Psalms 103:1-10

1 By David: Bless ADONAI, my soul! Everything in me, bless his holy name!

2 Bless ADONAI, my soul, and forget none of his benefits!

3 He forgives all your offenses, he heals all your diseases,

4 he redeems your life from the pit, he surrounds you with grace and compassion,

5 he contents you with good as long as you live, so that your youth is renewed like an eagle's.

6 ADONAI brings vindication and justice to all who are oppressed.

7 He made his ways known to Moshe, his mighty deeds to the people of Isra'el.

8 ADONAI is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in grace.

9 He will not always accuse, he will not keep his anger forever.

10 He has not treated us as our sins deserve or paid us back for our offenses,

Psalms 103:1-10 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.