Psalm 104:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about.

NIV: You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl.

NASB: You appoint darkness and it becomes night, In which all the animals of the forest prowl about.

CSB: You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals stir.

NLT: You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about.

KJV: Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

NKJV: You make darkness, and it is night, In which all the beasts of the forest creep about.

Psalm 104:5–30 celebrates God's greatness as demonstrated in creation. All animals, all resources, all climates, and all environments are part of His design. So, too, are the sun and moon which are used to divide time. The Lord established every aspect of these natural elements. Without Him, nothing could exist. Only He creates and controls life. This is a more extensive description than other psalms which touch on creation (Psalm 8; 19; 24; 65; 95; 102; 121; 147).

The psalmist praises the Lord for His creation. God is credited with establishing the earth, setting boundaries for bodies of water, and providing water and food for animals and human beings. What God has made includes proper living spaces for all sorts of life. He set the motions of the sun and moon. All creation owes its existence to God's Spirit. The psalmist resolves to continue praising the Lord while hoping that the wicked will be removed from earth.

Psalms 103 and 104 begin with the same phrase but have different themes. The prior text emphasized God's loyal love for His people. Psalm 104 focuses on the Lord as Creator. This psalm echoes ideas also seen in Genesis 1—2 but does not follow the creation account directly. Of the psalms, this is the most detailed and overt in discussing God's work in creation. Other psalms discuss the subject briefly (Psalm 8; 19; 24; 65; 95; 102; 121; 147).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/22/2024 1:44:51 AM