Geneva Study Bible Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art {a} clothed with honour and majesty.
(a) The prophet shows that we do not need to enter into the heavens to seek God, for as much as all the order of nature, with the propriety and placing of the elements, are living mirrors to see his majesty in. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who {b} maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
(b) As the prophet here shows that all visible powers are ready to serve God: so in He 1:7 the angels also, are obedient to his commandment. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. Thou coveredst it with the {c} deep as with a garment: the {d} waters stood above the mountains.
(c) You make the sea to be an ornament to the earth. (d) If by your power you did not bridle the rage of the waters, the whole world would be destroyed. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. They give drink to every {e} beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
(e) If God provides for the beasts, much more will he extend his provident care to man. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. By {f} them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
(f) There is no part of the world so barren where most evident signs of God's blessing do not appear. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He watereth the hills from his {g} chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
(g) From the clouds. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of {h} man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
(h) He describes God's providential care over man, who not only provides necessary things for him such as herbs and other meat: but also things to rejoice and comfort him such as wine and oil or ointments. And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. He appointed {i} the moon for seasons: {k} the sun knoweth his going down.
(i) As to separate the night from the day, and to note days, months and years. (k) That is, by his course, either far or near, it notes summer, winter and other seasons. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat {l} from God.
{l} That is, they only find meat according to God's providence, who cares even for the brute beasts. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. {m} Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
(m) That is, when the day springs for the light is as it were a shield to defend man against the tyranny and fierceness of beasts. O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. O LORD, how {n} manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
(n) He confesses that no tongue is able to express God's works nor mind to comprehend them. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. {o} These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
(o) God is a nourishing father, who provides for all creatures their daily foods. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou {p} hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
(p) As by your presence all things have life; so if you withdraw your blessings they all perish. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. Thou {q} sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
(q) As the death of creatures shows that we are nothing of ourselves: so their generation declares that we receive all things from our Creator. The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they {r} smoke.
(r) God's merciful face gives strength to the earth, but his severe countenance burns the mountains. I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD. Let the sinners be {s} consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD. (s) Who infect the world, and so cause it to be that God cannot rejoice in his work. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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