Psalms 104:20-25

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 sleep ³  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.

104:25 Over here is the deep, wide sea, ⁷ 

which teems with innumerable swimming creatures, ⁸ 

living things both small and large.

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

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

[104:22]  ³ tn Heb “lie down.”

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

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

[104:25]  ⁶ tn Heb “this [is] the sea, great and broad of hands [i.e., “sides” or “shores”].”

[104:25]  ⁷ tn Heb “where [there are] swimming things, and without number.”