Psalmorum 104
1 Ipsi David. [Benedic, anima mea, Domino: Domine Deus meus, magnificatus es vehementer. Confessionem et decorem induisti,
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great, clad in awful splendour,
2 amictus lumine sicut vestimento. Extendens cælum sicut pellem,
covered with robe of light. You stretch out the heavens like the cloth of a tent.
3 qui tegis aquis superiora ejus: qui ponis nubem ascensum tuum; qui ambulas super pennas ventorum:
He lays the beams of his chambers on water. He takes dark clouds for his chariot, and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 qui facis angelos tuos spiritus, et ministros tuos ignem urentem.
He takes the winds for his messengers, the fire and the flame for his servants.
5 Qui fundasti terram super stabilitatem suam: non inclinabitur in sæculum sæculi.
He founded the earth upon pillars, to sustain it unshaken forever.
6 Abyssus sicut vestimentum amictus ejus; super montes stabunt aquæ.
With the garment of ocean he covered it, waters towered over the mountains.
7 Ab increpatione tua fugient; a voce tonitrui tui formidabunt.
But at your rebuke they fled, scared by the roar of your thunder,
8 Ascendunt montes, et descendunt campi, in locum quem fundasti eis.
mountains rose, valleys sank down to the place appointed for them.
9 Terminum posuisti quem non transgredientur, neque convertentur operire terram.
They dared not pass the bounds set for them, or cover the earth any more.
10 Qui emittis fontes in convallibus; inter medium montium pertransibunt aquæ.
He sent brooks into the valleys, they meander between the mountains.
11 Potabunt omnes bestiæ agri; expectabunt onagri in siti sua.
The wild beasts all drink from them, and the wild asses quench their thirst.
12 Super ea volucres cæli habitabunt; de medio petrarum dabunt voces.
The birds have their home by the banks, and sing in the branches.
13 Rigans montes de superioribus suis; de fructu operum tuorum satiabitur terra:
From his chambers above he gives drink to the mountains, and satisfies earth with the vials of heaven.
14 producens fœnum jumentis, et herbam servituti hominum, ut educas panem de terra,
He makes grass grow for the cattle, and herbs for people. He brings bread out of the earth;
15 et vinum lætificet cor hominis: ut exhilaret faciem in oleo, et panis cor hominis confirmet.
wine, to gladden hearts; oil, to make faces shine; bread, to strengthen hearts.
16 Saturabuntur ligna campi, et cedri Libani quas plantavit:
The trees of the Lord drink their fill the cedars he planted on Lebanon,
17 illic passeres nidificabunt: herodii domus dux est eorum.
where the little birds build their nest, and the stork whose home is the cypress.
18 Montes excelsi cervis; petra refugium herinaciis.
The high hills are for the wild goats, and the rocks are for coneys to hide in.
19 Fecit lunam in tempora; sol cognovit occasum suum.
He created the moon to mark seasons, and told the sun when to set.
20 Posuisti tenebras, et facta est nox; in ipsa pertransibunt omnes bestiæ silvæ:
You make it dark: night comes, when all the wild beasts creep out.
21 catuli leonum rugientes ut rapiant, et quærant a Deo escam sibi.
Young lions that roar for their prey, seeking their meat from God.
22 Ortus est sol, et congregati sunt, et in cubilibus suis collocabuntur.
At sunrise they slink away, and lie down in their dens.
23 Exibit homo ad opus suum, et ad operationem suam usque ad vesperum.
Then people go forth to their work, and toil till evening.
24 Quam magnificata sunt opera tua, Domine! omnia in sapientia fecisti; impleta est terra possessione tua.
How many, O Lord, are your works, all of them made in wisdom! The earth is filled with your creatures.
25 Hoc mare magnum et spatiosum manibus; illic reptilia quorum non est numerus: animalia pusilla cum magnis.
And there is the great broad sea, where are countless things in motion, living creatures, both great and small.
26 Illic naves pertransibunt; draco iste quem formasti ad illudendum ei.
There go the ships, and the Leviathan you made to play there.
27 Omnia a te expectant ut des illis escam in tempore.
They all look in hope to you, to give them their food in due season.
28 Dante te illis, colligent; aperiente te manum tuam, omnia implebuntur bonitate.
And you give with open hand; they gather and eat to their heart’s desire.
29 Avertente autem te faciem, turbabuntur; auferes spiritum eorum, et deficient, et in pulverem suum revertentur.
When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take their breath away, they die and go back to their dust.
30 Emittes spiritum tuum, et creabuntur, et renovabis faciem terræ.
But a breath from your lips creates them, and renews the face of the earth.
31 Sit gloria Domini in sæculum; lætabitur Dominus in operibus suis.
May the glory of the Lord be forever, may the Lord rejoice in his works.
32 Qui respicit terram, et facit eam tremere; qui tangit montes, et fumigant.
A glance of his makes the earth tremble, a touch of his makes the hills smoke.
33 Cantabo Domino in vita mea; psallam Deo meo quamdiu sum.
I will sing to the Lord while I live, I will play to my God while I am.
34 Jucundum sit ei eloquium meum; ego vero delectabor in Domino.
May my musing be sweet to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Deficiant peccatores a terra, et iniqui, ita ut non sint. Benedic, anima mea, Domino.]
But may sinners be swept from the earth, and the wicked vanish forever. O my soul, bless the Lord. Hallelujah.
