Psalms 104:20-24

Context

104:20 You make it dark and night comes,¹

during which all the beasts of the forest prowl around.

104:21 The lions roar for prey,

seeking their food from God.²

104:22 When the sun rises, they withdraw

and sleep³ in their dens.

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

and labor away until evening.⁴

104:24 How many living things you have made, O Lord!⁵

You have exhibited great skill in making all of them;⁶

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

[104:20] ¹tn Heb “you make darkness, so that it might be night.”

[104:21] ²sn The lions’ roaring is viewed as a request for food from God.

[104:22] ³tn Heb “lie down.”

[104:23] ⁴tn Heb “man goes out to his work, and to his labor until evening.”

[104:24] ⁵tn 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] ⁶tn Heb “all of them with wisdom you have made.”