Evening Prayer - Psalm 104

This is my favorite Psalm, and it happens to be the Psalm appointed for evening prayer today.

Psalm 104

Bless the LORD, O my soul; *

O LORD my God, how excellent is your greatness!

you are clothed with majesty and splendor.

You wrap yourself with light as with a cloak *

and spread out the heavens like a curtain.

You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters above; *

you make the clouds your chariot;

you ride on the wings of the wind.

You make the winds your messengers *

and flames of fire your servants.

You have set the earth upon its foundations, *

so that it never shall move at any time.

You covered it with the Deep as with a mantle; *

the waters stood higher than the mountains.

At your rebuke they fled; *

at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.

They went up into the hills and down to the valleys beneath, *

to the places you had appointed for them.

You set the limits that they should not pass; *

they shall not again cover the earth.

You send the springs into the valleys; *

they flow between the mountains.

All the beasts of the field drink their fill from them, *

and the wild asses quench their thirst.

Beside them the birds of the air make their nests *

and sing among the branches.

You water the mountains from your dwelling on high; *

the earth is fully satisfied by the fruit of your works.

You make grass grow for flocks and herds *

and plants to serve mankind;

That they may bring forth food from the earth, *

and wine to gladden our hearts,

Oil to make a cheerful countenance, *

and bread to strengthen the heart.

The trees of the LORD are full of sap, *

the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,

In which the birds build their nests, *

and in whose tops the stork makes his dwelling.

The high hills are a refuge for the mountain goats, *

and the stony cliffs for the rock badgers.

You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, *

and the sun knows the time of its setting.

You make darkness that it may be night, *

in which all the beasts of the forest prowl.

The lions roar after their prey *

and seek their food from God.

The sun rises, and they slip away *

and lay themselves down in their dens.

Man goes forth to his work *

and to his labor until the evening.

O LORD, how manifold are your works! *

in wisdom you have made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.

Yonder is the great and wide sea

with its living things too many to number, *

creatures both small and great.

There move the ships,

and there is that Leviathan, *

which you have made for the sport of it.

All of them look to you *

to give them their food in due season.

You give it to them; they gather it; *

you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

You hide your face, and they are terrified; *

you take away their breath,

and they die and return to their dust.

You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *

and so you renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the LORD endure for ever; *

may the LORD rejoice in all his works.

He looks at the earth and it trembles; *

he touches the mountains and they smoke.

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; *

I will praise my God while I have my being.

May these words of mine please him; *

I will rejoice in the LORD.

Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, *

and the wicked be no more.

Bless the LORD, O my soul. *

Hallelujah!