Psalm 104
(from Day 20 Evening Prayer)
Benedic, anima mea
- PRAISE the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, thou art become exceeding glorious; thou art clothed with majesty and honour.
- Thou deckest thyself with light as it were with a garment: and spreadest out the heavens like a curtain.
- Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: and maketh the clouds his chariot, and walketh upon the wings of the wind.
- He maketh his angels spirits: and his ministers a flaming fire.
- He laid the foundations of the earth: that it never should move at any time.
- Thou coveredst it with the deep like as with a garment: the waters stand in the hills.
- At thy rebuke they flee: at the voice of thy thunder they are afraid.
- They go up as high as the hills, and down to the valleys beneath: even unto the place which thou hast appointed for them.
- Thou hast set them their bounds which they shall not pass: neither turn again to cover the earth.
- He sendeth the springs into the rivers: which run among the hills.
- All beasts of the field drink thereof: and the wild asses quench their thirst.
- Beside them shall the fowls of the air have their habitation: and sing among the branches.
- He watereth the hills from above: the earth is filled with the fruit of thy works.
- He bringeth forth grass for the cattle: and green herb for the service of men;
- That he may bring food out of the earth, and wine that maketh glad the heart of man: and oil to make him a cheerful countenance, and bread to strengthen man's heart.
- The trees of the Lord also are full of sap: even the cedars of Libanus which he hath planted;
- Wherein the birds make their nests: and the fir-trees are a dwelling for the stork.
- The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats: and so are the stony rocks for the conies.
- He appointed the moon for certain seasons: and the sun knoweth his going down.
- Thou makest darkness that it may be night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do move.
- The lions roaring after their prey: do seek their meat from God.
- The sun ariseth, and they get them away together: and lay them down in their dens.
- Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labour: until the evening.
- O Lord, how manifold are thy works: in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches.
- So is the great and wide sea also: wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
- There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan: whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein.
- These wait all upon thee: that thou mayest give them meat in due season.
- When thou givest it them they gather it: and when thou openest thy hand they are filled with good.
- When thou hidest thy face they are troubled: when thou takest away their breath they die, and are turned again to their dust.
- When thou lettest thy breath go forth they shall be made: and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
- The glorious majesty of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
- The earth shall tremble at the look of him: if he do but touch the hills, they shall smoke.
- I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will praise my God while I have my being.
- And so shall my words please him: my joy shall be in the Lord.
- As for sinners, they shall be consumed out of the earth, and the ungodly shall come to an end: praise thou the Lord, O my soul, praise the Lord.