Psalms 103:16-26

16 saturabuntur ligna campi et cedri Libani quas plantavit

17 illic passeres nidificabunt erodii domus dux est eorum

18 montes excelsi cervis petra refugium erinaciis

19 fecit lunam in tempora sol cognovit occasum suum

20 posuisti tenebras et facta est nox in ipsa pertransibunt omnes bestiae silvae

21 catuli leonum rugientes ut rapiant et quaerant a Deo escam sibi

22 ortus est sol et congregati sunt et in cubilibus suis conlocabuntur

23 exibit homo ad opus suum et ad operationem suam usque ad vesperum

24 quam magnificata sunt opera tua Domine omnia in sapientia fecisti impleta est terra possessione tua

25 hoc mare magnum et spatiosum *manibus; illic reptilia quorum non est numerus animalia pusilla cum magnis

26 illic naves pertransibunt draco iste quem formasti ad inludendum ei

Psalms 103:16-26 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.