Psalm 104:12
ESV
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.
NIV
The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.
NASB
The birds of the sky dwell beside them; They lift up their voices from among the branches.
CSB
The birds of the sky live beside the springs; they make their voices heard among the foliage.
NLT
The birds nest beside the streams and sing among the branches of the trees.
KJV
By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
NKJV
By them the birds of the heavens have their home; They sing among the branches.
What does Psalm 104:12 mean?
Please see our chapter commentary on Psalm 104, verse-level content coming soon!Psalm 104:5–30 celebrates God's greatness as demonstrated in creation. All animals, all resources, all climates, and all environments are part of His design. So, too, are the sun and moon which are used to divide time. The Lord established every aspect of these natural elements. Without Him, nothing could exist. Only He creates and controls life. This is a more extensive description than other psalms which touch on creation (Psalm 8; 19; 24; 65; 95; 102; 121; 147).
The psalmist praises the Lord for His creation. God is credited with establishing the earth, setting boundaries for bodies of water, and providing water and food for animals and human beings. What God has made includes proper living spaces for all sorts of life. He set the motions of the sun and moon. All creation owes its existence to God's Spirit. The psalmist resolves to continue praising the Lord while hoping that the wicked will be removed from earth.
