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Benedic, anima meaBCP p. 7351Bless the Lord, O my soul; *O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness! you are clothed with majesty and splendor.
2You wrap yourself with light as with a cloak *and spread out the heavens like a curtain.
3You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters above; *you make the clouds your chariot; you ride on the wings of the wind.
4You make the winds your messengers *and flames of fire your servants.
5You have set the earth upon its foundations, *so that it never shall move at any time.
6You covered it with the Deep as with a mantle; *the waters stood higher than the mountains.
7At your rebuke they fled; *at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.
8They went up into the hills and down to the valleys beneath, *to the places you had appointed for them.
9You set the limits that they should not pass; *they shall not again cover the earth.
10You send the springs into the valleys; *they flow between the mountains.
11All the beasts of the field drink their fill from them, *and the wild asses quench their thirst.
12Beside them the birds of the air make their nests *and sing among the branches.
13You water the mountains from your dwelling on high; *the earth is fully satisfied by the fruit of your works.
14You make grass grow for flocks and herds *and plants to serve mankind;
15That they may bring forth food from the earth, *and wine to gladden our hearts,
16Oil to make a cheerful countenance, *and bread to strengthen the heart.
17The trees of the Lord are full of sap, *the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,
18In which the birds build their nests, *and in whose tops the stork makes his dwelling.
19The high hills are a refuge for the mountain goats, *and the stony cliffs for the rock badgers.
20You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, *and the sun knows the time of its setting.
21You make darkness that it may be night, *in which all the beasts of the forest prowl.
22The lions roar after their prey *and seek their food from God.
23The sun rises, and they slip away *and lay themselves down in their dens.
24Man goes forth to his work *and to his labor until the evening.
25O Lord, how manifold are your works! *in wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
26Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too many to number, *creatures both small and great.
27There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan, *which you have made for the sport of it.
28All of them look to you *to give them their food in due season.
29You give it to them; they gather it; *you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.
30You hide your face, and they are terrified; *you take away their breath, and they die and return to their dust.
31You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *and so you renew the face of the earth.
32May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; *may the Lord rejoice in all his works.
33He looks at the earth and it trembles; *he touches the mountains and they smoke.
34I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *I will praise my God while I have my being.
35May these words of mine please him; *I will rejoice in the Lord.
36Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, *and the wicked be no more.