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Read Psalms Chapter 103

{A Psalm} of David.

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1Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

You are readingKing James Version

Explanation

Psalms 103

In short

The writer calls on his own soul to praise God. He lists God's gifts: forgiveness, healing, rescue from danger, and constant love. The passage teaches that God's mercy lasts forever, while human life is fleeting and weak.

What the text says

In verses 1 and 2, the writer tells himself to bless the Lord and not forget what God has done. Verses 3 to 5 name the benefits: God forgives sin, heals sickness, saves life from ruin, gives kindness and pity, and satisfies with good things so that strength is renewed. Verse 6 says God brings justice for the oppressed. Verses 7 and 8 recall that God showed his ways to Moses and acts to Israel, and describe God as merciful, slow to anger, and full of mercy.

Verses 9 to 12 emphasize that God does not punish the way we deserve. His mercy is as high as heaven is above earth, and he has removed our wrongs from us as far as east is from west. Verses 13 to 16 compare God's pity for those who fear him to a father's pity for his children, since God knows we are dust. Human life is like grass and flowers that wither and vanish. Verse 17 and 18 state that God's mercy lasts forever, reaching to descendants, for those who keep his covenant and remember his commands. Verses 19 to 22 end by calling on angels and all God's works to bless him.

Takeaways

  • God's mercy is unlimited in scale and duration, while human life is brief and fragile.
  • God does not punish people according to what they deserve, but offers forgiveness instead.
  • Praise belongs to God from all creation, and a person can begin by praising with their whole self.

Explanation written with the help of AI. The Bible text above is not changed. Context and interpretation are flagged as such; always come back to the text itself.