Psalms 103

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 103

1¶ [A Psalm] of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, [bless] his holy name.

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

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

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

5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good [things; so that] thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6¶ The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

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

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

9He will not always chide: neither will he keep [his anger] for ever.

10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11For as the heaven is high above the earth, [so] great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we [are] dust.

15[As for] man, his days [are] as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19¶ The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21Bless ye the LORD, all [ye] his hosts; [ye] ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalm 103 is a fervent call from David's soul to bless the Lord and remember all His benefits. It highlights God's forgiveness of sins, healing of diseases, and redemption from destruction, crowning His people with lovingkindness. The psalm emphasizes the Lord's merciful and gracious character, contrasting the brevity of human life with His everlasting mercy towards those who fear Him. It concludes by proclaiming God's universal dominion and calling all creation to bless His holy name.

Medium Summary

Psalm 103 begins with a passionate exhortation for the psalmist's soul to bless the Lord and not forget His numerous benefits. These include the forgiveness of all iniquities, the healing of diseases, redemption from destruction, and being crowned with lovingkindness and tender mercies. The psalm describes the Lord's character as merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, noting that He does not deal with humanity according to their sins. It vividly portrays the vastness of His mercy, comparing it to the height of heaven and the distance between east and west in removing transgressions. The psalmist contrasts the fleeting nature of human life, like grass, with the eternal and enduring mercy of God towards those who fear Him and keep His covenant. The psalm culminates in a declaration of God's universal sovereignty and a grand call for angels, heavenly hosts, and all His works to bless the Lord.

Long Summary

Psalm 103, attributed to David, opens with an impassioned and repeated call for the psalmist's soul, and all that is within him, to bless the holy name of the Lord and to remember all His benefits. These divine provisions are enumerated, including the complete forgiveness of iniquities, the healing of all diseases, the redemption of life from destruction, and the crowning with lovingkindness and tender mercies. The Lord is further praised for satisfying the soul with good things, leading to a renewal of youth likened to the eagle's. The psalm then elaborates on the Lord's righteous character, noting that He executes righteousness and judgment for all who are oppressed, and made His ways known to Moses and His acts to the children of Israel. A profound declaration of God's nature follows: He is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, choosing not to chide perpetually or to reward humanity according to their sins. The boundless extent of His mercy is vividly portrayed, likened to the height of heaven above the earth for those who fear Him, and the removal of transgressions as far as the east is from the west. Furthermore, the Lord's compassion is compared to a father's pity for his children, acknowledging humanity's frail, dust-like frame. In stark contrast to the transient nature of man, whose days are like grass or a fading flower, the mercy of the Lord is declared to be from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear Him, extending His righteousness to children's children who keep His covenant and commandments. The psalm culminates in a majestic affirmation of God's universal dominion, stating that His throne is prepared in the heavens and His kingdom rules over all. It then issues a grand call for all creation—including angels, heavenly hosts, and all His works in all places of His dominion—to bless the Lord, reiterating the initial personal invocation, "bless the LORD, O my soul."

Core Concepts

  • Divine BenefitsThe psalm enumerates the Lord's numerous provisions, including the forgiveness of all iniquities, healing of diseases, redemption from destruction, and the bestowal of lovingkindness and tender mercies upon His people.
  • God's Merciful CharacterThe Lord is described as merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, emphasizing His compassionate nature and His choice not to deal with humanity according to their sins.
  • Removal of TransgressionsThis concept illustrates the complete and vast removal of sins by God from those who fear Him, vividly likened to the immeasurable distance between the east and the west.
  • Human FrailtyThe psalm contrasts the transient and fleeting nature of human life, compared to grass or a fading flower, with the enduring and eternal mercy of God.
  • God's Universal SovereigntyThe Lord's supreme authority is proclaimed, stating that His throne is established in the heavens and His kingdom rules over all creation.
  • Call to Bless the LordA recurring theme throughout the psalm, urging the psalmist's soul, angels, heavenly hosts, and all of God's works to offer praise and adoration to the Lord for His character and deeds.