Psalms Chapter 104 - NKJV (2024)

O Lord My God, You Are Very Great

1 Bless a the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
3 b He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters,
Who makes the clouds His chariot,
Who walks on the wings of the wind,
4 Who makes His angels spirits,
His 1 ministers a flame of fire.

5 You who 2 laid the foundations of the earth,
So that it should not be moved forever,
6 You c covered it with the deep as with a garment;
The waters stood above the mountains.
7 At Your rebuke they fled;
At the voice of Your thunder they hastened away.
8 3 They went up over the mountains;
They went down into the valleys,
To the place which You founded for them.
9 You have d set a boundary that they may not pass over,
e That they may not return to cover the earth.

10 He sends the springs into the valleys;
They flow among the hills.
11 They give drink to every beast of the field;
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 By them the birds of the heavens have their home;
They sing among the branches.
13 f He waters the hills from His upper chambers;
The earth is satisfied with g the fruit of Your works.

14 h He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
And vegetation for the service of man,
That he may bring forth i food from the earth,
15 And j wine that makes glad the heart of man,
Oil to make his face shine,
And bread which strengthens man's heart.

16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap,
The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
17 Where the birds make their nests;
The stork has her home in the fir trees.
18 The high hills are for the wild goats;
The cliffs are a refuge for the k rock 4 badgers. 5

19 l He appointed the moon for seasons;
The m sun knows its going down.
20 n You make darkness, and it is night,
In which all the beasts of the forest creep about.
21 o The young lions roar after their prey,
And seek their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they gather together
And lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to p his work
And to his labor until the evening.

24 q O LORD, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your r possessions -
25 This great and wide sea,
In which are innumerable teeming things,
Living things both small and great.
26 There the ships sail about;
There is that s Leviathan 6
Which You have 7 made to play there.

27 t These all wait for You,
That You may give them their food in due season.
28 What You give them they gather in;
You open Your hand, they are filled with good.
29 You hide Your face, they are troubled;
u You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
30 v You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
And You renew the face of the earth.

31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
May the LORD w rejoice in His works.
32 He looks on the earth, and it x trembles;
y He touches the hills, and they smoke.
33 z I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 May my a meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the LORD.
35 May b sinners be consumed from the earth,
And the wicked be no more.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
8 Praise the LORD!

  1. Cross References
    Psalms 103:1
    Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
  2. Cross References
    Amos 9:6
    He who builds His layers in the sky, And has founded His strata in the earth; Who calls for the waters of the sea, And pours them out on the face of the earth - The LORD is His name.
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 1:6
    Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
  4. Cross References
    Job 26:10
    He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, At the boundary of light and darkness.
    Psalms 33:7
    He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses.
    Jeremiah 5:22
    Do you not fear Me?' says the LORD. 'Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, Yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.
  5. Cross References
    Genesis 9:11 - 15
    "Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 147:8
    Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
  7. Cross References
    Jeremiah 10:13
    When He utters His voice, There is a multitude of waters in the heavens: "And He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, He brings the wind out of His treasuries.
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 1:29
    And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
  9. Cross References
    Job 28:5
    As for the earth, from it comes bread, But underneath it is turned up as by fire.
  10. Cross References
    Judges 9:13
    But the vine said to them, 'Should I cease my new wine, Which cheers both God and men, And go to sway over trees?
    Psalms 23:5
    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
    Proverbs 31:6
    Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
    Ecclesiastes 10:19
    A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.
  11. Cross References
    Leviticus 11:5
    The rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 1:14
    Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years.
  13. Cross References
    Job 38:12
    Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place.
    Psalms 19:6
    Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 74:16
    The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun.
    Isaiah 45:7
    I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things.
  15. Cross References
    Job 38:39
    Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions.
  16. Cross References
    Genesis 3:19
    In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.
  17. Cross References
    Psalms 40:5
    Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.
    Proverbs 3:19
    The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens.
    Jeremiah 10:12
    He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.
    Jeremiah 51:15
    He has made the earth by His power; He has established the world by His wisdom, And stretched out the heaven by His understanding.
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 65:9
    You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, For so You have prepared it.
  19. Cross References
    Job 41:1
    Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?
    Isaiah 27:1
    In that day the LORD with His severe sword, great and strong, Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent; And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea.
  20. Cross References
    Job 36:31
    For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.
    Psalms 136:25
    Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever.
  21. Cross References
    Job 34:15
    All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.
    Ecclesiastes 12:7
    Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.
  22. Cross References
    Isaiah 32:15
    Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 1:31
    Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
    Proverbs 8:31
    Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.
  24. Cross References
    Habakkuk 3:10
    The mountains saw You and trembled; The overflowing of the water passed by. The deep uttered its voice, And lifted its hands on high.
  25. Cross References
    Exodus 19:18
    Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
    Psalms 144:5
    Bow down Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
  26. Cross References
    Psalms 63:4
    Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
  27. Cross References
    Psalms 19:14
    Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
  28. Cross References
    Psalms 37:38
    But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Related Questions

  1. What does the Psalmist mean by saying that he will 'sing to the Lord' all his life?
  2. Will the earth abide forever or will it be destroyed? (Psalm 104:5)
  3. How does Psalm 104 compare with Genesis 1?
  4. What can we learn about God's power or love from Psalm 104?
  5. Which creation story was written first, the Genesis story or Psalms 104?
Psalms Chapter 104 - NKJV (2024)

FAQs

What is the main point of Psalm 104? ›

The main subject of the psalm is the order of the world and the sovereignty of the God who created and maintains it. This subject in turn instills confidence that God can and will order the lives of those who seek God by keeping them in God's purpose and away from evil.

What is Leviathan in Psalm 104? ›

In Psalm 104, however, Leviathan is simply another creature that delights in the world that God has made; Leviathan's purpose in the created order is “to sport” in the sea (verse 26). The joy with which God creates is reflected in the playfulness of the sea's most dreaded beast.

What is the meaning of Psalms 104 4? ›

According to the NIV translation, Psalm 104:4 speaks of the way in which God uses forces of nature, winds and fire, as his servants. According to Hebrews 1:7 this verse refers to the speed and brilliance of God's angels.

What does Psalm 104 say about the environment? ›

Psalm 104:5 says “You set the earth on its foundations,” and it may allude to the separation of land from the waters on day 3 in Genesis 1:9–10. Psalm 104:6 says, “the waters stood above the mountains,” and it may allude to the waters above the firmament on Day 2 once again.

What is the devotion of Psalm 104? ›

In many ways, Psalm 104 is a celebration of Genesis 1. The psalmist reminds us of God's sovereignty and we should submit to Him because He is the source and sustainer of life. As sinners, we find ourselves out of tune with the rest of creation that submits to God.

What happens when God sends forth his spirit? ›

The outpouring of the Spirit also unites us and reminds us of the special dignity of all people, created in the image and likeness of God and loved by God from before the creation of the world.

What is the quote from Psalm 104? ›

1 Praise the LORD, my soul. LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. 3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.

What thoughts and ideas are conveyed by the Psalm 104? ›

Psalm 104 provides an answer to the long-standing question about the source of the light on the first day of Creation: The light that surrounded the person of God provided light for the earth.” [33] As God Himself provides the light on the first day, He makes a theological statement that creation is ultimately not ...

What type of poem is Psalm 104? ›

Psalm 104 is one of the finest pieces of lyric poetry in the Old Tes- tament, expressing the poet's emotions regarding 'Yahweh's his- tory. ' According to Israelite belief, creation was Yahweh's first act in history, the first fundamental deed setting the stage for Yahweh's involvement with his people.

What is the benefit of Psalm 104? ›

God governs the water so the earth will produce good things. The livestock benefit from the grass growing and man uses the plants to “bring forth food from the earth” (Psalm 104:14). God provides for necessities and more: wine, oil, and bread are given to “gladden” and “strengthen” his people (Psalm 104:15).

What is the text of Psalm 104? ›

he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more.

What is a coney in Psalm 104? ›

If you've ever wondered about those “coneys” (or rock badgers or hyraxes) that the Psalmist mentions, I've included a photo of one, though it wasn't taken at Bolepeletsa. They are rather skittish creatures.

What is the main message of that psalm? ›

The Psalms praise God for being a just God.

The Lord vindicates his people, punishes evil, and cares for the marginalized. He opposes the wicked, whether individuals (e.g., Psalms 1:4 – 6) or nations (e.g., Psalm 2), and will mete out justice for their wickedness.

References

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