Unnameable God

Unnameable God, you are fathomless;
I praise you with endless awe.

You are wrapped in light like a cloak;
you stretch out the sky like a curtain.

You make the clouds your chariot;
you walk on the wings of the wind.

You use the winds as your messengers,
thunder and lightening as your servants.

You look at the earth - it trembles;
you touch the hills and they smoke.

You laid the earth's foundations
so that they would never be destroyed.

You covered the land with
ocean; the waters rose over the mountains.

They fled at the sound of your voice;
you thundered and they ran away.

They rushed down into the valleys,
to the place you appointed for them.

You bounded them, so that they would never
return to inundate the earth.

You send streams into the valleys,
and they flow out among the hills.

All the animals drink from them;
the wild asses quench their thirst.

Beside them the birds of the sky dwell,
singing among the branches.

You water the hills from the sky;
by your care the whole earth is nourished.

You make grass grow for the cattle
and grains for the service of mankind,
to bring forth food from the earth
and bread that strengthens the body,
oil that makes the face shine,
and wine that gladdens the heart.

You plant the trees that grow tall
pines, and cedars of Lebanon,
where many birds build their nests,
and the stork on the topmost branches.

The mountains shelter the wild goats;
the cliffs are a shelter for the rock squirrels.

You created the moon to count months;
the sun knows when it must set.

You make darkness, it is night,
the forest animals emerge.

The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.

The sun rises, they withdraw,
and lie down together in their dens.

Humans go out to their labor
and work until it is evening.

How manifold are your creatures, Lord!
With wisdom you made them all;
the whole earth is filled with your riches.

Here is the sea in its vastness,
where innumerable creatures
live, fish both tiny and huge.

Here sharks swim, and the whale
that you created to play with.

All these depend on you
to give them food in due time.

You open your hands - they gather it:
you give it - they are filled with gladness.

You hide your face - they are stricken;
you take back their breath - they die
and return their bodies to the dust.

You send forth your breath - they are born,
and with them you replenish the earth.

Your grandeur will last forever;
eternally you rejoice in your works.

I will sing to you every moment;
I will praise you with every breath.

May all selfishness disappear from me,
and may you always shine from my heart.

~Psalm 104