Psalm 104 35

Psalm 104:35 kjv

Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 104:35 nkjv

May sinners be consumed from the earth, And the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!

Psalm 104:35 niv

But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Praise the LORD, my soul. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 104:35 esv

Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!

Psalm 104:35 nlt

Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth;
let the wicked disappear forever.
Let all that I am praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 104 verses

Psalm 104 35 Meaning

Psalm 104:35 concludes a majestic celebration of God's creative and sustaining power by expressing a desire for cosmic justice: the removal of all those who defy God's established order. This removal, through divine judgment, is seen as necessary for the earth to fully manifest God's glory and for genuine worship to thrive unhindered. The verse culminates in a dual declaration of personal and communal praise, acknowledging God's sovereignty over creation and humanity's response to it, even in the face of ongoing evil.

Psalm 104 35 Context

Psalm 104 is a hymn of creation, closely paralleling the Genesis account (Gen 1-2). It eloquently describes God as the sole majestic Creator, clothing Himself in light, stretching out the heavens, appointing natural laws, and sustaining all forms of life on earth—from mountains to springs, cedars to wild goats, the sun and moon dictating seasons, to the teeming life in the sea. The psalm consistently celebrates God's providential care for every creature, highlighting His intricate design and provision. Against this backdrop of divine order and benevolence, verse 35 introduces a striking shift: the need to address the human element of disorder, sin. It posits that for God's creation to fully reflect His glory and for His divine order to flourish, the disruptive force of human wickedness must be utterly removed. This anticipates the complete restoration and ultimate dominion of God, leading to the climactic call to praise Him.

Psalm 104 35 Word analysis

• Let sinners: ḥaṭṭā'îm (חַטָּאִים). Derived from ḥāṭā' (חָטָא), meaning "to miss the mark." It describes not just those who commit isolated acts of sin, but those whose very orientation and lifestyle are characterized by missing God's moral and spiritual targets, standing in opposition to His revealed will and the divine order established in creation. This denotes a deliberate and consistent state of rebellion.
• be consumed: tammû (תַּמּוּ). A verb from the root tāmam (תמם), meaning "to be complete," "to be finished," "to come to an end," or "to be consumed/perish entirely." It carries the connotation of being utterly obliterated or brought to a definitive cessation, indicating a final and irreversible divine judgment. This is an active, definitive termination, not mere fading away.
• from the earth: min hā'āreṣ (מִן הָאָרֶץ). Refers to the removal from the land or the world. In the Old Testament context, "the earth" (’ereṣ) can signify the land of Israel (as a sphere of God's covenant blessing) or the entire global habitat. Its removal implies a severance from the sphere where God's creative order is meant to be honored and enjoyed. It highlights the cosmic scale of the desired judgment.
• and let the wicked: wāw rāšā' (וְרְשָׁעִים). Rāšā' (רָשָׁע) denotes those who are "guilty," "ungodly," "lawless," "unrighteous." It specifically refers to those who pervert justice, inflict harm, or live contrary to divine and moral standards. Often contrasted with the ṣaddîq (righteous). The coupling with "sinners" reinforces the comprehensive nature of those to be removed.
• be no more: 'ôḏ 'êynām (עוֹד אֵינָם). A strong emphatic expression meaning "no longer existing," "cease to be," or "be completely gone." This reiterates and strengthens the sense of ultimate and total disappearance implied by "be consumed." It emphasizes the absolute and lasting nature of their removal from existence on earth.
• Bless the LORD: Bārăḵî Yahweh (בָּרְכִי יְהוָה). Bārăḵ (בָּרַךְ) means "to bless," often signifying an act of reverential praise, worship, and giving honor to God. This command to oneself expresses deep personal devotion and acknowledgment of God's greatness.
• O my soul: napšî (נַפְשִׁי). The Hebrew word nepeš refers to the innermost self, life, breath, or vital essence of a person. Here, it signifies the psalmist's entire being—his mind, will, and emotions—engaging wholeheartedly in worship. It makes the act of blessing intensely personal and total.
• Praise the LORD!: Hal·lû Yah (הַלְלוּ יָהּ). A potent imperative, literally "Praise Yah" (Yahweh, the divine name). This is the famous "Hallelujah," a command and a doxology calling for joyful acclamation and adoration of God. Its placement here provides a powerful and emphatic conclusion, affirming God's worthiness of all praise despite the presence of evil, and even because of His ultimate resolution of evil.

Words-group analysis

• "Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more!": This strong declarative plea reflects a theological conviction that God's moral governance requires justice. The presence of sustained wickedness is an affront to God's character and disrupts His established order. The "consumption" and "no more" signify a radical purification, envisioning a future where creation is no longer marred by human defiance. It's a petition for the full realization of God's holy dominion, not a call for individual vengeance but for cosmic rectification. This theme aligns with many prophetic pronouncements about the end of evil and the establishment of God's righteous kingdom.
• "Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!": This constitutes a sharp and pivotal transition, moving from a prayer for judgment against evil to a declaration of fervent worship. It highlights that the ultimate response to understanding God's nature (as presented throughout Ps 104) is deep, personal, and communal praise. The psalmist shifts from an external plea to an internal resolve, anchoring hope and devotion in God's sovereignty regardless of current circumstances, and anticipating the time when God's glory will be fully unrestrained by wickedness. The "Hallelujah" at the end frequently acts as a liturgical marker or conclusion, inviting broader participation in this praise.

Psalm 104 35 Bonus section

The seemingly abrupt shift in Psalm 104:35, from praising creation to calling for the consumption of the wicked, underscores a critical theological tension throughout the Bible: the interplay between divine creation, human sin, and God's justice. It highlights that creation itself yearns for liberation from the effects of human rebellion. The psalmist's petition can be understood eschatologically, looking forward to a time when God's righteous rule is fully established on a purged earth. The "Hallelujah" concluding the psalm (and the fourth book of Psalms, Ps 90-106) often functions as a liturgical refrain, not merely ending the psalm but potentially inviting a broader, perhaps communal, response to the truths revealed. It emphasizes that ultimate praise stems from faith in God's sovereignty over all things, including the resolution of evil. This demonstrates a comprehensive vision of God: He is not only the gentle preserver but also the just judge who will eventually rectify all wrong, ensuring that His magnificent creation will ultimately reflect His pure glory without hindrance.

Psalm 104 35 Commentary

Psalm 104:35 acts as a pivotal turn and concluding statement to one of the Bible's most magnificent hymns of creation. Following an elaborate description of God's majestic order and benevolent sustenance of all life, the psalmist expresses a fervent longing for the eradication of evil from the world. This is not a cry for personal vengeance, but a theological petition born from the realization that human sin is inherently disruptive to God's beautiful and purposeful creation. For God's grand design to be fully actualized, the persistent opposition of "sinners" and "the wicked" must cease. Their consumption implies a final judgment, a purification of the earth to restore cosmic harmony and justice, where the entire creation can properly reflect God's glory. The immediate shift from this profound declaration of judgment to the enthusiastic "Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!" demonstrates a robust faith. It affirms that even while witnessing ongoing evil or longing for its removal, the appropriate and ultimate response to God's being and sovereign works (both in creation and in judgment) is unreserved worship and joyous praise. The final "Hallelujah" encapsulates the psalm's profound message: God, the majestic Creator and Sustainer, is utterly worthy of all adoration, particularly because His holiness necessitates the triumph of good over evil. This verse encourages believers to yearn for God's ultimate justice while perpetually giving Him glory.