thou openest thy hand, they are satisfied 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 ground. 31Let the glory of Jehovah endure for ever; Let Jehovah rejoice in his works: 32Who looketh on the earth, and it trembleth; He toucheth the mountains, and they smoke. 33I will sing unto Jehovah as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have any being. 34Let my meditation be sweet unto him: I will rejoice in Jehovah. 35Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. And let the wicked be no more. Bless Jehovah, O my soul. Praise ye Jehovah.