1 Blesse the Lord, O my soule, O Lord my God, thou art very great: thou art clothed with honour and maiestie.
2 Who couerest thy selfe with light, as with a garment: who stretchest out the heauens like a curtaine.
3 Who layeth the beames of his chambers in the waters, who maketh the cloudes his charet: who walketh vpon the wings of the wind.
4 Who maketh his Angels spirits: his ministers a flaming fire.
5 Who laid the foundations of the earth: that it should not be remoued for euer.
6 Thou coueredst it with the deepe as with a garment: the waters stood aboue the mountaines.
7 At thy rebuke they fled: at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
8 They go vp by the mountaines: they goe downe by the valleys vnto the place which thou hast founded for them.
9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not passe ouer: that they turne not againe to couer the earth.
10 He sendeth the springs into the valleys: which runne among the hilles.
11 They giue drinke to euery beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
12 By them shall the foules of the heauen haue their habitation: which sing among the branches.
13 He watereth the hilles from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy workes.
14 He causeth the grasse to grow for the cattell, and herbe for the seruice of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth:
15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oile to make his face to shine: and bread which strengtheneth mans heart.
16 The trees of the Lord are full of sappe: the cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted.
17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the Storke, the firre trees are her house.
18 The hie hilles are a refuge for the wilde goates: and the rockes for the conies.
19 He appointed the moone for seasons; the sunne knoweth his going downe.
20 Thou makest darknesse, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forrest doe creepe forth.
21 The young lyons roare after their pray: and seeke their meate from God.
22 The sunne ariseth, they gather themselues together: and lay them downe in their dennes.
23 Man goeth forth vnto his worke: and to his labour, vntill the euening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are thy workes! in wisedome hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25 So is this great and wide Sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable: both small and great beasts.
26 There goe the shippes; there is that Leuiathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27 These waite all vpon thee: that thou mayest giue them their meate in due season.
28 That thou giuest them, they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled, thou takest away their breath, they die: and returne to their dust.
30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
31 The glory of the Lord shall endure for euer: the Lord shall reioyce in his workes.
32 Hee looketh on the earth, and it trembleth; he toucheth the hilles, and they smoke.
33 I will sing vnto the Lord as long as I liue: I will sing praise to my God, while I haue my being.
34 My meditation of him shalbe sweete: I will be glad in the Lord.
35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked bee no more: blesse thou the Lord, O my soule. Praise yee the Lord.
God's majesty in the heavens, The creation of the sea, and the dry land. (1-9) His provision for all creatures. (10-18) The regular course of day and night, and God's sovereign power over all the creatures. (19-30) A resolution to continue praising God. (31-35)
1-9 Every object we behold calls on us to bless and praise the Lord, who is great. His eternal power and Godhead are clearly shown by the things which he hath made. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. The Lord Jesus, the Son of his love, is the Light of the world.
10-18 When we reflect upon the provision made for all creatures, we should also notice the natural worship they render to God. Yet man, forgetful ungrateful man, enjoys the largest measure of his Creator's kindness. the earth, varying in different lands. Nor let us forget spiritual blessings; the fruitfulness of the church through grace, the bread of everlasting life, the cup of salvation, and the oil of gladness. Does God provide for the inferior creatures, and will he not be a refuge to his people?
19-30 We are to praise and magnify God for the constant succession of day and night. And see how those are like to the wild beasts, who wait for the twilight, and have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Does God listen to the language of mere nature, even in ravenous creatures, and shall he not much more interpret favourably the language of grace in his own people, though weak and broken groanings which cannot be uttered? There is the work of every day, which is to be done in its day, which man must apply to every morning, and which he must continue in till evening; it will be time enough to rest when the night comes, in which no man can work. The psalmist wonders at the works of God. The works of art, the more closely they are looked upon, the more rough they appear; the works of nature appear more fine and exact. They are all made in wisdom, for they all answer the end they were designed to serve. Every spring is an emblem of the resurrection, when a new world rises, as it were, out of the ruins of the old one. But man alone lives beyond death. When the Lord takes away his breath, his soul enters on another state, and his body will be raised, either to glory or to misery. May the Lord send forth his Spirit, and new-create our souls to holiness.
31-35 Man's glory is fading; God's glory is everlasting: creatures change, but with the Creator there is no variableness. And if mediation on the glories of creation be so sweet to the soul, what greater glory appears to the enlightened mind, when contemplating the great work of redemption! There alone can a sinner perceive ground of confidence and joy in God. While he with pleasure upholds all, governs all, and rejoices in all his works, let our souls, touched by his grace, meditate on and praise him.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.