Psalm CIV

Awake my soul, attune the hallowed lyre
To thy Creator's name; while all my powers
Low at his feet present their prostrate homage,
And deepest reverence mingles with the praise.
Thou, O Jehovah, art the king supreme,
In robes of awful majesty array'd;
In robes of light, which dazzle angel-eyes,
And shade thy glories from their fainting view:
While far beneath thy feet, a wide expanse,
A radiant curtain of celestial blue,
Adorn'd with stars and suns, thy hand has spread:
That potent hand which in the watery stores
Of heaven, hath firmly laid with wonderous skill,
The stable beams of God's imperial seat.

Clouds form his chariot, the impetuous wind,
Rein'd in its full career, obeys his word;
And on its rapid wing he walks serene.
His angels form'd of pure etherial flame,
All spirit, zeal, activity and fire,
Bright ministers fulfil his high command
With swift obedience and unceasing ardour.

Earth's old foundations by his word were fix'd,
Immoveable, till that almighty word
Commands, and time and nature are no more.
Thy forming word, O God of nature, spread,
Wide o'er the surface of the infant world,
The fluid wave, an universal robe;
And o'er the mountain tops the waters rose.

At thy rebuke they fled, thy awful voice
In thunder spoke, and swift they roll'd away;
Nor hills obstruct their course, nor vales confine.
Obedient to thy word they seek the place
Thy hand has form'd, their copious reservoir;
Nor dare presume to rise beyond the bounds
Their maker set, nor cover earth again.

He sends refreshing springs to bless the vale
In silver streams among the hills they rove,
Adorn the scene, and cheer a thousand lives.
Here flocks and herds partake the cooling draught,
And here wild beasts their raging thirst allay.
Hither the feather'd tribes of various wing
Resort, and on the trees near waving build
Their airy nests, and tune their cheerful song
Amid the verdure of the leafy shade,
To the soft cadence of the winding rill.

By their Creator's hand the thirsty hills,
Are watered from the deep; whose stores in clouds
Exhal'd and shed in softening showers, the earth
Teems with rich fruits the product of his bounty.
For cattle here appears the springing grass,
And there for man the healthful herbage grows;
Earth yields her plenteous stores of food for all.

Here the rich vintage flows in purple streams,
To glad the heart; and there the olive drops
Its shining fatness for the use of man.
Full harvests in extended prospect rise,
Of strength-restoring, life-sustaining bread.
The trees, supplied with sap, confess his care,
And Lebanon's tall cedars own their Lord.

On the tall cedar, and the spiry fir,
The birds erect their nests, and dwell secure.
Accessless hills and craggy rocks afford
To creatures of the weak and timorous kind,
(Whom nature has not arm'd,) a safe retreat.
The changing moon obeys her Maker's word,
As with full orb or waning light she leads
The seasons on, alternate with the sun;
Who knows his task, pursues his radiant course,
And sets obedient at the appointed hour.

Then night ordain'd by thee, kind Lord of all,
Her friendly veil extends; the beasts of prey
In search of food, their gloomy coverts leave,
And roaring lions ask their meat from God.
All night they roam, till at the sun's approach
Assembling, they retire and seek their dens.

Then man in safety rises, and pursues
His daily work, protected by thy care,
And labours cheerful till the close of day.
Lord, how astonishing, how vast thy works,
Creation speaks! and providence confirms!
In all the numerous wonders of thy hand,
Infinite power and wisdom shine confess'd.

Great source of good, from thy all-bounteous hand,
The earth is fill'd with riches, and the sea
Through all her vast dominions, spreads abroad
Thy large munificence; there myriads live
Dependent on thy hand; there ships pursue
Their venturous way, by providence preserv'd,
Amid the countless perils of the deep.

Leviathan, proud tyrant of the main,
Rejoices in thy care, and sportive rolls
His bulk enormous through the troubled wave.
All wait on thee, through earth and air and seas;
From thee, great Father of the universe,
Thy family expectant ask their food.

With open hand thy sovereign bounty gives,
And all receive a full supply from thee.
Thy care withheld, they droop; the breath of life,
Received from thee, then animates no more;
They die and mingle with their native dust.
Again thy all-creating spirit breathes,
And creatures live and people earth anew.

Jehovah's boundless glory shall endure,
And shine unchanging through eternal years.
His eye complacent views his numerous works:
For all is fair, and good, and just, and wise.
When his almighty power appears alone,
Nor mercy softens its tremendous rays;
Earth trembles at his awful glance, the hills
Smoke at his touch, and nature shrinks away.

To him, all glorious Lord, my song is due;
The praises of my God shall be my theme;
While he prolongs my life, (that life is his!)
Still let me meditate his wonderous works,
And trace in them his infinite perfections.
Divine employ, when I can humbly hope
He is my God, and gladness fills my heart!

While sinners, who nor fear, nor love his name,
Consume away, and all their hopes are lost.
Bless thou the Lord, my soul; with sacred awe,
Yet mingled with delight, adore and praise.
Ye saints, who know the wonders of his hand,
Assist the grateful song, and praise the Lord.