For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Overview
The heavens and the earth, quiet waters, animals and lilies appear in the verses readers of OpenBible linked to beauty of the earth. Thirteen are from the Old Testament, seven of them from the Psalms; two are from the Gospels, two from the letters and one from Revelation. They are shown in four groups.
Read moreShow less
Psalm 19:1, whose heading attributes it to David, says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Psalm 24:1, also attributed to David by its heading, says that the earth belongs to the LORD, and Psalm 50:2, a psalm of Asaph according to its heading, says, “From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.” Psalms 33:5 and 104, with no heading, speak of the earth full of His loving devotion and of His creatures. Psalms 23:2–3 and 139:14, both attributed to David by their headings, speak of quiet waters and of being fearfully and wonderfully made.
Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and in 1:31 God sees that all He had made was very good. John 1:3 says that all things were made through the Word, and Colossians 1:16–17 that all things were created in the Son.
In Ecclesiastes 3:11 the Teacher says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” In Job 12:7–9 Job says to ask the animals and the earth, and in Luke 12:27 Jesus says that not even Solomon was adorned like the lilies. Romans 1:20 says that God's invisible qualities are understood from His workmanship.
Isaiah 40:26 speaks of the One who created the starry host and calls each by name, and 65:17 of new heavens and a new earth. In Revelation 4:11 the twenty-four elders say that God is worthy, “for You created all things.”
1Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. 2He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent, 3laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind. 4He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants. 5He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved. 6You covered it with the deep like a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 7At Your rebuke the waters fled; at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away— 8the mountains rose and the valleys sank to the place You assigned for them— 9You set a boundary they cannot cross, that they may never again cover the earth. 10He sends forth springs in the valleys; they flow between the mountains. 11They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12The birds of the air nest beside the springs; they sing among the branches. 13He waters the mountains from His chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His works. 14He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth: 15wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart. 16The trees of the LORD have their fill, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted, 17where the birds build their nests; the stork makes her home in the cypresses. 18The high mountains are for the wild goats, the cliffs a refuge for the rock badgers. 19He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set. 20You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the beasts of the forest prowl. 21The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. 22The sun rises, and they withdraw; they lie down in their dens. 23Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until evening. 24How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. 25Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small. 26There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there. 27All creatures look to You to give them their food in due season. 28When You give it to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things. 29When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust. 30When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth. 31May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in His works. 32He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smolder. 33I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD. 35May sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Hallelujah!
KJV
1Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: 3Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: 4Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 5Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. 6Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. 7At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. 8They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. 9Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. 10He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. 11They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. 12By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. 13He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. 14He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 15And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. 16The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; 17Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. 18The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. 19He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. 20Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. 21The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. 22The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. 23Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. 24O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. 25So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. 26There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. 27These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. 28That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. 29Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. 30Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. 31The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. 32He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. 33I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. 35Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
WEB
1Bless the LORD, my soul. The LORD, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty. 2He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain. 3He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind. 4He makes his messengers winds, and his servants flames of fire. 5He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever. 6You covered it with the deep as with a cloak. The waters stood above the mountains. 7At your rebuke they fled. At the voice of your thunder they hurried away. 8The mountains rose, the valleys sank down, to the place which you had assigned to them. 9You have set a boundary that they may not pass over, that they don’t turn again to cover the earth. 10He sends springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains. 11They give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches. 13He waters the mountains from his rooms. The earth is filled with the fruit of your works. 14He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may produce food out of the earth: 15wine that makes the heart of man glad, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart. 16The LORD’s trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted, 17where the birds make their nests. The stork makes its home in the cypress trees. 18The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers. 19He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set. 20You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the animals of the forest prowl. 21The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God. 22The sun rises, and they steal away, and lie down in their dens. 23Man goes out to his work, to his labor until the evening. 24LORD, how many are your works! In wisdom, you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches. 25There is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals. 26There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there. 27These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season. 28You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good. 29You hide your face; they are troubled. You take away their breath; they die and return to the dust. 30You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground. 31Let the LORD’s glory endure forever. Let the LORD rejoice in his works. 32He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke. 33I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being. 34Let my meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in the LORD. 35Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, my soul. Praise the LORD!
Show all 35 verses
A psalm with no heading; this entry is the whole psalm.
Context (BSB)
Psalm 103:22
Bless the LORD, all His works in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Psalm 105:1
Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
KJV
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
WEB
2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
From a psalm whose heading attributes it to David; this entry joins verses 2 and 3.
Context (BSB)
Psalm 23:1
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
All things created, in Genesis, John and Colossians
Colossians 1:16–17
BSB
KJV
WEB
BSB
16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
KJV
16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
WEB
16For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
From a letter in the names of Paul and Timothy to the believers in Colossae, in a passage about the Son, whom it calls the image of the invisible God; this entry joins verses 16 and 17.
Context (BSB)
Colossians 1:15
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:18
And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
KJV
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
WEB
God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
In Genesis, at the end of the sixth day of creation.
Context (BSB)
Genesis 1:30
And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
Genesis 2:1
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.
KJV
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
WEB
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.
From Ecclesiastes, in the words of the Teacher, right after he speaks of the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men.
Context (BSB)
Ecclesiastes 3:10
I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them.
Ecclesiastes 3:12
I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,
7But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. 8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you. 9Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
KJV
7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: 8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 9Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
WEB
7“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. 8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you. 9Who doesn’t know that in all these, the LORD’s hand has done this,
In the book of Job, Job answering his friends after Zophar has spoken; this entry runs from verse 7 to verse 9.
Context (BSB)
Job 12:6
The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands.
Job 12:10
The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
KJV
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
WEB
For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse.
Paul, writing to the church in Rome, in a passage about the wrath of God against the wickedness of men.
Context (BSB)
Romans 1:19
For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
Romans 1:21
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
KJV
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
WEB
Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Jesus speaking to His disciples, in a passage about not worrying about food and clothing.
Context (BSB)
Luke 12:26
So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Luke 12:28
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!
The starry host and new heavens, in Isaiah and Revelation
Isaiah 40:26
BSB
KJV
WEB
BSB
Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
KJV
Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
WEB
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these, who brings out their army by number. He calls them all by name. By the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, not one is lacking.
From the book of Isaiah, in a chapter that opens with comfort for God's people; the verse before is a question of the Holy One.
Context (BSB)
Isaiah 40:25
“To whom will you liken Me, or who is My equal?” asks the Holy One.
Isaiah 40:27
Why do you say, O Jacob, and why do you assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my claim is ignored by my God”?
For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
KJV
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
WEB
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered, nor come into mind.
The LORD speaking through Isaiah near the end of the book.
Context (BSB)
Isaiah 65:16
Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth, and whoever takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the former troubles will be forgotten and hidden from My sight.
Isaiah 65:18
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight.
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”
KJV
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
WEB
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed and were created!”
In Revelation, in John's vision of the throne in heaven; the words are those of the twenty-four elders.
Context (BSB)
Revelation 4:10
the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
Revelation 5:1
Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
