Psalms 103:4-14

4 who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with mercy and compassion;

5 who satisfies thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The LORD executes righteousness and justice unto all that suffer violence.

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

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

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

10 He has not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth so does he increase his mercy over those that fear him.

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.

Psalms 103:4-14 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.