Psalms 103:7-17

7 (102-7) He hath made his ways known to Moses: his wills to the children of Israel.

8 (102-8) The Lord is compassionate and merciful: longsuffering and plenteous in mercy.

9 (102-9) He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten for ever.

10 (102-10) He hath not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 (102-11) For according to the height of the heaven above the earth: he hath strengthened his mercy towards them that fear him.

12 (102-12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our iniquities from us.

13 (102-13) As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that fear him:

14 (102-14) For he knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are dust:

15 (102-15) Man’s days are as grass, as the flower of the field so shall he flourish.

16 (102-16) For the spirit shall pass in him, and he shall not be: and he shall know his place no more.

17 (102-17) But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity upon them that fear him: And his justice unto children’s children,

Psalms 103:7-17 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.