Psalm 103:9

9 He does not dispute continually, nor keep [his anger] forever.

Psalm 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 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Psalm 103:9 In-Context

7 [who] made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the {people} of Israel.

8 Yahweh [is] compassionate and gracious, {slow to anger} and abundant in loyal love.

9 He does not dispute continually, nor keep [his anger] forever.

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

11 For as [the] heavens are high above the earth, [so] his loyal love prevails over those who fear him.