Psalms 103:1-9

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless the name of his holiness.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all thy diseases;

4 who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with mercy and compassion;

5 who satisfies thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The LORD executes righteousness and justice unto all that suffer violence.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the sons of Israel.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger for ever.

Psalms 103:1-9 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.