What does Psalms Chapter 103 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Clouds, spirits, waters and foundations retain the admitted wording. Heron, harts and irchins remain alongside springs, food and daily labor. Breath withdrawal, spirit sending and closing requests retain their distinct forms.

Chapter breakdown

Benedic, anima is the incipit; the heading calls praise for mighty works and providence. For David, the soul blesses God exceedingly great, dressed in praise and beauty and light like garment, stretching heaven like pavilion, covering higher rooms with water, clouds as chariot and walking on wind's wings. He makes angels spirits and ministers burning fire, with earth on its own bases not to move forever. Spirits is not changed to winds.

The deep is clothing like garment and waters shall stand above mountains, flee at rebuke and fear thunder. Mountains ascend and plains descend to their founded place; a bound has been set for waters not to return to cover earth. Future verbs remain future, with no added ocean-basin chronology or guarantee against every local flood. Springs go into vales and waters shall pass hills, beasts shall drink and wild asses expect in thirst. Birds shall dwell and voice from rocks. God waters hills and earth shall fill with works' fruit: cattle grass, herb for human service, bread from earth, wine to cheer heart, oil to cheer face and bread to strengthen heart. Medicinal herbs are not specified.

Trees and planted Libanus cedars shall fill, sparrows nest and the highest is heron's house. Hills shelter harts and rock irchins; goats and badgers are not substitutions. Moon was made for seasons, sun knows setting, darkness makes night for woodland beasts, young lions seeking meat from God. Sunrise gathers them and they shall lie in dens; man shall work until evening. God made all in wisdom and earth is rich; the wide sea has countless small and great creeping creatures, ships shall go and sea dragon is formed to play.

All expect food in season; gifts shall be gathered and opened hand shall fill with good. If face turns, creatures shall be troubled; breath withdrawn, they fail and return to dust. Spirit shall be sent, creatures created and earth renewed. The speaker asks enduring glory and anticipates God's rejoicing in works. God's look makes earth tremble and touch mountains smoke. He will sing while alive, asks speech acceptable, will delight and asks sinners and unjust consumed so they are no more, ending soul's blessing. The smoking-mountain declaration and final request are not omitted or converted into accomplished events.

The story inside

Opening: Clouds, spirits, waters and foundations retain the admitted wording. Development: Heron, harts and irchins remain alongside springs, food and daily labor. Conclusion: Breath withdrawal, spirit sending and closing requests retain their distinct forms.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Clouds, spirits, waters and foundations retain the admitted wording.
2
Heron, harts and irchins remain alongside springs, food and daily labor.
3
Breath withdrawal, spirit sending and closing requests retain their distinct forms.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 64209–64216
103:1. For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, thou art exceedingly great. Thou hast put on praise and beauty: 103:2. And art clothed with light as with a garment. Who stretchest out the heaven like a pavilion: 103:3. Who coverest the higher rooms thereof with water. Who makest the clouds thy chariot: who walkest upon the wings of the winds.
Lines 64244–64251
103:13. Thou waterest the hills from thy upper rooms: the earth shall be filled with the fruit of thy works: 103:14. Bringing forth grass for cattle, and herb for the service of men. That thou mayst bring bread out of the earth: 103:15. And that wine may cheer the heart of man. That he may make the face cheerful with oil: and that bread may strengthen man’s heart.
Lines 64286–64296
103:27. All expect of thee that thou give them food in season. 103:28. What thou givest to them they shall gather up: when thou openest thy hand, they shall all be filled with good. 103:29. But if thou turnest away thy face, they shall be troubled: thou shalt take away their breath, and they shall fail, and shall return to their dust. 103:30. Thou shalt send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created: and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.