Psalm 103:7-17

7 He maketh known His ways to Moses, To the sons of Israel His acts.

8 Merciful and gracious [is] Jehovah, Slow to anger, and abundant in mercy.

9 Not for ever doth He strive, Nor to the age doth He watch.

10 Not according to our sins hath He done to us, Nor according to our iniquities Hath He conferred benefits upon us.

11 For, as the height of the heavens [is] above the earth, His kindness hath been mighty over those fearing Him.

12 As the distance of east from west He hath put far from us our transgressions.

13 As a father hath mercy on sons, Jehovah hath mercy on those fearing Him.

14 For He hath known our frame, Remembering that we [are] dust.

15 Mortal man! as grass [are] his days, As a flower of the field so he flourisheth;

16 For a wind hath passed over it, and it is not, And its place doth not discern it any more.

17 And the kindness of Jehovah [Is] from age even unto age on those fearing Him, And His righteousness to sons' sons,

Psalm 103:7-17 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.