BOOK 19 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Psalms 104

Psalms book home•Chapter 104 of 150•35 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Psalms 104 Overview

The psalm clothes God in light, surveys waters, mountains, animals, seasons, sun and moon, sea creatures, and dependence on God's Spirit, then answers creation with lifelong praise.

PsalmsBook

104Chapter

35Verses

PoetryDivision

Before you read Psalms 104

Coming from

Psalm 103 centered on bless the lord for forgiveness, compassion, and covenant mercy. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.

In this chapter

The psalm clothes God in light, surveys waters, mountains, animals, seasons, sun and moon, sea creatures, and dependence on God's Spirit, then answers creation with lifelong praise.

Leads into

Psalm 105 turns to remember the covenant through patriarchs, egypt, and exodus, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Psalm 104 belongs to Book IV of the Psalter (Psalms 90–106). Poetic descriptions of creation use vivid observational language; they should not be forced into a modern scientific sequence or hidden symbolic system.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

The Creator continually sustains His world.

Creation truth

In Psalm 104, creation displays the LORD’s power, wisdom, ownership, and sustaining care.

Praise truth

In Psalm 104, praise responds to God’s character and deeds and draws the worshipper beyond self-preoccupation.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Creation connection

Genesis 1 presents God as Creator by sovereign word. This connection helps frame Psalm 104.

Praise connection

Hebrews 13:15 speaks of offering to God the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips giving thanks to His name. This connection helps frame Psalm 104.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep creation in context

Read Psalm 104 as inspired poetry about the Creator; do not force every image into a modern scientific diagram or a hidden symbolic code.

Keep praise in context

The praise practices in Psalm 104 show the breadth of Israel’s worship; not every listed physical expression becomes a universal church requirement.

Read Psalms 104 watching for…

clothed with light.

waters and mountains.

springs beasts.

moon and sun.

Leviathan and Spirit.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-9The LORD is clothed with honor and orders the heavens, waters, and foundations of the earth 10-18God provides springs, vegetation, food, trees, and homes for creatures 19-30God appoints seasons and continually gives food, life, breath, and renewal to his creatures 31-35The psalmist rejoices in God’s glory and works and ends with praise

Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.

They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.

By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.

The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.

Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

Man goeth forth unto 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 this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.

Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

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Psalms 104:26

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