Psalm 104

Lately I have been translating some Psalms with an eye to make them easier to recite. Here is my translation of that wonderful nature psalm which I dubbed the Colorado Psalm in my mind.
-- Reb Zalman  

 

 

Bless YAH, breath of mine.

YAH my G~d, You are so vast and great

All veiled in pride and glory!

 

You are wrapped in Light.

The sky You spread like a sheet.

 

Your upper chambers are water roofed

As You sit astride on clouds.

You waft on the wings of wind.

 

The breezes You send are Your aides,

Your helpers - blazing flames.

 

You founded Earth so sound

to outlast time itself.

 

The abyss You covered like a mantle

Water! On mountains rests.

 

You sound a roar and they flee.

Your thunder makes them shake.

 

Mountains high and valleys low

their places they assume.

 

You set them limits they cannot pass

Never again to flood the land.

 

Springs - flow into brooks

and snake between the mountains.

 

All the wild of field drink there.

The beast there slake their thirst.

 

By their shores dwell birds that soar,

sounding calls through leaves and reeds.

 

You drench the hills

from Your Upper Chambers.

From your hands' produce

the Earth is filled.

 

You grow fodder for the tamed beasts

and herbs with human labor,

to bring forth bread from Earth.

And wine - to delight the sad ones,

and oil - that softens skin,

and bread - that sustains the weak.

 

Even the trees you sate with sap,

the cedars You planted on the Lebanon.

 

There birds find their nesting.

There storks find homes to rest.

 

Antelopes bound on the heights.

Marmots hide behind rocks.

The Moon pulls tides and seasons.

The sun knows where to set.

 

You darken dusk to night,

the forest's night life stirs.

 

The big cats cry for prey,

praying G~d for their food..

 

They return at the rising of the sun

to crouch once more in lairs.

 

While humans go out to work,

to their toil - up to night.

 

How many things You do!

So wisely are they made.

All Earth at your command.

 

This vast sea beyond all grasp,

countless are the creatures in her,

tiny ones and giant whales.

 

There go stately ships,

This Levi-athan You shaped

to play and romp therein.

 

They all rely on Your care,

to feed them well each time.

 

You give to them and they take it.

Your hand's gifts sate them well.

 

You hide your face, they panic.

You recall their breaths, they die.

They return to their dust.

 

You send your spirit

and they are re-created.

So too, You renew life on Earth.

 

Let Your glory, Yah, fill time and space.

Take Joy, O Yah, in what You do!

 

You look at Earth and she trembles,

Hills You touch and they smoke.

 

I live Your song, my Yah,

My Yah, I am Your tune.

 

Let my talking give You joy.

I am so happy, my Yah!

 

I wish no sin exist on Earth

All wickedness were gone.

 

Bless that Yah, my soul, my breath.

 

HALLELU--YAH