Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Of David.

103 (A)Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
(B)Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and (C)forget not all his benefits,
who (D)forgives all your iniquity,
    who (E)heals all your diseases,
who (F)redeems your life from the pit,
    who (G)crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who (H)satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like (I)the eagle's.

The Lord works (J)righteousness
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his (K)ways to Moses,
    his (L)acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is (M)merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
(N)He will not always chide,
    nor will he (O)keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us (P)according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For (Q)as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his (R)steadfast love toward (S)those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he (T)remove our transgressions from us.
13 As (U)a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion (V)to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;[a]
    he (W)remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like (X)grass;
    he flourishes like (Y)a flower of the field;
16 for (Z)the wind passes over it, and (AA)it is gone,
    and (AB)its place knows it no more.
17 But (AC)the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on (AD)those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to (AE)children's children,
18 to those who (AF)keep his covenant
    and (AG)remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has (AH)established his throne in the heavens,
    and his (AI)kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, O you (AJ)his angels,
    you (AK)mighty ones who (AL)do his word,
    obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his (AM)hosts,
    his (AN)ministers, who do his will!
22 (AO)Bless the Lord, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
(AP)Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord My God, You Are Very Great

104 (AQ)Bless the Lord, O my soul!
    O Lord my God, you are (AR)very great!
(AS)You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
    covering yourself with light as with a garment,
    (AT)stretching out the heavens (AU)like a tent.
He (AV)lays the beams of his (AW)chambers on the waters;
he makes (AX)the clouds his chariot;
    he rides on (AY)the wings of the wind;
he (AZ)makes his messengers winds,
    his (BA)ministers (BB)a flaming fire.

He (BC)set the earth on its foundations,
    so that it should never be moved.
You (BD)covered it with the deep as with a garment;
    the waters stood above the mountains.
At (BE)your rebuke they fled;
    at (BF)the sound of your thunder they (BG)took to flight.
The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
    to the place that you (BH)appointed for them.
You set (BI)a boundary that they may not pass,
    so that they (BJ)might not again cover the earth.

10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
    they flow between the hills;
11 they (BK)give drink to every beast of the field;
    the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
    they sing among the branches.
13 (BL)From your lofty abode you (BM)water the mountains;
    the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

14 You cause (BN)the grass to grow for the livestock
    and (BO)plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth (BP)food from the earth
15     and (BQ)wine to gladden the heart of man,
(BR)oil to make his face shine
    and bread to (BS)strengthen man's heart.

16 The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,
    (BT)the cedars of Lebanon (BU)that he planted.
17 In them the birds build their nests;
    the stork has her home in the fir trees.
18 The high mountains are for (BV)the wild goats;
    the rocks are a refuge for (BW)the rock badgers.

19 He made the moon to mark the (BX)seasons;[b]
    the sun knows its time for setting.
20 (BY)You make darkness, and it is night,
    when all the beasts of the forest creep about.
21 (BZ)The young lions roar for their prey,
    seeking their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they steal away
    and lie down in their (CA)dens.
23 (CB)Man goes out to his work
    and to his labor until the evening.

24 O Lord, how manifold are your works!
    In (CC)wisdom have you made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.
25 Here is the sea, great and wide,
    (CD)which teems with creatures innumerable,
    living things both small and great.
26 There go the ships,
    and (CE)Leviathan, which you formed to (CF)play in it.[c]

27 These (CG)all look to you,
    to (CH)give them their food in due season.
28 When you give it to them, they gather it up;
    when you (CI)open your hand, they are filled with good things.
29 When you (CJ)hide your face, they are (CK)dismayed;
    when you (CL)take away their breath, they die
    and (CM)return to their dust.
30 When you (CN)send forth your Spirit,[d] they are created,
    and you (CO)renew the face of the ground.

31 May the glory of the Lord (CP)endure forever;
    may the Lord (CQ)rejoice in his works,
32 who looks on the earth and it (CR)trembles,
    who (CS)touches the mountains and they smoke!
33 I will sing to the Lord (CT)as long as I live;
    I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
34 May my (CU)meditation be pleasing to him,
    for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Let (CV)sinners be consumed from the earth,
    and let the wicked be no more!
(CW)Bless the Lord, O my soul!
(CX)Praise the Lord!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 103:14 Or knows how we are formed
  2. Psalm 104:19 Or the appointed times (compare Genesis 1:14)
  3. Psalm 104:26 Or you formed to play with
  4. Psalm 104:30 Or breath

Psalm 103

Of David.

Praise the Lord,(A) my soul;(B)
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.(C)
Praise the Lord,(D) my soul,
    and forget not(E) all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins(F)
    and heals(G) all your diseases,
who redeems your life(H) from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,(I)
who satisfies(J) your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed(K) like the eagle’s.(L)

The Lord works righteousness(M)
    and justice for all the oppressed.(N)

He made known(O) his ways(P) to Moses,
    his deeds(Q) to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,(R)
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;(S)
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve(T)
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love(U) for those who fear him;(V)
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions(W) from us.

13 As a father has compassion(X) on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,(Y)
    he remembers that we are dust.(Z)
15 The life of mortals is like grass,(AA)
    they flourish like a flower(AB) of the field;
16 the wind blows(AC) over it and it is gone,
    and its place(AD) remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children(AE)
18 with those who keep his covenant(AF)
    and remember(AG) to obey his precepts.(AH)

19 The Lord has established his throne(AI) in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules(AJ) over all.

20 Praise the Lord,(AK) you his angels,(AL)
    you mighty ones(AM) who do his bidding,(AN)
    who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,(AO)
    you his servants(AP) who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works(AQ)
    everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.(AR)

Psalm 104

Praise the Lord, my soul.(AS)

Lord my God, you are very great;
    you are clothed with splendor and majesty.(AT)

The Lord wraps(AU) himself in light(AV) as with a garment;
    he stretches(AW) out the heavens(AX) like a tent(AY)
    and lays the beams(AZ) of his upper chambers on their waters.(BA)
He makes the clouds(BB) his chariot(BC)
    and rides on the wings of the wind.(BD)
He makes winds his messengers,[a](BE)
    flames of fire(BF) his servants.

He set the earth(BG) on its foundations;(BH)
    it can never be moved.
You covered it(BI) with the watery depths(BJ) as with a garment;
    the waters stood(BK) above the mountains.
But at your rebuke(BL) the waters fled,
    at the sound of your thunder(BM) they took to flight;
they flowed over the mountains,
    they went down into the valleys,
    to the place you assigned(BN) for them.
You set a boundary(BO) they cannot cross;
    never again will they cover the earth.

10 He makes springs(BP) pour water into the ravines;
    it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water(BQ) to all the beasts of the field;
    the wild donkeys(BR) quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky(BS) nest by the waters;
    they sing among the branches.(BT)
13 He waters the mountains(BU) from his upper chambers;(BV)
    the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.(BW)
14 He makes grass grow(BX) for the cattle,
    and plants for people to cultivate—
    bringing forth food(BY) from the earth:
15 wine(BZ) that gladdens human hearts,
    oil(CA) to make their faces shine,
    and bread that sustains(CB) their hearts.
16 The trees of the Lord(CC) are well watered,
    the cedars of Lebanon(CD) that he planted.
17 There the birds(CE) make their nests;
    the stork has its home in the junipers.
18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;(CF)
    the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.(CG)

19 He made the moon to mark the seasons,(CH)
    and the sun(CI) knows when to go down.
20 You bring darkness,(CJ) it becomes night,(CK)
    and all the beasts of the forest(CL) prowl.
21 The lions roar for their prey(CM)
    and seek their food from God.(CN)
22 The sun rises, and they steal away;
    they return and lie down in their dens.(CO)
23 Then people go out to their work,(CP)
    to their labor until evening.(CQ)

24 How many are your works,(CR) Lord!
    In wisdom you made(CS) them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.(CT)
25 There is the sea,(CU) vast and spacious,
    teeming with creatures beyond number—
    living things both large and small.(CV)
26 There the ships(CW) go to and fro,
    and Leviathan,(CX) which you formed to frolic(CY) there.(CZ)

27 All creatures look to you
    to give them their food(DA) at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
    they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
    they are satisfied(DB) with good things.
29 When you hide your face,(DC)
    they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
    they die and return to the dust.(DD)
30 When you send your Spirit,(DE)
    they are created,
    and you renew the face of the ground.

31 May the glory of the Lord(DF) endure forever;
    may the Lord rejoice in his works(DG)
32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,(DH)
    who touches the mountains,(DI) and they smoke.(DJ)

33 I will sing(DK) to the Lord all my life;
    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
    as I rejoice(DL) in the Lord.
35 But may sinners vanish(DM) from the earth
    and the wicked be no more.(DN)

Praise the Lord, my soul.

Praise the Lord.[b](DO)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 104:4 Or angels
  2. Psalm 104:35 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; in the Septuagint this line stands at the beginning of Psalm 105.

Sons and Heirs

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,[a] though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, (A)were enslaved to the elementary principles[b] of the world. But (B)when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, (C)born (D)of woman, born (E)under the law, (F)to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive (G)adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent (H)the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then (I)an heir through God.

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

Formerly, when you (J)did not know God, you (K)were enslaved to those that by nature (L)are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather (M)to be known by God, (N)how can you turn back again to (O)the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 (P)You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid (Q)I may have labored over you in vain.

12 Brothers,[c] (R)I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. (S)You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was (T)because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you (U)at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me (V)as an angel of God, (W)as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by (X)telling you the truth?[d] 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and (Y)not only when I am present with you, 19 (Z)my little children, (AA)for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ (AB)is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, (AC)one by a slave woman and (AD)one by a free woman. 23 But (AE)the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while (AF)the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two (AG)covenants. (AH)One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;[e] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But (AI)the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,

(AJ)“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
    break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
    than those of the one who has a husband.”

28 Now you,[f] brothers, (AK)like Isaac, (AL)are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh (AM)persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, (AN)so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? (AO)“Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but (AP)of the free woman.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 7
  2. Galatians 4:3 Or elemental spirits; also verse 9
  3. Galatians 4:12 Or Brothers and sisters; also verses 28, 31
  4. Galatians 4:16 Or by dealing truthfully with you
  5. Galatians 4:25 Some manuscripts For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia
  6. Galatians 4:28 Some manuscripts we

What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery(A) under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world.(B) But when the set time had fully come,(C) God sent his Son,(D) born of a woman,(E) born under the law,(F) to redeem(G) those under the law, that we might receive adoption(H) to sonship.[b](I) Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son(J) into our hearts,(K) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.”(L) So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.(M)

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

Formerly, when you did not know God,(N) you were slaves(O) to those who by nature are not gods.(P) But now that you know God—or rather are known by God(Q)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved(R) by them all over again?(S) 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!(T) 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.(U)

12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters,(V) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness(W) that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.(X) 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?(Y)

17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.(Z) 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.(AA) 19 My dear children,(AB) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,(AC) 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Hagar and Sarah

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law,(AD) are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman(AE) and the other by the free woman.(AF) 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,(AG) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.(AH)

24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above(AI) is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written:

“Be glad, barren woman,
    you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud,
    you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
    than of her who has a husband.”[e](AJ)

28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.(AK) 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh(AL) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.(AM) It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”[f](AN) 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,(AO) but of the free woman.(AP)

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:3 Or under the basic principles
  2. Galatians 4:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
  3. Galatians 4:6 Aramaic for Father
  4. Galatians 4:9 Or principles
  5. Galatians 4:27 Isaiah 54:1
  6. Galatians 4:30 Gen. 21:10