Psalms 104:32
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
He looks on the earth, and it trembles: he touches the hills, and they smoke.
American King James Version (AKJV)
He looks on the earth, and it trembles: he touches the hills, and they smoke.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Who looketh on the earth, and it trembleth; He toucheth the mountains, and they smoke.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
At whose look the earth is shaking; at whose touch the mountains send out smoke.
Webster's Revision
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
World English Bible
He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Who looketh on the earth, and it trembleth; he toucheth the mountains, and they smoke.
Clarke's Psalms 104:32 Bible Commentary
He looketh on the earth - Even the look of God terrifies all created nature!
He toucheth the hills - So easy is it for God to burn up the earth and the worlds thereof, that even his touch kindles the mountains into flames! See Etna, Vesuvius, Stromboli, etc.; these are ignited by the touch of God. How majestic are these figures!
The renewal of the earth, and re-creation of deceased animals, shall take place when he shall shake terribly the heavens and the earth; when they shall be wrapped together as a scroll, and the earth and its works be dissolved, that is, after the general convulsion and conflagration of the world.
Barnes's Psalms 104:32 Bible Commentary
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth - There is great sublimity in this expression, as indicating the power and the majesty of God. He has only to "look" upon his works, and they stand in awe and tremble. The most mighty and fearful convulsions of nature occur as if they were the mere effect of God's "looking" on the earth. Compare Habakkuk 3:10 - "The mountains saw thee, and they trembled."
He toucheth the hills, and they smoke - That is, as Mount Sinai did when God came down upon it. Exodus 19:18. It is as if the hills were conscious of his presence, and were awed.
Wesley's Psalms 104:32 Bible Commentary
104:32 He looketh — This is a farther illustration of God's powerful providence: as when he affords his favour to creatures, they live and thrive, so on the contrary, one angry look or touch of his upon the hills or earth, makes them tremble and smoke, as Sinai did when God appeared in it.
