1 Of David. Bless Jehovah, my soul, and all within me, [bless] his holy name.
2 Bless Jehovah, my soul, and forget not all his benefits;
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from the pit; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thine adornment (mouth, or soul?) with the good: thy youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 Jehovah doeth righteousnesses and judgments for all oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the sons of Israel.
8 Jehovah [is] merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness.
9 Not always will he chide, nor retain [anger] for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For, as height of heavens [is] above the earth, his lovingkindness is mighty over those that fear them.
12 As far as east from west, he hath put far from us our transgressions.
13 As a father’s pity on children (sons), so hath Jehovah pity on those that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame, mindful that we [are] dust.
15 Man! his days [are] like grass; as a flower of the field, so doth he flourish.
16 For a breath passeth over him, and he is not, and the place thereof shall know him no more.
17 But the mercy of Jehovah [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon those that fear him; and his righteousness [is] to sons of sons,
18 To those that keep his covenant, and to those that remember his precepts to do them,
19 Jehovah hath established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom ruleth over all (or the whole).
20 Bless Jehovah, ye his angels, mighty in strength, doing his word, hearkening to the voice of his word.
21 Bless Jehovah, all ye his hosts, ministers of his that do his pleasure.
22 Bless Jehovah, all his works in all places of his realm. Bless Jehovah, my soul.
Notes on Psalm 103
This psalm celebrates the fruit of blessing by the Israel of God in that day. For them, as for us now, Messiah’s sufferings produced endless praise. It begins with the individual, as always, “every one that is written in the book.” It follows up the forgiveness of all iniquities with the healing of all diseases; for the age of habitable earth to come will enjoy the full power of Messiah, of which miracles (when He was here or afterwards) were but samples. Then it rises to His ways as well as acts, not as of old partially made known, but attested in all the extent and display of His kingdom. For it is not only Jehovah’s mercy from everlasting to everlasting on those that fear Him, but His throne is established in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all. Hence His angels, His hosts, and all His work, are to bless Jehovah everywhere; as his own soul did, and so it concludes. Could this psalm be with such propriety anywhere but here, immediately after Psalm 102? Inspiration arranged as it wrote; the profit of both is lost by incredulity through vain confidence in man and his thoughts.