Psalms 103:9

9 Not for ever doth He strive, Nor to the age doth He watch.

Psalms 103:9 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 103:9

He will not always chide
He sometimes does chide his children, though never but when they have done a fault; always for their sins, in order to bring them to a sense and acknowledgment of them, and to depart from them; not for chiding sake, as some parents, to gratify their passion and ill humour, who correct for their own pleasure; but the Lord chides and corrects for the profit of his children, that they may be partakers of his holiness; he ever does it for their good, but he will not always chide, or continue it ever: or "he will not always contend" F5, strive with them, litigate a point with them, hold out a controversy, not being able to stand before him; he knows their frame, their weakness, and frailty; see ( Isaiah 57:16 ) ,

neither will he keep his anger for ever;
though he does with the wicked, yet not with his own people; that endures but for a moment, and is rather seeming than real; and what does appear is soon turned away; he does not retain it long, he is quickly pacified towards them for all they have done, and smiles again upon them, ( Micah 7:18 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F5 (byry) "contendet", Pagninus, Montanus; "litigat", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "litigabit", Vatablus, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalms 103:9 In-Context

7 He maketh known His ways to Moses, To the sons of Israel His acts.
8 Merciful and gracious [is] Jehovah, Slow to anger, and abundant in mercy.
9 Not for ever doth He strive, Nor to the age doth He watch.
10 Not according to our sins hath He done to us, Nor according to our iniquities Hath He conferred benefits upon us.
11 For, as the height of the heavens [is] above the earth, His kindness hath been mighty over those fearing Him.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.