KJV ORIGINAL
Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
You make darkness, and it becomes night, when all the wild animals of the forest come out to move around.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is acknowledging that God controls the cycle of day and night, and that nighttime is when forest animals become active.
📚 Historical Context
This psalm is a creation hymn celebrating God's sovereignty over all aspects of nature. In ancient times, people were much more aware of the daily rhythms of wildlife, as they lived closer to nature and observed how different animals were active at different times. The darkness of night before artificial lighting was profound, and people would have been very familiar with the sounds and movements of nocturnal creatures.
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