Mazmur 104:25-26

104:25 Over here is the deep, wide sea, ¹ 

which teems with innumerable swimming creatures, ² 

living things both small and large.

104:26 The ships travel there,

and over here swims the whale ³  you made to play in it.

Mazmur 107:23

107:23 ⁴ Some traveled on ⁵  the sea in ships,

and carried cargo over the vast waters. ⁶ 

[104:25]  ¹ tn Heb “this [is] the sea, great and broad of hands [i.e., “sides” or “shores”].”

[104:25]  ² tn Heb “where [there are] swimming things, and without number.”

[104:26]  ³ tn Heb “[and] this Leviathan, [which] you formed to play in it.” Elsewhere Leviathan is a multiheaded sea monster that symbolizes forces hostile to God (see Ps 74:14; Isa 27:1), but here it appears to be an actual marine creature created by God, probably some type of whale.

[107:23]  ⁴ sn Verses 23-30, which depict the Lord rescuing sailors from a storm at sea, do not seem to describe the exiles’ situation, unless the word picture is metaphorical. Perhaps the psalmist here broadens his scope and offers an example of God’s kindness to the needy beyond the covenant community.

[107:23]  ⁵ tn Heb “those going down [into].”

[107:23]  ⁶ tn Heb “doers of work on the mighty waters.”