Psalms 103:1-8

1 Bless Jehovah, O my soul; And all that is within me, [bless] his holy name.

2 Bless Jehovah, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy desire with good things, [So that] thy youth is renewed like the eagle.

6 Jehovah executeth righteous acts, And judgments for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, His doings unto the children of Israel.

8 Jehovah is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness.

Psalms 103:1-8 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.