Animals

Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him (Genesis 2:19-20).

You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas (Psalm 8:6-8).

Our thoughts ought instinctively to fly upwards from animals, men, and natural objects to their Creator. If things created are so full of loveliness, how resplendent with beauty must be he who made them! The wisdom of the Worker is apparent in His handiwork.
~ Antony of Padua

Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.
~ George Eliot

Though I am far from denying that the counsels of Divine Goodness regarding dumb creatures are, for us, involved in deep obscurity, yet Scripture foretells for them a ‘glorious liberty’. And we are assured that the compassion of Heaven will not be wanting to them.
~ John Keble

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.