1 My soule, prayse thou the Lord: O Lord my God, thou art exceeding great, thou art clothed with glorie and honour. 2 Which couereth himselfe with light as with a garment, and spreadeth the heauens like a curtaine. 3 Which layeth the beames of his chambers in the waters, and maketh the cloudes his chariot, and walketh vpon the wings of the winde. 4 Which maketh his spirits his messengers, and a flaming fire his ministers. 5 He set the earth vpon her foundations, so that it shall neuer moue. 6 Thou coueredst it with the deepe as with a garment: the waters woulde stand aboue the mountaines. 7 But at thy rebuke they flee: at the voyce of thy thunder they haste away. 8 And the mountaines ascend, and the valleis descend to the place which thou hast established for them. 9 But thou hast set them a bounde, which they shall not passe: they shall not returne to couer the earth. 10 He sendeth the springs into the valleis, which runne betweene the mountaines. 11 They shall giue drinke to all the beasts of the fielde, and the wilde asses shall quench their thirst. 12 By these springs shall the foules of the heauen dwell, and sing among the branches. 13 He watereth the mountaines from his chambers, and the earth is filled with the fruite of thy workes. 14 He causeth grasse to growe for the cattell, and herbe for the vse of man, that he may bring forth bread out of the earth, 15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oyle to make the face to shine, and bread that strengtheneth mans heart. 16 The high trees are satisfied, euen the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted, 17 That ye birdes may make their nestes there: the storke dwelleth in the firre trees. 18 The high mountaines are for the goates: the rockes are a refuge for the conies. 19 He appoynted the moone for certaine seasons: the sunne knoweth his going downe. 20 Thou makest darkenesse, and it is night, wherein all the beastes of the forest creepe forth. 21 The lions roare after their praye, and seeke their meate at God. 22 When the sunne riseth, they retire, and couche in their dennes. 23 Then goeth man forth to his worke, and to his labour vntill the euening. 24 O Lord, howe manifolde are thy workes! in wisdome hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. 25 So is this sea great and wide: for therein are things creeping innumerable, both small beastes and great. 26 There goe the shippes, yea, that Liuiathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. 27 All these waite vpon thee, that thou maiest giue them foode in due season. 28 Thou giuest it to them, and they gather it: thou openest thine hand, and they are filled with good things. 29 But if thou hide thy face, they are troubled: if thou take away their breath, they dye and returne to their dust. 30 Againe if thou send forth thy spirit, they are created, and thou renuest the face of the earth. 31 Glory be to the Lord for euer: let the Lord reioyce in his workes. 32 He looketh on the earth and it trembleth: he toucheth the mountaines, and they smoke. 33 I will sing vnto the Lord all my life: I will prayse my God, while I liue. 34 Let my wordes be acceptable vnto him: I will reioyce in the Lord. 35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and the wicked till there be no more: O my soule, prayse thou the Lord. Prayse ye the Lord.
In Praise of the Creator
1 Praise the Lord, my soul!
O Lord, my God, how great you are!
You are clothed with majesty and glory;
2 you cover yourself with light.
You have spread out the heavens like a tent
3 and built your home on the waters above.
You use the clouds as your chariot
and ride on the wings of the wind.
4 You use the winds as your messengers
and flashes of lightning as your servants.
5 You have set the earth firmly on its foundations,
and it will never be moved.
6 You placed the ocean over it like a robe,
and the water covered the mountains.
7 When you rebuked the waters, they fled;
they rushed away when they heard your shout of command.
8 They flowed over the mountains and into the valleys,
to the place you had made for them.
9 You set a boundary they can never pass,
to keep them from covering the earth again.
10 You make springs flow in the valleys,
and rivers run between the hills.
11 They provide water for the wild animals;
there the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 In the trees near by,
the birds make their nests and sing.
13 From the sky you send rain on the hills,
and the earth is filled with your blessings.
14 You make grass grow for the cattle
and plants for us to use,
so that we can grow our crops
15 and produce wine to make us happy,
olive oil to make us cheerful,
and bread to give us strength.
16 The cedars of Lebanon get plenty of rain—
the Lord's own trees, which he planted.
17 There the birds build their nests;
the storks nest in the fir trees.
18 The wild goats live in the high mountains,
and the rock badgers hide in the cliffs.
19 You created the moon to mark the months;
the sun knows the time to set.
20 You made the night, and in the darkness
all the wild animals come out.
21 The young lions roar while they hunt,
looking for the food that God provides.
22 When the sun rises, they go back
and lie down in their dens.
23 Then people go out to do their work
and keep working until evening.
24 Lord, you have made so many things!
How wisely you made them all!
The earth is filled with your creatures.
25 There is the ocean, large and wide,
where countless creatures live,
large and small alike.
26 The ships sail on it, and in it plays Leviathan,
that sea monster which you made.
27 All of them depend on you
to give them food when they need it.
28 You give it to them, and they eat it;
you provide food, and they are satisfied.
29 When you turn away, they are afraid;
when you take away your breath, they die
and go back to the dust from which they came.
30 But when you give them breath, they are created;
you give new life to the earth.
31 May the glory of the Lord last forever!
May the Lord be happy with what he has made!
32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles;
he touches the mountains, and they pour out smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord all my life;
as long as I live I will sing praises to my God.
34 May he be pleased with my song,
for my gladness comes from him.
35 May sinners be destroyed from the earth;
may the wicked be no more.
Praise the Lord, my soul!
Praise the Lord!