Psalm 103:1-6

Praise for the LORD'S Mercies.

A Psalm of David.

1 ¹Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His ²holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And ³forget none * of His benefits;

3 Who ⁴pardons all your iniquities, Who ⁵heals all your diseases;

4 Who ⁶redeems your life from the pit, Who ⁷crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;

5 Who ⁸satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is ⁹renewed like the eagle.

6 The LORD ¹⁰performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are ¹¹oppressed.

Psalm 103:1-6 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.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 104:1, 35
• 2. Psalms 33:21; Psalms 105:3; Psalms 145:21; Ezekiel 36:21; Ezekiel 39:7
• 3. Deuteronomy 6:12; Deuteronomy 8:11
• 4. Exodus 34:7; Psalms 86:5; Psalms 130:8; Isaiah 43:25
• 5. Exodus 15:26; Psalms 30:2; Jeremiah 30:17
• 6. Psalms 49:15
• 7. Psalms 5:12
• 8. Psalms 107:9; Psalms 145:16
• 9. Isaiah 40:31
• 10. Psalms 99:4; Psalms 146:7
• 11. Psalms 12:5

Footnotes

• [a] Or "desire"
• [b] Or "deeds of vindication"