Psalm 104

W. van der Kamp, 1972; rev.

1. O bless the LORD, my soul, and praise His Name.
   LORD God, how great Thou art, how bright Thy fame!
   Thou, who art clothed with majesty and glory,
   Thou, robed in light, we honor and adore Thee.
   The heavens Thou hast stretched out like a tent,
   Thy dwelling founded on the firmament.
   Clouds are Thy chariot, storms lend Thee their pinions;
   Winds are Thy heralds, fire and flame Thy minions.
   
2. The earth, which Thou hast founded, none can shake.
   The raging deep Thou as its cloak didst make,
   And even mountains were concealed there-under.
   Waves rushed and fled at Thy rebuke, Thy thunder;
   Hills then sprang up, while valleys sank and drowned.
   To mighty oceans Thou didst set a bound;
   Thou didst appoint a place for them, that never
   Their roaring floods the earth again might cover.
   
3. Thou makest springs gush forth in vales and dells.
   Between the hills, brooks flow from sparkling wells
   And quench the thirst of beasts in field and forest;
   Wild asses drink the waters which Thou pourest.
   There birds of heaven dwell in shrub and tree;
   They sing among the branches, praising Thee.
   Hills drenchest Thou from heaven, where Thou livest;
   The earth is satisfied with all Thou givest.
   
4. Thou madest grass for cattle and wild beasts,
   And plants for man, who on Thy bounties feasts.
   Oil makes his face to shine when he rejoices
   In bread and wine and then Thy praises voices.
   Well-watered are God’s trees; it rains upon
   His cedars planted throughout Lebanon.
   There in the treetops are the storks residing;
   Goats roam the crags where badgers find a hiding.
   
5. To mark the months Thou, LORD, hast made the moon.
   At Thy command the sun turns dusk to noon,
   And when Thy day by night is overtaken,
   Then in the forest all the beasts awaken.
   Young lions roar and ask from God their prey,
   But when the dawn appears they steal away
   And lie down in their dens, the sunlight scorning.
   Then man awakes and greets the dewy morning.
   
6. Man goes forth to his work when morning calls
   And labors till the evening shadow falls.
   O LORD, Thy many glorious works astound us;
   In wisdom hast Thou made them all around us.
   Of Thy great riches Thy creation sings.
   Thy ocean teems with countless living things;
   It is for ships a place to make their way in,
   And for Leviathan a place to play in.
   
7. All look to Thee, a countless multitude,
   That in due time Thou mayest give them food.
   Now filled with the good things that Thou providest,
   They are dismayed when Thou Thy count’nance hidest.
   When Thou dost take a way their breath, they die;
   They are created when Thou, from on high
   Thy Spirit sending, them with life enduest.
   The face of all the earth Thou, LORD, renewest.
   
8. The glory of the LORD forever stands;
   May He rejoice in all that He commands.
   He looks on earth and makes creation shiver;
   He touches mountains and they smoke and quiver.
   I’ll sing to God as long as I shall live;
   May to the LORD my worship pleasure give.
   But may all sinners from the earth be driven.
   Bless God, my soul! To Him all praise be given.