Psalm 104 (103): “Send Forth Your Spirit,” the Psalm of Creation and Pentecost

Psalm 104 is a hymn to God the Creator: the heavens, the springs, the mountains, the animals and the seasons all depend on him, and “Thou shalt send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created: and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.” That verse makes it the Church’s psalm for Pentecost. In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 103. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.

Psalm 104 in the Douay-Rheims Bible

For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, thou art exceedingly great. Thou hast put on praise and beauty:
And art clothed with light as with a garment. Who stretchest out the heaven like a pavilion:
Who coverest the higher rooms thereof with water. Who makest the clouds thy chariot: who walkest upon the wings of the winds.
Who makest thy angels spirits: and thy ministers a burning fire.
Who hast founded the earth upon its own bases: it shall not be moved for ever and ever.
The deep like a garment is its clothing: above the mountains shall the waters stand.
At thy rebuke they shall flee: at the voice of thy thunder they shall fear.
The mountains ascend, and the plains descend into the place which thou hast founded for them.
Thou hast set a bound which they shall not pass over; neither shall they return to cover the earth.
Thou sendest forth springs in the vales: between the midst of the hills the waters shall pass.
All the beasts of the field shall drink: the wild asses shall expect in their thirst.
Over them the birds of the air shall dwell: from the midst of the rocks they shall give forth their voices.
Thou waterest the hills from thy upper rooms: the earth shall be filled with the fruit of thy works:
Bringing forth grass for cattle, and herb for the service of men. That thou mayst bring bread out of the earth:
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.
The trees of the field shall be filled, and the cedars of Libanus which he hath planted:
There the sparrows shall make their nests. The highest of them is the house of the heron.
The high hills are a refuge for the harts, the rock for the irchins.
He hath made the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
Thou hast appointed darkness, and it is night: in it shall all the beasts of the woods go about:
The young lions roaring after their prey, and seeking their meat from God.
The sun ariseth, and they are gathered together: and they shall lie down in their dens.
Man shall go forth to his work, and to his labour until the evening.
How great are thy works, O Lord? thou hast made all things in wisdom: the earth is filled with thy riches.
So is this great sea, which stretcheth wide its arms: there are creeping things without number: Creatures little and great.
There the ships shall go. This sea dragon which thou hast formed to play therein.
All expect of thee that thou give them food in season.
What thou givest to them they shall gather up: when thou openest thy hand, they shall all be filled with good.
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.
Thou shalt send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created: and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the Lord endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
He looketh upon the earth, and maketh it tremble: he toucheth the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Let my speech be acceptable to him: but I will take delight in the Lord.
Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and the unjust, so that they be no more: O my soul, bless thou the Lord.

Psalm 104 or Psalm 103?

The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 103 is Psalm 104 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Benedic, anima mea, Domino: Domine Deus meus, magnificatus es vehementer. See how many psalms are there?

What the psalm means

  • God clothed in light: “Thou hast put on praise and beauty: And art clothed with light as with a garment.”
  • The order of creation: waters, mountains, springs and trees each have their place in God’s plan.
  • Gifts for human life: “that wine may cheer the heart of man… and that bread may strengthen man’s heart.” Christians think of the bread and wine of the Eucharist.
  • All creatures wait on God: when he gives, they gather; when he takes away their breath, they return to dust.
  • The renewing Spirit: “Thou shalt send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created: and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.”

How the Church uses Psalm 104

  • On Pentecost: “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” See Pentecost.
  • At the Easter Vigil, after the reading of the creation story in Genesis.
  • On the Baptism of the Lord (Year C).
  • In the Come, Holy Spirit prayer, whose versicle “Send forth thy Spirit and they shall be created” comes from this psalm. See Come, Holy Spirit.

A prayer with Psalm 104

Written for this page:

Lord my God, how great you are, clothed in light as with a garment.
All creatures look to you, and you give them what they need.
Send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth,
and renew my heart with the fire of your love. Amen.

Frequently asked questions

Where is “Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth”?

Psalm 104:30 (103:30 in the Douay-Rheims).

Why is Psalm 104 sung at Pentecost?

Because it praises the Spirit of God who creates and renews all things.

More psalms and prayers

Texts and sources

  • Scripture: Psalm 103 (104), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
  • The prayer was written for this page.