Psalms — Chapter 103
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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.
1Bless Jehovah, O my soul; And all that is within me, [bless] his holy name.
2Bless Jehovah, 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 desire with good things, [So that] thy youth is renewed like the eagle.
6Jehovah executeth righteous acts, And judgments for all that are oppressed.
7He made known his ways unto Moses, His doings unto the children of Israel.
8Jehovah is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness.
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 after our iniquities.
11For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his lovingkindness 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 Jehovah 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 lovingkindness of Jehovah 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 precepts to do them.
19Jehovah hath established his throne in the heavens; And his kingdom ruleth over all.
20Bless Jehovah, ye his angels, That are mighty in strength, that fulfil his word, Hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21Bless Jehovah, all ye his hosts, Ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22Bless Jehovah, all ye his works, In all places of his dominion: Bless Jehovah, O my soul. Psalm 104
1By David. Praise the Lord, O my soul. With all that is within me, praise his holy name.
2Praise the Lord, O my soul. Do not forget all his kind deeds.
3He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases,
4who delivers your life from the Pit, who crowns you with his loyal love and compassion,
5who satisfies your life with good things, so your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
6The Lord does what is fair, and executes justice for all the oppressed.
7The Lord revealed his faithful acts to Moses, his deeds to the Israelites.
8The Lord is compassionate and merciful; he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love.
9He does not always accuse and does not stay angry.
10He does not deal with us as our sins deserve; he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve.
11For as the skies are high above the earth, so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers.
12As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us.
13As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers.
14For he knows what we are made of; he realizes we are made of clay.
15A person’s life is like grass. Like a flower in the field it flourishes,
16but when the hot wind blows, it disappears, and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.
17But the Lord continually shows loyal love to his faithful followers and is faithful to their descendants,
18to those who keep his covenant, who are careful to obey his commands.
19The Lord has established his throne in heaven; his kingdom extends over everything.
20Praise the Lord, you angels of his, you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees and obey his orders.
21Praise the Lord, all you warriors of his, you servants of his who carry out his desires.
22Praise the Lord, all that he has made, in all the regions of his kingdom. Praise the Lord, O my soul.
1Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!
2Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits;
3who forgives all your sins; who heals all your diseases;
4who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies;
5who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6Yahweh executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed.
7He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel.
8Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.
9He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.
10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.
11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.
12As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.
14For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.
15As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more.
17But Yahweh’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children’s children;
18to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts.
19Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all.
20Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.
21Praise Yahweh, all you armies of his, you servants of his, who do his pleasure.
22Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul!
Summary
A hymn of praise — 'Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits'; God forgives, heals, redeems, crowns with lovingkindness; 'as a father pitieth his children,' knowing we are dust; His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting.
Authorship & Background
- Self-Exhortation to Praise (vv.1-2)
- Personal Benefits from God (vv.3-5)
- God's Character Revealed (vv.6-10)
- The Greatness of God's Love (vv.11-14)
- Human Frailty vs. Everlasting Love (vv.15-18)
- God's Universal Sovereignty (vv.19-22)
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Reflection
- 1. Command your soul to praise (vv.1-2). Don't wait until you feel like worshiping. Tell your soul what to do. Preach truth to yourself. "Forget not ALL his benefits" — make a list if you must, but do not let forgetfulness steal your praise.
- 2. Five benefits to remember (vv.3-5): He forgives ALL iniquity, heals ALL diseases, redeems from destruction, crowns with love, and satisfies with good. Not one or two benefits — a cascade of grace upon grace.
- 3. God doesn't treat you as your sins deserve (v.10). This is the gospel in one verse. If God gave what you earned, you'd be lost. But He doesn't. His mercy overwhelms His justice toward those who fear Him.
- 4. He knows you're dust (v.14). God is not disappointed in your limitations. He made you from dust and remembers it. His expectations are fatherly and compassionate, not impossible and cruel.
- 5. From self to all creation (vv.1-22). The psalm begins with "O my soul" and expands to angels, hosts, all works, all places — then returns to "O my soul." Personal praise becomes cosmic praise becomes personal again. You are part of the universal chorus.