Psalm 104:29
ESV
When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
NIV
When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
NASB
You hide Your face, they are terrified; You take away their breath, they perish And return to their dust.
CSB
When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
NLT
But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust.
KJV
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
NKJV
You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
What does Psalm 104:29 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.