Psalm 103

At Daily Vespers, and at Great Vespers which is not part of a Vigil the Psalm is read straight through without the responses. At Great Vespers being offered at a Vigil, the usual Russian Parish practice is to sing the verses and responses marked (*) straight through as a hymn. In some places the verses are sung by one choir and the responses by another, or a chanter intones the verses and the singers sing the response.

PSALM CIII. 103 (104)

David's. Concerning the Foundation of the World

Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord my God, Thou hast been magnified exceedingly.
Confession and majesty hast Thou put on, Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment,
Who stretchest out the heaven as it were a curtain; Who supporteth His chambers in the waters,
Who appointeth the clouds for His ascent, Who walketh upon the wings of the winds,
Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire,
Who establisheth the earth in the sureness thereof; it shall not be turned back for ever and ever.
The abyss like a garment is His mantle; upon the mountains shall the waters stand.
At Thy rebuke they will flee, at the voice of Thy thunder shall they be afraid.
The mountains rise up and the plains sink down, unto the place where Thou hast established them.
Thou appointedst a bound that they shall not pass, neither return to cover the earth.
He sendeth forth springs in the valleys; between the mountains will the waters run.
They shall give drink to all the beasts of the field; the wild asses will wait to quench their thirst.
Beside them will the birds of the heaven lodge, from the midst of the rocks will they give voice.
He watereth the mountains from His chambers; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Thy works.
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and green herb for the service of men,
To bring forth bread out of the earth; and wine maketh glad the heart of man.
To make his face cheerful with oil; and bread strengtheneth man's heart.
The trees of the plain shall be satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon, which Thou hast planted.
There will the sparrows make their nests; the house of the heron is chief among them.
The high mountains are a refuge for the harts, and so is the rock for the hares.
He hath made the moon for seasons; the sun knoweth his going down.
Thou appointedst the darkness, and there was the night, wherein all the beasts of the forest will go abroad.
Young lions roaring after their prey, and seeking their food from God.
The sun ariseth, and they are gathered together, and they lay them down in their dens.
But man shall go forth unto his work, and to his labour until the evening.
How magnified are Thy works, 0 Lord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all; the earth is filled with Thy creation.
So is this great and spacious sea, therein are things creeping innumerable, small living creatures with the great.
There go the ships; there this dragon, whom Thou hast made to play therein.
All things wait on Thee, to give them their food in due season; when Thou givest it them, they will gather it.
When Thou openest Thy hand, all things shall befilled with goodness; when Thou turnest away Thy face, they shall be troubled.
Thou wilt take their spirit, and they shall cease; and unto their dust shall they return.
Thou wilt send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created; and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let the glory of the Lord be unto the ages; the Lord will rejoice in His works, Who looketh on the earth and maketh it tremble, Who toucheth the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing unto the Lord throughout my life, I will chant to my God for as long as I have my being.
May my words be sweet unto Him, and I will rejoice in the Lord.
O that sinners would cease from the earth, and they that work iniquity, that they should be no more. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia, Glory be to Thee O Lord! (3 times)

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PSALM CIII. 103 (104)

David's. Concerning the Foundation of the World

*Bless the Lord, Omy soul; O Lord my God,
*Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
*Thou hast been magnified exceedingly.
*Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
Confession and majesty hast Thou put on, Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment,
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
Who stretchest out the heaven as it were a curtain; Who supporteth His chambers in the waters,
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
Who appointeth the clouds for His ascent, Who walketh upon the wings of the winds,
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire,
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
Who establisheth the earth in the sureness thereof; it shall not be turned back for ever and ever.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
The abyss like a garment is His mantle; upon the mountains shall the waters stand.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
At Thy rebuke they will flee, at the voice of Thy thunder shall they be afraid.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
The mountains rise up and the plains sink down, unto the place where Thou hast established them.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
Thou appointedst a bound that they shall not pass, neither return to cover the earth.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
He sendeth forth springs in the valleys; between the mountains will the waters run.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
They shall give drink to all the beasts of the field; the wild asses will wait to quench their thirst.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
Beside them will the birds of the heaven lodge, from the midst of the rocks will they give voice.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
He watereth the mountains from His chambers; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Thy works.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and green herb for the service of men,
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
To bring forth bread out of the earth; and wine maketh glad the heart of man.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
To make his face cheerful with oil; and bread strengtheneth man's heart.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
The trees of the plain shall be satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon, which Thou hast planted.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
There will the sparrows make their nests; the house of the heron is chief among them.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
The high mountains are a refuge for the harts, and so is the rock for the hares.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
He hath made the moon for seasons; the sun knoweth his going down.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
Thou appointedst the darkness, and there was the night, wherein all the beasts of the forest will go abroad.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
Young lions roaring after their prey, and seeking their food from God.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
The sun ariseth, and they are gathered together, and they lay them down in their dens.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
But man shall go forth unto his work, and to his labour until the evening.
Response: Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
*How magnified are Thy works, OLord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all;
*Response: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
*The earth is filled with Thy creation.
Response: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
So is this great and spacious sea, therein are things creeping innumerable, small living creatures with the great.
Response: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
There go the ships; there this dragon, whom Thou hast made to play therein.
Response: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
All things wait on Thee, to give them their food in due season; when Thou givest it them, they will gather it.
Response: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
When Thou openest Thy hand, all things shall befilled with goodness; when Thou turnest away Thy face, they shall be troubled.
Response: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Thou wilt take their spirit, and they shall cease; and unto their dust shall they return.
Response: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Thou wilt send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created; and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Response: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Let the glory of the Lord be unto the ages; the Lord will rejoice in His works,
Response: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Who looketh on the earth and maketh it tremble, Who toucheth the mountains and they smoke.
Response: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
I will sing unto the Lord throughout my life, I will chant to my God for as long as I have my being.
Response: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
May my words be sweet unto Him, and I will rejoice in the Lord.
Response: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
O that sinners would cease from the earth, and they that work iniquity, that they should be no more. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory be to Thee, O Lord. (3 times)

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