Psalms

Chapter 103

Bless the LORD, O My Soul

This psalm calls the self into praise by remembering who the LORD is and what he gives: forgiveness, healing, redemption, compassion, and daily satisfaction. From there it widens into a meditation on God's mercy toward the frail, his covenant love toward those who fear him, and finally a summons for angels, hosts, and all creation to join the blessing that began within one soul.

Psalm 103 is one of the Psalter's fullest songs of grateful remembrance. It stands near the heart of the book as a portrait of the LORD's compassionate character, joining personal thanksgiving, covenant theology, and cosmic praise in one sustained act of worship.

1 section·147 words·~1 min read

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Psalms 103

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vv. 1-22

Bless the LORD, O My Soul

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O¹f David. ²Bless the LORD, O my soul, ³He who forgives all your iniquities ⁴who redeems your life from the Pit ⁵who satisfies you with good things,

⁶The LORD executes righteousness ⁷He made known His ways to Moses, ⁸The LORD is compassionate and gracious, ⁹He will not always accuse us, ¹⁰He has not dealt with us according to our sins ¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth, ¹²As far as the east is from the west, ¹³As a father has compassion on his children, ¹⁴For He knows our frame;

¹⁵As for man, his days are like grass— ¹⁶when the wind passes over, it vanishes, ¹⁷But from everlasting to everlasting ¹⁸to those who keep His covenant ¹⁹The LORD has established His throne in heaven,

²⁰Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength ²¹Bless the LORD, all His hosts, ²²Bless the LORD, all His works

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01vv. 1-22Bless the LORD, O My SoulDavid begins by urging his own soul to bless the LORD and remember his benefits, then unfolds the LORD's forgiveness, compassion, and justice through images drawn from Israel's story and human weakness. The psalm ends by lifting that praise outward, from the individual heart to the angels, the heavenly hosts, and all God's works everywhere under his sovereign reign.