Psalms 104 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
Likely composed during the First Temple period (10th-6th century BC), though precise dating is uncertain
Location
Jerusalem, intended for use in Temple worship
Audience
The worshiping community of Israel gathered for Temple liturgy and festivals
Situation
This is a creation hymn praising God as Creator and sustainer of the universe, not tied to a specific historical event. It was likely sung or recited during worship gatherings to celebrate God's majesty and ongoing providence.
Key Background
Psalm 104 reflects ancient Near Eastern creation imagery while proclaiming YHWH as the sole Creator and sustainer of all life. The psalm shows literary connections to Genesis 1 and bears striking similarities to Egyptian creation hymns (particularly the Hymn to Aten), yet distinctly emphasizes monotheism and God's personal care for His creation. It portrays creation not as a one-time event but as God's continuous work of sustaining and renewing the earth.
Let me Yahweh! Yahweh my God, you are breathtakingly vast — wrapped in and
You wear like a robe, stretching out the like a tent canopy.
You lay the beams of your on the waters, you ride the clouds like a chariot, gliding on the of the
You make the winds your messengers, flames of fire your
He set the earth on its — it will never be shaken loose.
You covered it with the like a garment — the waters stood above the mountains.
At the sound of your the waters fled — they rushed away at the crash of your voice.
Mountains rose, valleys sank down — to the exact places you them.
You drew a they cannot cross — they will never flood the earth again.
You send flowing into the valleys — they wind their way between the mountains.
They give water to every animal — the quench their thirst.
The of the nest beside them, singing among the branches.
From upper rooms you water the mountains — the earth is by the of
You make grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to — bringing food up from the earth.
to make the human glad, oil to make the face shine, and bread to give the human strength.
Yahweh's trees drink deeply — the of that he planted.
where the birds build their nests — the makes her home in the cypress trees.
The high mountains belong to the wild goats, the rocky cliffs are a for the
He made the moon to mark the — the sun knows exactly when to set.
You bring and it becomes night — when every creature of the forest stirs.
The roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.
The sun rises, and they slip away, lying down in their dens.
Then people go out to their work, to their until evening.
Yahweh, what a staggering number of things made! You crafted every one of them with — the earth is full of what
And then there's the — vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond counting, living things both small and enormous.
Ships travel across it, and — that creature you shaped just to play in it.
Every one of them looks to you to give them their food at the right time.
When you give it to them, they gather it up. When you they are filled with
When you they panic. When you take away their they die and return to
When you send out they are created — and you make the of the new again.
May Yahweh's last forever! May Yahweh in what he has made!
He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they pour out smoke.
I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live. I will to my God I have
May my be to him — I find all my joy in Yahweh.
May those who vanish from the earth. May the be no more. Let everything inside me Yahweh! Praise