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Thanksgiving for Yahweh’s Compassion

Of David.[a]

103 Bless Yahweh, O my soul,
and all within me, bless his holy name.
Bless Yahweh, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits:
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with loyal love and mercies,
who satisfies your life with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Yahweh does deeds of justice
and judgments for all who are oppressed,
who made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people[b] of Israel.
Yahweh is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger[c] and abundant in loyal love.
He does not dispute continually,
nor keep his anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
nor repaid us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so his loyal love prevails over those who fear him.
12 As far as east is from west,
so he has removed far from us the guilt of our transgressions.
13 As a father pities[d] his children,
so Yahweh pities[e] those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame.[f]
He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like the grass.
As the flower of the field, so he blossoms.
16 When the wind passes over it, it is no more,
and its place knows it no longer.
17 But the loyal love of Yahweh
is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to their children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his precepts.
19 Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless Yahweh, you his angels,
you mighty heroes who do his word
by obeying[g] the sound of his word.
21 Bless Yahweh, all you his hosts,
you his attendants who do his will.
22 Bless Yahweh, all his works,[h]
in all the places of his dominion.
Bless Yahweh, O my soul.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 103:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
  2. Psalm 103:7 Literally “sons”
  3. Psalm 103:8 Literally “long of nostrils”
  4. Psalm 103:13 Or “shows compassion to”
  5. Psalm 103:13 Or “shows compassion to”
  6. Psalm 103:14 That is, how we are formed
  7. Psalm 103:20 Literally “hearing”
  8. Psalm 103:22 That is, created things

Psalm 103

Of David.

103 Let my whole being[a] bless the Lord!
    Let everything inside me bless his holy name!
Let my whole being bless the Lord
    and never forget all his good deeds:
    how God forgives all your sins,
    heals all your sickness,
    saves your life from the pit,
    crowns you with faithful love and compassion,
    and satisfies you with plenty of good things
        so that your youth is made fresh like an eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness;
    does justice for all who are oppressed.
God made his ways known to Moses;
    made his deeds known to the Israelites.
The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
    very patient, and full of faithful love.
God won’t always play the judge;
    he won’t be angry forever.
10 He doesn’t deal with us according to our sin
    or repay us according to our wrongdoing,
11     because as high as heaven is above the earth,
    that’s how large God’s faithful love is for those who honor him.
12 As far as east is from west—
    that’s how far God has removed our sin from us.
13 Like a parent feels compassion for their children—
    that’s how the Lord feels compassion for those who honor him.
14 Because God knows how we’re made,
    God remembers we’re just dust.

15 The days of a human life are like grass:
    they bloom like a wildflower;
16     but when the wind blows through it, it’s gone;
    even the ground where it stood doesn’t remember it.
17 But the Lord’s faithful love is from forever ago to forever from now
        for those who honor him.
    And God’s righteousness reaches to the grandchildren
18         of those who keep his covenant
        and remember to keep his commands.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

20 You divine messengers,
    bless the Lord!
You who are mighty in power and keep his word,
        who obey everything he says,
    bless him!
21 All you heavenly forces,
    bless the Lord!
All you who serve him and do his will,
    bless him!
22 All God’s creatures,
    bless the Lord!
Everywhere, throughout his kingdom,
        let my whole being
    bless the Lord!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 103:1 Or soul; also in 103:2, 22