day 20 : e v ening pray er
104

Benedic, anima mea

1  Praise the Lord, O my soul. *
O Lord my God, you have become exceedingly glorious;
you are clothed with majesty and honor.
2  You clothe yourself with light as with a garment, *
and spread out the heavens like a curtain.
3  You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters, *
and make the clouds your chariot, and walk upon the wings 
of the wind.
4  You make winds your messengers, *
and flames of fire your ministers.

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5  You laid the foundations of the earth, *
that it never should move at any time.
6  You cover it with the deep as with a garment; *
the waters stand above the hills.
7  At your rebuke they fled; *
at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.
8  They went up as high as the hills, and down
  to the valleys beneath, *
even to the place you had appointed for them.
9  You have set bounds for them which they shall not pass; *
neither shall they again cover the earth.
10  You send the springs into the rivers, *
which run among the hills.
11  All beasts of the field drink thereof, *
and the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12  Beside them shall the birds of the air have their habitation *
and sing among the branches.
13  You water the hills from above; *
the earth is filled with the fruit of your works.
14  You bring forth grass for the cattle, *
and plants for the service of mankind,
15  That they may bring food out of the earth, and wine
  that makes glad the heart, *
and oil to make a cheerful countenance, and bread 
to strengthen the heart. 
16  The trees of the Lord also are full of sap, *
even the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,
17  Wherein the birds make their nests, *
and the fir trees are a dwelling for the stork.
18  The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats, *
and so are the stony cliffs for the rock badgers.
19  You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, *
and the sun knows its going down.
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20  You make darkness that it may be night, *
in which all the beasts of the forest move.
21  The lions, roaring after their prey, *
seek their meat from God.
22  The sun arises, and they go away together, *
and lay themselves down in their dens.
23  Man goes forth to his work, *
and to his labor until the evening.
24  O Lord, how manifold are your works; *
in wisdom you made them all; the earth is full 
of your creatures.
25  So is the great and wide sea also, *
in which are things creeping innumerable, creatures 
both small and great.
26  There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan, *
whom you made to take its pleasure therein.
27  These all wait upon you, *
that you may give them food in due season.
28  When you give it to them, they gather it, *
and when you open your hand, they are filled 
with good things.
29  When you hide your face, they are troubled; *
when you take away their breath, they die, and are turned 
again to their dust.
30  When you let your breath go forth, they shall be made, *
and you shall renew the face of the earth.
31  The glorious majesty of the Lord shall endure for ever; *
the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
32  He looks at the earth and it trembles; *
if he even touches the hills, they shall smoke.
33  I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being,

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34  And so shall my words please him; *
my joy shall be in the Lord.
35  As for sinners, they shall perish from the earth, and the
  ungodly shall come to an end. *
Praise the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord.