Psalm 104 (103)
The universe praises its Creator. In contemplating the universe, the believer feels full of admiration and optimism. All comes from God, and this universe is also for humankind. God is now completing his creation through the work of humans and the radiant light of his witnesses: “Send your Spirit to renew the face of the earth.”
1 Bless the Lord, my soul!
Clothed in majesty and splendor;
O Lord, my God, how great you are!
2 You are wrapped in light as with a garment;
you stretch out the heavens like a tent,
3 you build your upperrooms above the waters.
You make the clouds your chariot
and ride on the wings of the wind;
4 you make the winds your messengers,
and fire and flame your ministers.
5 You set the earth on its foundations,
and never will it be shaken.
6 You covered it with the ocean like a garment,
and waters spread over the mountains.
7 But at your rebuke the waters flee,
at the sound of your thunder they take to flight.
8 Brought to the mountains, they flow down again
to settle in the valleys.
9 You set a limit they could not cross,
never again to flood the earth.
10 You make springs gush forth in valleys
winding among mountains and hills,
11 giving drink to the beasts of the field,
quenching the thirst of wild donkeys.
12 Birds build their nests close by
and sing among the branches of trees.
13 You water the mountains from your abode
and fill the earth with the fruit of your work.
14 You make grass grow for cattle
and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth:
15 wine to gladden his heart,
oil to make his face shine,
and bread to make him strong.
16 The Lord waters his trees to their fill,
the cedars of Lebanon which he planted.
17 The birds build their nests,
the stork has its home in the pine trees.
18 High mountains are for wild goats,
the cliffs a refuge for badgers.
19 You made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun that knows when to set;
20 when you bring the darkness of the night,
all the beasts of the forest begin to prowl:
21 the young lions roaring for their prey
claiming their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, the beasts steal away,
returning to rest in their dens.
23 Man then goes out to his work,
and toils till evening comes.
24 How varied O Lord, are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all –
the earth full of your creatures.
25 Behold the sea, wide and vast,
teeming with countless creatures,
living things both great and small,
26 a strange world reserved for the ships,
for Leviathan, the dragon you made to play with.
27 They all look to you
for their food in due time.
28 You give it to them,
and they gather it up;
you open your hand,
they are filled with good things.
29 When you hide your face they vanish,
you take away their breath, they expire
and return to dust.
30 When you send forth your spirit,
they are created,
and the face of the earth is renewed.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works!
32 He looks on the earth, and it quakes;
he touches the mountain, and it smokes.
33 I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to God while I live.
34 May my song give him pleasure,
as the Lord gives me delight.
35 May sinners vanish from the earth,
and may the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, my soul!
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Comments Psalms, Chapter 104
Not only does all come from God but all belongs to him and speaks of him. Atoms, nature, shapes and colors, everything is a radiation of his own riches: light is your cloak; the clouds, your chariot; the firmament, the tent of your dwelling. The beauty of the cosmos is the cloud that hides God’s beauty.
Even if today we have a scientific vision of the world, this psalm, 2,500 years old, retains its value. The world we know is much vaster, diverse and marvelous. How could we ever think that it has formed itself or that it is the product of an accident?
God continually sustains every being and holds it in his hands. What would become of them should he in an instant take away his Spirit? Just think what happens when there is a power failure – no longer is there light, energy, movement – it is rather as if the world ceased to exist.
Invitation to optimism. All creatures are good and are linked together in harmony. One by one the psalmist names with admiration the great cosmic powers and almost with tenderness the birds, wild animals and fish. This psalm has a deeply human touch: everything exists for the benefit of humanity. Humankind is called to be the consciousness that understands the universe and is able to admire it, the voice that praises the Creator, the artisan called to beautify it and organize it for the service of people, all people. Our psalms and songs of praise would be useless if they did not express human effort to build a world reflecting the purity and infinite riches of God.
“He formed me from of old, from eternity, even before the earth. When he laid the foundations of the earth, I was close to him, the designer of his works and I was his daily delight, forever playing in his presence, playing throughout the world and delighting to be with humans” (Pro 8:23, 29—31).