Today, bless the Lord, my Lord, O my soul!
O Lord, my God, greatness resides in Thee,
And clothed are you with majesty!
His light adorns Him like a splendent robe.
He stretches heaven’s tent across this globe
And lays with care His crafted palace beams
Above the heavens – the highest extremes.
On chariots of clouds He does descend,
Exploring far and wide on wings of wind.
He sends His angels far with words proclaimed.
O hear these messengers, the fiery flames!
The earth’s foundations show their strong and proved.
O feel this earth! It never shall be moved!
Amen! God clothed it with the oceans deep;
Below the waters, mountains stayed asleep.
When voicing Your rebuke, the waters fled.
Your thunder spoke! They washed away in dread
And let emerge the ranges and the dale.
The oceans still stay in their deep, deep jail.
You set a line with the long, sandy beach
That waters stay behind and cannot breach.
Our God sends forth the springs that flow between
The mountain peaks and down to green ravines
To give drink to every beast for their thirst.
The wild donkey’s tongue may too be immersed.
Nearby the waters, heaven’s birds will nest
And rest in branches singing their songfest.
Again, He rains on mountains from His throne.
He fills the earth with fruit He has grown.
He sows the grass for the cattle of the field
And gives a harvest rich from lands that yield,
Which gives to men our food upon this earth,
And wine to drink that fills my heart with mirth,
The oil that will make our faces shine,
And bread to strengthen long this heart of mine.
The trees of God are watered well with rains,
And Lebanon’s cedars, He too sustains,
The places where the birds will make their nests.
In cypress trees, the stork will find its rest.
The mountain heights are given for wild goats;
The tiny hyrax dwells in rocks remote.
The moon God made does mark the season’s turn.
He guides the sun to where it must return.
At night, the darkness comes at Your command,
And forest beasts will prowl about the land.
The lions hunt and roar out for their prey.
Their God provides and hunger is allayed.
As dawn arrives, to dens they do retreat.
The lions rest to sleep away the heat.
Then man awakes, wipes the sleep from his eye,
And labors until the darkening sky.
Your works, O Lord, are truly manifold.
With wisdom God, You made what we behold!
I see this earth with creatures You amassed.
I see the oceans stretching far and vast.
Your waters house the creatures none compute,
The massive living things and those minute.
The ships ply the waves and Leviathan,
Whom You made, splashes waters in his fun.
All creatures gaze on God and calmly wait
For food He gives in time to satiate!
When You provide to them, You freely give.
The creatures come and gather, and they live!
You open wide Your hand, and they are fed
And satisfied with all Your bounty’s spread!
But when You turn away and hide Your face,
They fear and shake; their courage is erased.
And when You come to take away their breath,
To dust they must return, for this is death.
But see! Your Spirit will rejuvenate,
And creatures once again You do create.
O praise our God who’s glory ever lasts!
Rejoicing in His works since ages past!
He looks on earth, and it trembles and sways.
He touches mountains; they pour smoke and haze.
To praise my Lord is one thing I persist!
I will praise God as long as I exist!
May all these meditations please You, God!
In You, Lord, I will rejoice and applaud.
May sin dwelling on this earth be consumed.
May wicked ones quickly now be entombed.
O praise the Lord and bless the Lord, my soul!
Jared Travis 