Introduction

Praise God for his great power in creating and sustaining our world.

Verses
1Bless the LORD, my soul.
The LORD, my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honour and majesty.
2He covers himself with light as with a garment.
He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
3He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot.
He walks on the wings of the wind.
4He makes his messengers winds,
and his servants flames of fire.
5He laid the foundations of the earth,
that it should not be moved forever.
6You covered it with the deep as with a cloak.
The waters stood above the mountains.
7At your rebuke they fled.
At the voice of your thunder they hurried away.
8The mountains rose,
the valleys sank down,
to the place which you had assigned to them.
9You have set a boundary that they may not pass over,
that they don’t turn again to cover the earth.
10He sends springs into the valleys.
They run amongst the mountains.
11They give drink to every animal of the field.
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12The birds of the sky nest by them.
They sing amongst the branches.
13He waters the mountains from his rooms.
The earth is filled with the fruit of your works.
14He causes the grass to grow for the livestock,
and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may produce food out of the earth:
15wine that makes the heart of man glad,
oil to make his face to shine,
and bread that strengthens man’s heart.
16The LORD’s trees are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted;
17where the birds make their nests.
The stork makes its home in the cypress trees.
18The high mountains are for the wild goats.
The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
19He appointed the moon for seasons.
The sun knows when to set.
20You make darkness, and it is night,
in which all the animals of the forest prowl.
21The young lions roar after their prey,
and seek their food from God.
22The sun rises, and they steal away,
and lie down in their dens.
23Man goes out to his work,
to his labour until the evening.
24The LORD, how many are your works!
In wisdom, you have made them all.
The earth is full of your riches.
25There is the sea, great and wide,
in which are innumerable living things,
both small and large animals.
26There the ships go,
and leviathan, whom you formed to play there.
27These all wait for you,
that you may give them their food in due season.
28You give to them; they gather.
You open your hand; they are satisfied with good.
29You hide your face; they are troubled.
You take away their breath; they die and return to the dust.
30You send out your Spirit and they are created.
You renew the face of the ground.
31Let the LORD’s glory endure forever.
Let the LORD rejoice in his works.
32He looks at the earth, and it trembles.
He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33I will sing to the LORD as long as I live.
I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.
34Let my meditation be sweet to him.
I will rejoice in the LORD.
35Let sinners be consumed out of the earth.
Let the wicked be no more.
Bless the LORD, my soul.
Praise the LORD!

Questions

1. What does God do to the heavens?

v 2 ... He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.

2. How does God contribute to our food supply?

v 14 He causes the grass to grow for the livestock,
and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may produce food out of the earth:

3. In which verses does the psalmist say that God can cause death and create life?

v 29 and 30 ... You take away their breath; they die and return to the dust. You send out your Spirit and they are created ...

Summary Points

  • v 1 to 4 God is great, the creator of the heavens
  • v 5 to 9 God created the earth and the seas
  • v 10 to 18 God provides water, food and care for man, the animals and the birds
  • v 19 to 23 The seasons are appointed by God
  • v 24 to 32 All land and sea creatures depend on the God who creates them and lets them die
  • v 33 to 35 The psalmist wants to praise God all his life, but realises that God will destroy the wicked

 Timeline 1050 to 850 BC

The audio version uses Yahweh instead of LORD. This reflects the original Hebrew language.

Audio