Read & explore together
How Many Are Your Works, O LORD!
Psalm 104 is a song that blesses Yahweh by looking at the world around us. Its poetry moves from his majesty, to his ordering of earth and waters, to his care for creatures, and back to praise.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
This passage is a psalm of praise, not a narrative. The singer speaks directly to Yahweh, using poetic pictures for his greatness, then traces springs, animals, seasons, sea life, human work, and the dependence of all living things on him before ending with worship.
Psalms 104:1–35Main takeaway
Psalm 104 praises Yahweh as wise, powerful, and generous, and it answers his works with worship.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Bless Yahweh for greatnessThe psalm opens by blessing Yahweh and calling him very great, clothed with honour and majesty.
Explanation
The psalm opens by blessing Yahweh and calling him very great, clothed with honour and majesty. Light, heavens, clouds, wind, and fire are all used as poetic images to show his splendour and rule. The language is worshipful, stressing who Yahweh is.
02Earth and waters under his commandYahweh laid the earth’s foundations. The deep covered it, but at his rebuke the waters fled.
Explanation
Yahweh laid the earth’s foundations. The deep covered it, but at his rebuke the waters fled. Mountains and valleys moved to their assigned places, and he set a boundary for the waters. The song presents the world as ordered by Yahweh’s command.
03Provision across the landSprings give drink to animals, birds nest nearby, and the earth is filled with the fruit of Yahweh’s works.
Explanation
Springs give drink to animals, birds nest nearby, and the earth is filled with the fruit of Yahweh’s works. He causes grass and plants to grow for livestock and people. Trees, mountains, and rocks are also described as places prepared for living creatures.
04Times, labour, and the wide seaThe moon marks seasons and the sun marks its setting. Night fits prowling animals, while day is for human labour.
Explanation
The moon marks seasons and the sun marks its setting. Night fits prowling animals, while day is for human labour. The sea too is full of life, with ships and leviathan there. The singer pauses to say Yahweh made all these works in wisdom.
05All depend on Yahweh, so singAll these creatures wait for Yahweh for food. When he gives, they gather; when breath is taken away, they die and return to dust; when he sends out his Spirit, they are created and the ground is renewed.
Explanation
All these creatures wait for Yahweh for food. When he gives, they gather; when breath is taken away, they die and return to dust; when he sends out his Spirit, they are created and the ground is renewed. His glory endures, his touch shakes earth and mountains, and the psalm ends in praise.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What pictures in the opening lines help show Yahweh’s greatness?
Notice the images of clothing, light, the heavens, clouds, wind, and fire, and ask what they say about his majesty.
02How does the psalm describe Yahweh providing places and food for creatures on land?
Look for springs, nests, watered trees, grass, plants, mountains, and rocks prepared for different animals.
03What does the final movement say happens when Yahweh gives, hides his face, or sends out his Spirit?
Trace the sequence of food, trouble, death, and renewal in the closing verses.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 104:1–35
1Bless Yahweh, my soul. Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor 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 among 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 among 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.
16Yahweh’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 labor until the evening.
24Yahweh, 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 Yahweh’s glory endure forever. Let Yahweh rejoice in his works.
32He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33I will sing to Yahweh 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 Yahweh.
35Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless Yahweh, my soul. Praise Yah!