THE PSALMS ON THE SPRINGING UP OF VERDURE. 429 



of Nature out of her long" sleep, it may be of many 

 months duration, upon the coming of the rains. It 

 opens with a description of the Greatness of the Creator, 



of whom it is said 



"Thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 

 Who coverest thyself with light, as with a garment: 

 Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: 

 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: 

 Who maketh the clouds his chariot: 

 Who walketh upon the wings of the wind,"* 



and then, passing on to the place where the spring- 

 ing up of the vegetation is described, it proceeds 



" He sendeth the springs into the valleys, 



Which run among the hills. 

 They give drink to every beast of the field : 



The wild asses quench their thirst. 

 By them shall the fowls of the heavens have their habitation, 



Which sing among the branches. 

 He watereth the hills from his chambers: 



The earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. 

 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, 



And herb for the service of man : 

 That he may bring forth food out of the earth. 

 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, 



And oil to make his face to shine. 

 And bread which strengthened man's heart. 

 The trees of the Lord are full of sap; 



The cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted; 

 Where the birds make their nests: 



As for the stork the fir trees are her house. 

 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats ; 



And the rocks for the conies, "f 



* Psalm civ., verses I (part of), and verses 2 and 3. 

 - Psalm civ., verses 10 to 18 inclusive. 



