Outdoor Contemplative Service

Psalm 104

1Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord my God, you are very great!

You are clothed with majesty and splendor.

2You wrap yourself with light as with a cloak

and stretch out the heavens like a tent.

3You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters above;

you make the clouds your chariot; you ride on the wings of the wind.

4You make the winds your messengers

and flames of fire your servants.

5You set the earth upon its foundations,

so that from now until forever it shall never be moved.

6You covered it with the deep as with a garment;

the waters stood above the mountains.

7At your rebuke the waters fled,

scattered by your voice of thunder.

8They went up into the mountains and descended down to the valleys,

to the place where you assigned them.

9You set the limits that they should not pass;

never shall they return to cover the earth again.

10You made the springs into rivers

that flow between the mountains.

11All the animals drink their fill from them,

and the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

12Beside them the birds of the air make their nests;

among the branches they lift their voice.

13From your dwelling on high, you water the mountains;

the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your works.

14You make grass grow for the cattle, and plants to serve humankind;

that they may bring forth food from the earth,

15wine to gladden human hearts, oil to make the face shine,

and bread to strengthen the human heart.

16The trees of the Lord are well supplied,

the cedars of Lebanon that you planted,

17in which the birds build their nests,

while the stork makes the fir trees its dwelling.

18The high hills belong to the mountain goats,

and the stony cliffs are a refuge for the badgers.

19You made the moon to mark the seasons,

and the sun knows the time of its setting.

20You bring on darkness that it may be night,

in which all the beasts of the forest prowl.

21The lions roar for their prey

seeking their food from God.

22The sun rises, and they withdraw

and lay themselves down in their dens.

23People go forth to their work

and to their labor until the evening.

24How manifold are your works, O Lord!

In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

25Yonder is the sea, great and wide, with its swarms too many to number,

living things both small and great.

26There go the ships to and fro,

and Leviathan, which you made for the sport of it.

27All of them look to you

to give them their food in due season.

28You give it to them; they gather it;

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

29When you hide your face, they are terrified;

when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.

30You send forth your Spirit, and they are created;

and so you renew the face of the earth.

31May the glory of the Lord endure forever;

O Lord, rejoice in all your works.

32You look at the earth and it trembles;

you touch the mountains and they smoke.

33I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

I will praise my God while I have my being.

34May these words of mine please God.

I will rejoice in the Lord.

35Let sinners be consumed from the earth and the wicked be no more.

Bless the Lord, O my soul. Hallelujah!

All are invited to pray, silently or aloud.