(= Psalm 104 in Hebrew numbering)
A cosmic hymn to creation, celebrating the order, vitality, and living breath of the world.
Word Notes for verses 1–30 only.
Versus 1
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 exceedingly great.
You have clothed yourself in splendour and beauty.
Word Notes
- benedico – benedicere – benedixi – benedictum – to bless, praise
- magnificor – magnificari – to be magnified, exalted
- confessio, -onis f. – splendour, praise (in liturgical sense)
- decor, decoris m. – beauty, glory
Versus 2
Amictus lumine sicut vestimento; extendens caelum sicut pellem:
Wrapped in light as in a garment; stretching out the heavens like a tent-skin.
Word Notes
- amicio – amicire – amictus – to cloak, wrap
- pelis, -is f. – skin, tent covering
Versus 3
Qui tegis aquis superiora eius: qui ponis nubem ascensum tuum; qui ambulas super pinnas ventorum:
You roof your chambers with waters;
you make the clouds your chariot;
you walk upon the wings of the wind.
Word Notes
- tego – tegere – texi – tectum – to cover
- nubes, -is f. – cloud
- pinna, -ae f. – wing, feather
Versus 4
Qui facis angelos tuos spiritus, et ministros tuos ignem urentem:
You make your angels winds, your ministers a flaming fire.
Word Notes
- spiritus, -us m. – wind, breath, spirit
- uro – urere – ussi – ustum – to burn
Versus 5
Qui fundasti terram super stabilitatem suam: non inclinabitur in saeculum saeculi.
You established the earth on its foundations; it shall not be moved forever and ever.
Word Notes
- fundo – fundare – to found, establish
- stabilitas, -atis f. – firmness
Versus 6
Abyssus sicut vestimentum amictus eius; super montes stabunt aquae.
The deep covered it like a garment; waters stood above the mountains.
Word Notes
- abyssus, -i f. – deep, primeval water
- sto – stare – to stand
Versus 7
Ab increpatione tua fugient; a voce tonitrui tui formidabunt.
At your rebuke they fled; at the voice of your thunder they trembled.
Word Notes
- increpatio, -onis f. – rebuke
- tonitrus, -us m. – thunder
- formido – formidare – to fear
Versus 8
Ascendunt montes, et descendunt campi in locum quem fundasti eis.
Mountains rose; valleys sank to the place you appointed for them.
Word Notes
- ascendo – ascendere – to rise
- campus, -i m. – plain, open land
Versus 9
Terminum posuisti, quem non transgredientur, neque convertentur operire terram.
You set a boundary they shall not cross, that they may not return to cover the earth.
Word Notes
- transgredior – transgredi – to cross, pass
- operio – operire – operui – opertum – to cover
Versus 10
Qui emittis fontes in convallibus: inter medium montium pertransibunt aquae.
You send forth springs in the valleys; between the mountains the waters pass.
Word Notes
- emitto – emittere – to send forth
- convallis, -is f. – valley
Versus 11
Potabunt omnes bestiae agri; expectabunt onagri in siti sua.
All the beasts of the field drink; wild asses quench their thirst.
Word Notes
- bestiæ, -arum f. – beasts
- onager, -gri m. – wild ass
Versus 12
Super ea volucres caeli habitabunt; de medio petrarum dabunt voces.
Beside them the birds of the air dwell; from among the rocks they lift their voices.
Word Notes
- volucris, -is f. – bird
- petra, -ae f. – rock
Versus 13
Rigans montes de superioribus suis; de fructu operum tuorum satiabitur terra.
You water the mountains from your chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your works.
Word Notes
- rigo – rigare – to water, irrigate
- satio – satiare – to fill, satisfy
Versus 14
Producens foenum jumentis, et herbam servituti hominum: ut educas panem de terra.
You cause grass to grow for cattle, and herbs for human use, that you may bring forth bread from the earth.
Word Notes
- foenum, -i n. – hay, grass
- jumentum, -i n. – beast of burden
Versus 15
Et vinum lætificet cor hominis: ut exhilaret faciem in oleo; et panis cor hominis confirmet.
And wine gladdens the heart; oil makes the face shine; bread strengthens the heart.
Word Notes
- laetifico – laetificare – to gladden
- confirmo – confirmare – to strengthen
Versus 16
Saturabuntur ligna campi, et cedri Libani quas plantavit.
The trees of the plain are filled with sap, the cedars of Lebanon which he planted.
Word Notes
- cedrus, -i f. – cedar
Versus 17
Illic passeres nidificabunt; herodii domicilium dux est eorum.
There the birds build their nests; the heron’s home is their leader’s dwelling.
Word Notes
- passer, -eris m. – sparrow
- herodius, -ii m. – heron
Versus 18
Montes excelsi cervis; petra refugium herinaciis.
High mountains are for the stags; the rocks a refuge for the hares.
Word Notes
- cervus, -i m. – stag
- herinacius, -ii m. – hedgehog / coney
Versus 19
Fecit lunam in tempora; sol cognovit occasum suum.
He made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting.
Word Notes
- occasus, -us m. – setting, west
Versus 20
Posuisti tenebras, et facta est nox: in ipsa pertransibunt omnes bestiae silvae.
You made darkness, and night came—then all the beasts of the forest roam.
Word Notes
- tenebrae, -arum f. – darkness
Versus 21
Catuli leonum rugient, ut rapiant, et quærant a Deo escam sibi.
Young lions roar after their prey and seek their food from God.
Word Notes
- catulus, -i m. – cub
- rapio – rapere – to seize
Versus 22
Ortus est sol, et congregati sunt, et in cubilibus suis collocabuntur.
The sun rises, they gather back, and lie down in their dens.
Word Notes
- cubile, -is n. – lair, bed
Versus 23
Exibit homo ad opus suum, et ad operationem suam usque ad vesperum.
Then man goes forth to his work and labour until evening.
Word Notes
- opus, -eris n. – work
- vesper, -eris m. – evening
Versus 24
Quam magnificata sunt opera tua, Domine! omnia in sapientia fecisti: impleta est terra possessione tua.
How manifold are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your riches.
Word Notes
- possessio, -onis f. – property, wealth
Versus 25
Hoc mare magnum et spatiosum manibus: illic reptilia quorum non est numerus.
Here is the great and wide sea: therein are creeping things without number.
Word Notes
- reptile, -is n. – creeping thing
Versus 26
Animalia pusilla cum magnis: illic naves pertransibunt.
Creatures small and great are there; ships sail through it.
Word Notes
- pusillus, -a, -um – very small
Versus 27
Hoc mare magnum… ibi draco quem formasti ad illudendum ei.
There too is the dragon (sea monster) you formed to sport in it.
Word Notes
- draco, -onis m. – monster, dragon
Versus 28
Omnia a te expectant ut des illis escam in tempore.
All creatures look to you to give them food in due season.
Word Notes
- escas / esca, -ae f. – food
Versus 29
Dante te illis, colligent; aperiente te manum tuam, omnia implebuntur bonitate.
When you give, they gather; when you open your hand, they are filled with goodness.
Word Notes
- impleo – implere – to fill
Versus 30
Avertente autem te faciem, turbabuntur; auferes spiritum eorum, et deficient et in pulverem suum revertentur.
When you hide your face, they are troubled; you take away their breath, they perish and return to dust.
Word Notes (last set)
- aufero – auferre – abstuli – ablatum – to take away
- deficio – deficere – to fail, perish
- pulvis, pulveris m. – dust
Verses 31–35 (Latin + English only — no Word Notes)
Versus 31
Emittes spiritum tuum, et creabuntur; et renovabis faciem terrae.
You send forth your spirit, and they are created; you renew the face of the earth.
Versus 32
Sit gloria Domini in saeculum; laetabitur Dominus in operibus suis.
May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works.
Versus 33
Qui respicit terram, et facit eam tremere; qui tangit montes, et fumigant.
He looks upon the earth and it trembles; he touches the mountains and they smoke.
Versus 34
Cantabo Domino in vita mea; psallam Deo meo quamdiu sum.
I will sing to the Lord while I live; I will praise my God while I have being.
Versus 35
Jucundum sit ei eloquium meum; ego vero delectabor in Domino. Deficiant peccatores a terra, et iniqui ita ut non sint. Benedic, anima mea, Domino.
May my meditation be pleasing to him; I will rejoice in the Lord.
Let sinners vanish from the earth, and the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Summary Commentary
A hymn of creation and breath
Psalm 103 is the most expansive creation psalm: a panoramic vision of light, water, sky, beasts, birds, and human life woven together.
Creation as ordered vitality
Everything has a place, a rhythm, a boundary set by wisdom.
The world is not chaotic but habitable — a sacred ecology.
Dependence upon the divine breath
Verses 28–30 form the heart of the psalm: all life receives, depends, fades, and is renewed by a single breath.
This is the earliest Hebrew meditation on interdependence.
The world as sanctuary
The psalm ends not in terror but in joy:
“I will sing while I have being.”
Creation is both the stage and the reason for praise.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
Translate:
- The Lord wraps himself in light.
- You send forth springs in the valleys.
- The young lions roar for their prey.
- How manifold are your works, O Lord!
Key
- Dominus lumine sicut vestimento amictus est.
- Fontes in convallibus emittere tu.
- Catuli leonum rugiunt ad praedam.
- Quam magnificata sunt opera tua, Domine!
(b) Verb Form Practice (present / imperfect / future)
- tego – tegere
- rigo – rigare
- emitto – emittere
- benedico – benedicere
- deficio – deficere
Model Answers
- tego / tegebam / tegam
- rigo / rigabam / rigabo
- emitto / emittebam / emittam
- benedico / benedicebam / benedicam
- deficio / deficiebam / deficiam
(c) Reflection Questions
- Which images of creation (light, mountains, beasts, seasons) speak most directly to your inner experience of order and renewal?
- What does it mean that “you renew the face of the earth” — psychologically, morally, spiritually?
- In what ways do you experience dependence and renewal in your own life?