The Psalms of David ‎#104

104. Bless God, my soul: thou, Lord, alone

1 Bless God, my soul; thou, Lord, alone
Possessest empire without bounds,
With honour thou art crown'd, thy throne
Eternal majesty surrounds.

2 With light thou dost thyself enrobe,
And glory for a garment take:
Heaven's curtains stretch beyond the globe,
Thy canopy of state to make.

3 God builds on liquid air, and forms
His palace-chambers in the skies;
The clouds his chariots are, and storms
The swift-wing'd steeds with which he flies.

4 As bright as flame, as swift as wind,
His ministers heav'n's palace fill,
To have their sundry tasks assign'd
All proud to serve their sov'reign's will.

5 Earth on her centre fix'd, he set,
Her face with waters overspread;
Nor proudest mountains dar'd as yet,
To lift above the waves their head.

6 But when thy awful face appear'd,
Th' insulting waves dispers'd; they fled
When once thy thunder's voice they heard,
And by their haste confess'd their dread.

7 Thence up by secret tracks they creep:
And gushing from the mountain's side,
Through vallies travel to the deep,
Appointed to receive their tide.

8 There hast thou fix'd the ocean's bounds,
The threat'ning surges to repel;
That they no more o'erpass their mounds,
Nor to a second deluge swell.

Part II.

9 The crystal streams from mountains drawn,
Rush down the rocks and cragged hills'
And starting springs, from ev'ry lawn,
Enrich the vales with plenteous rills.

10 The fields tame beasts are thither led,
Weary with labour, faint with drought;
And asses on wild mountains bred,
Have sense to find these currents out.

11 There shady trees from scorching beams,
Yield shelter to the feather'd throng;
They drink, and to the bounteous streams
Return the tribute of their song.

12 His rains from heav'n parch'd hills recruit,
That soon transmit the liquid store;
Till earth is burthen'd with her fruit,
And nature's lap can hold no more.

13 Grass, for our cattle to devour,
He makes the growth of ev'ry field;
Herbs for man's use of various pow'r,
That either food or physick yield.

14 With cluster'd grapes he crowns the vine,
To cheer man's heart oppress'd with cares;
Give oil that makes his face to shine;
And corn, that wasted strength repairs.

Part III.

15 The trees of God, without the care
Or art of man, with sap are fed;
The mountain-cedar looks as fair,
As those in royal gardens bred.

16 Safe in the lofty cedar's arms
The wand'rers of the air may rest;
The hospitable fir from harms
Protects the stork, her pious guest.

17 Wild goats the craggy rock ascend,
Its tow'ring heights their fortress make;
Its cells in labyrinths extend,
Where feebler creatures refuge take.

18 The moon's inconstant aspect shows
The varied progress of the year;
Th' instructed sun his duty knows,
His hours to rise and disappear.

19 Darkness he makes the earth to shroud,
When forest-beasts securely stray;
Young lions roar their wants aloud
To Providence that sends them prey.

20 They range all night, on slaughter bent,
'Till summon'd by the rising morn,
To sculk in dens, with one consent,
The conscious ravagers return.

21 Forth to the tillage of the soil,
The husbandman securely goes,
Commencing with the sun his toil,
With him returns to his repose.

22 How various, Lord, thy works are found,
For which thy wisdom we adore!
The earth is with thy treasure crown'd,
'Till nature's hand can grasp no more.

Part IV.

23 But still, the vast unfathom'd main
Of wonders a new scene supplies,
Whose depths inhabitants contain
Of ev'ry form and ev'ry size.

24 Full-freighted ships from ev'ry port
There cut their unmolested way;
Leviathan, whom there to sport
Thou mad'st his compass there to play.

25 These various troops of sea and land
In sense of common want agree;
All wait on thy dispensing hand,
And have their daily alms from thee.

26 They gather what thy stores disperse,
Without their trouble to provide:
Thou op'st thy hand, the universe,
The craving world is all supply'd.

27 Thou for a moment hid'st thy face,
The num'rous ranks of creatures mourn:
Thou tak'st their breath, all nature's race
Forthwith to mother earth return.

28 Again thou send'st thy spirit forth,
T' inspire the mass with vital seed;
Nature's restor'd, and parent earth
smiles on her new created breed.

29 Thus through successive ages stands
Firm fix'd thy providential care;
Pleas'd with the works of thy own hands,
Thou dost the wastes of time repair.

30 One look of thine, one wrathful look,
Earth's panting breast with terror fills;
One touch from thee, with clouds of smoke
In darkness shrouds the proudest hills.

31 In praising God, while he prolongs
My breath, I will that breath employ:
And join devotion to my songs,
Sincere, as in him is my joy.

32 While sinners from earth's face are hurl'd,
My soul, praise thou his holy name,
'Till with my song, the list'ning world
Join concert, and his praise proclaim.

Text Information

• First Line: Bless God, my soul: thou, Lord, alone
• Publication Date: 1789
• Scripture:
  Psalm 104

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