Psalms 103:9-19

9 He 1will not always strive with us, Nor will He 2keep His anger forever.
10 He has 3not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high 4as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He 5removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just 6as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
14 For 7He Himself knows our frame; He 8is mindful that we are but 9dust.
15 As for man, his days are 10like grass; As a 11flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 When the 12wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its 13place acknowledges it no longer.
17 But the 14lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness 15to children's children,
18 To 16those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts to do them.
19 The LORD has established His 17throne in the heavens, And His 18sovereignty rules over all.

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Psalms 103:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 103

\\<>\\. The Targum adds, ``spoken in prophecy,'' as doubtless it was, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Some think it was written by David, after a fit of illness, and his recovery from it, since he speaks of his diseases being healed, and his youth renewed; for which reason the Syriac interpreter suggests it was written in his old age; for he makes the subject of the psalm to be, ``concerning coldness which prevailed upon him in old age;'' but rather he wrote it when his heart was warm with a sense of the love of God, and spiritual blessings of grace flowing from thence; and in it celebrates and sings the benefits of New Testament times; and it is a psalm suitable to be sung by every believer, under a quick sense of divine favours: wherefore the above interpreter better adds, ``also an instruction and thanksgiving by men of God;'' whom the psalmist may very well be thought to personate, even in Gospel times; and much rather than the Jews in captivity, as Kimchi thinks.

Cross References 18

  • 1. Psalms 30:5; Isaiah 57:16
  • 2. Jeremiah 3:5, 12; Micah 7:18
  • 3. Ezra 9:13; Lamentations 3:22
  • 4. Psalms 36:5; Psalms 57:10
  • 5. 2 Samuel 12:13; Isaiah 38:17; Isaiah 43:25; Zechariah 3:9; Hebrews 9:26
  • 6. Malachi 3:17
  • 7. Isaiah 29:16
  • 8. Psalms 78:39
  • 9. Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:7
  • 10. Psalms 90:5; Isaiah 40:6; 1 Peter 1:24
  • 11. Job 14:2; James 1:10, 11
  • 12. Isaiah 40:7
  • 13. Job 7:10; Job 8:18; Job 20:9
  • 14. Psalms 25:6
  • 15. Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 5:10; Psalms 105:8
  • 16. Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalms 25:10
  • 17. Psalms 11:4
  • 18. Psalms 47:2, 8; Daniel 4:17, 25

Footnotes 7

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