Psalms 103:12-22

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

13 Like as a father has mercy upon his children, so the LORD has mercy upon those that fear him.

14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are as grass; as an open flower of the field, so he blossoms.

16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place shall know it no more.

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

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

19 The LORD has prepared his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, valiant and strong, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

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

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

Psalms 103:12-22 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.