Psalms 104:19-24

104:19 He made the moon to mark the months, ¹ 

and the sun sets according to a regular schedule. ² 

104:20 You make it dark and night comes, ³ 

during which all the beasts of the forest prowl around.

104:21 The lions roar for prey,

seeking their food from God. ⁴ 

104:22 When the sun rises, they withdraw

and sleep ⁵  in their dens.

104:23 Men then go out to do their work,

and labor away until evening. ⁶ 

104:24 How many living things you have made, O Lord! ⁷ 

You have exhibited great skill in making all of them; ⁸ 

the earth is full of the living things you have made.

[104:19]  ¹ tn Heb “he made [the] moon for appointed times.” The phrase “appointed times” probably refers to the months of the Hebrew lunar calendar.

[104:19]  ² tn Heb more metaphorically, “knows its setting.”

[104:20]  ³ tn Heb “you make darkness, so that it might be night.”

[104:21]  ⁴ sn The lions’ roaring is viewed as a request for food from God.

[104:22]  ⁵ tn Heb “lie down.”

[104:23]  ⁶ tn Heb “man goes out to his work, and to his labor until evening.”

[104:24]  ⁷ tn Heb “How many [are] your works, O Lord.” In this case the Lord’s “works” are the creatures he has made, as the preceding and following contexts make clear.

[104:24]  ⁸ tn Heb “all of them with wisdom you have made.”