PRAISE THE LORD, MY SOUL
Key verse: 2
NIV
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the Lord,(A) my soul;(B)
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.(C)
2 Praise the Lord,(D) my soul,
and forget not(E) all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins(F)
and heals(G) all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life(H) from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,(I)
5 who satisfies(J) your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed(K) like the eagle’s.(L)
7 He made known(O) his ways(P) to Moses,
his deeds(Q) to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,(R)
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 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)
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)
Cross references
- Psalm 103:1 : Ps 28:6
- Psalm 103:1 : Ps 104:1
- Psalm 103:1 : S Ps 30:4
- Psalm 103:2 : Ps 106:1; 117:1
- Psalm 103:2 : S Dt 6:12; Ps 77:11
- Psalm 103:3 : S Ex 34:7
- Psalm 103:3 : S Ex 15:26; Col 3:13; 1Pe 2:24; 1Jn 1:9
- Psalm 103:4 : Ps 34:22; 56:13; Isa 43:1
- Psalm 103:4 : S Ps 8:5; 23:6
- Psalm 103:5 : S Ps 90:14; S 104:28
- Psalm 103:5 : Job 33:25; Ps 119:25, 93; 2Co 4:16
- Psalm 103:5 : S Ex 19:4
- Psalm 103:6 : Ps 9:8; 65:5; Isa 9:7
- Psalm 103:6 : S Ps 74:21; S Lk 4:19
- Psalm 103:7 : Ps 99:7; 147:19
- Psalm 103:7 : S Ex 33:13
- Psalm 103:7 : Ps 106:22
- Psalm 103:8 : S Ex 22:27; S Ps 86:15; Mic 7:18-19; Jas 5:11
- Psalm 103:9 : Ps 30:5; 79:5; Isa 57:16; Jer 3:5, 12; Mic 7:18
- Psalm 103:10 : S Ezr 9:13; Ro 6:23
- Psalm 103:11 : Ps 13:5; 57:10; 100:5; 106:45; 117:2; La 3:22; Eph 3:18
- Psalm 103:11 : S 2Ch 6:31
- Psalm 103:12 : S 2Sa 12:13; Ro 4:7; Eph 2:5
- Psalm 103:13 : Mal 3:17; 1Jn 3:1
- Psalm 103:14 : Ps 119:73; 139:13-15; Isa 29:16
- Psalm 103:14 : S Ge 2:7; S Ps 146:4
- Psalm 103:15 : Ps 37:2; 90:5; 102:11; Isa 40:6
- Psalm 103:15 : S Job 14:2; Jas 1:10
- Psalm 103:16 : Isa 40:7; Hag 1:9
- Psalm 103:16 : S Job 7:8
- Psalm 103:17 : S Ge 48:11; S Ezr 9:12
- Psalm 103:18 : S Dt 29:9
- Psalm 103:18 : Ps 119:52
- Psalm 103:18 : S Nu 15:40; Jn 14:15
- Psalm 103:19 : Ps 47:8; 80:1; 113:5
- Psalm 103:19 : Ps 22:28; 66:7; Da 4:17
- Psalm 103:20 : Ps 28:6
- Psalm 103:20 : S Ne 9:6; Lk 2:13; Heb 1:14
- Psalm 103:20 : S Ps 29:1
- Psalm 103:20 : Ps 107:25; 135:7; 148:8
- Psalm 103:21 : S 1Ki 22:19
- Psalm 103:21 : S Ne 7:73
- Psalm 103:22 : Ps 19:1; 67:3; 145:10; 150:6
- Psalm 103:22 : ver 1; Ps 104:1
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
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!
2 (B)Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and (C)forget not all his benefits,
3 who (D)forgives all your iniquity,
who (E)heals all your diseases,
4 who (F)redeems your life from the pit,
who (G)crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who (H)satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like (I)the eagle's.
6 The Lord works (J)righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his (K)ways to Moses,
his (L)acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is (M)merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 (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!
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Psalm 103:14 Or knows how we are formed
Cross references
- Psalm 103:1 : ver. 22; Ps. 104:1
- Psalm 103:2 : [See ver. 1 above]; ver. 22; Ps. 104:1
- Psalm 103:2 : Deut. 6:12; 8:11
- Psalm 103:3 : Ex. 34:7; Isa. 33:24; Matt. 9:2; Mark 2:5; [Luke 7:47]
- Psalm 103:3 : Ps. 107:20; 147:3; Ex. 15:26; [Matt. 8:17]
- Psalm 103:4 : See Ps. 56:13
- Psalm 103:4 : [Ps. 5:12]
- Psalm 103:5 : Ps. 107:9
- Psalm 103:5 : Isa. 40:31
- Psalm 103:6 : Ps. 146:7
- Psalm 103:7 : Ex. 33:13; [Ps. 25:4]
- Psalm 103:7 : [Ps. 78:11; Ex. 34:10]
- Psalm 103:8 : See Ps. 86:15
- Psalm 103:9 : Isa. 57:16
- Psalm 103:9 : Ps. 30:5; Jer. 3:5, 12; Mic. 7:18
- Psalm 103:10 : Ezra 9:13
- Psalm 103:11 : See Ps. 36:5
- Psalm 103:11 : Ps. 117:2
- Psalm 103:11 : ver. 13, 17; Luke 1:50
- Psalm 103:12 : [Isa. 38:17; 43:25; Mic. 7:19]
- Psalm 103:13 : Mal. 3:17
- Psalm 103:13 : [See ver. 11 above]; ver. 13, 17; Luke 1:50
- Psalm 103:14 : Ps. 78:39
- Psalm 103:15 : Ps. 90:5
- Psalm 103:15 : See Job 14:2
- Psalm 103:16 : Isa. 40:7
- Psalm 103:16 : Ps. 37:36
- Psalm 103:16 : See Job 7:10
- Psalm 103:17 : Ps. 25:6
- Psalm 103:17 : [See ver. 11 above]; ver. 13, 17; Luke 1:50
- Psalm 103:17 : Ex. 20:5, 6
- Psalm 103:18 : Deut. 7:9
- Psalm 103:18 : Ps. 19:8
- Psalm 103:19 : Ps. 11:4; 93:2
- Psalm 103:19 : Ps. 47:2; Dan. 4:17
- Psalm 103:20 : Ps. 148:2; [Luke 2:13]
- Psalm 103:20 : Ps. 78:25
- Psalm 103:20 : Matt. 6:10
- Psalm 103:21 : Gen. 32:2; Josh. 5:14; 1 Kgs. 22:19
- Psalm 103:21 : Ps. 104:4; Dan. 7:10; Heb. 1:14
- Psalm 103:22 : Ps. 145:10
- Psalm 103:22 : ver. 1, 2
103 (A)Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 (B)Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and (C)forget not all his benefits,
3 who (D)forgives all your iniquity,
who (E)heals all your diseases,
4 who (F)redeems your life from the pit,
who (G)crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who (H)satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like (I)the eagle's.
6 The Lord works (J)righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his (K)ways to Moses,
his (L)acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is (M)merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 (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!
Footnotes
- Psalm 103:14 Or knows how we are formed
Cross references
- Psalm 103:1 : ver. 22; Ps. 104:1
- Psalm 103:2 : [See ver. 1 above]; ver. 22; Ps. 104:1
- Psalm 103:2 : Deut. 6:12; 8:11
- Psalm 103:3 : Ex. 34:7; Isa. 33:24; Matt. 9:2; Mark 2:5; [Luke 7:47]
- Psalm 103:3 : Ps. 107:20; 147:3; Ex. 15:26; [Matt. 8:17]
- Psalm 103:4 : See Ps. 56:13
- Psalm 103:4 : [Ps. 5:12]
- Psalm 103:5 : Ps. 107:9
- Psalm 103:5 : Isa. 40:31
- Psalm 103:6 : Ps. 146:7
- Psalm 103:7 : Ex. 33:13; [Ps. 25:4]
- Psalm 103:7 : [Ps. 78:11; Ex. 34:10]
- Psalm 103:8 : See Ps. 86:15
- Psalm 103:9 : Isa. 57:16
- Psalm 103:9 : Ps. 30:5; Jer. 3:5, 12; Mic. 7:18
- Psalm 103:10 : Ezra 9:13
- Psalm 103:11 : See Ps. 36:5
- Psalm 103:11 : Ps. 117:2
- Psalm 103:11 : ver. 13, 17; Luke 1:50
- Psalm 103:12 : [Isa. 38:17; 43:25; Mic. 7:19]
- Psalm 103:13 : Mal. 3:17
- Psalm 103:13 : [See ver. 11 above]; ver. 13, 17; Luke 1:50
- Psalm 103:14 : Ps. 78:39
- Psalm 103:15 : Ps. 90:5
- Psalm 103:15 : See Job 14:2
- Psalm 103:16 : Isa. 40:7
- Psalm 103:16 : Ps. 37:36
- Psalm 103:16 : See Job 7:10
- Psalm 103:17 : Ps. 25:6
- Psalm 103:17 : [See ver. 11 above]; ver. 13, 17; Luke 1:50
- Psalm 103:17 : Ex. 20:5, 6
- Psalm 103:18 : Deut. 7:9
- Psalm 103:18 : Ps. 19:8
- Psalm 103:19 : Ps. 11:4; 93:2
- Psalm 103:19 : Ps. 47:2; Dan. 4:17
- Psalm 103:20 : Ps. 148:2; [Luke 2:13]
- Psalm 103:20 : Ps. 78:25
- Psalm 103:20 : Matt. 6:10
- Psalm 103:21 : Gen. 32:2; Josh. 5:14; 1 Kgs. 22:19
- Psalm 103:21 : Ps. 104:4; Dan. 7:10; Heb. 1:14
- Psalm 103:22 : Ps. 145:10
- Psalm 103:22 : ver. 1, 2
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
David exhorts his soul to praise the LORD and his holy name, with all his inmost being. He does not forget divine benefits—forgiveness of sins, healing of diseases, redemption from the pit. The LORD crowns us with love and compassion, satisfies us with good things, and renews our youth. Praise the LORD for all his heavenly blessings upon us!
In verses 6-19, David praises the LORD for his great love for his covenant people who fear him. The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve. Rather his love is sky high, and he has removed our sins far, far away from us. We are made from dust like fading flowers, but God’s love is everlasting towards those who fear him and descendants who keep his covenant.
David then calls upon all creation, angels, and servants to praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, my soul. Remember even some of the good things the LORD has done in your life and in history and praise him!
Prayer: I praise you, Father in heaven, for what you’ve done for me, my family, my church, and my nation. Thank you for Jesus our Savior and Redeemer, and your greatest love through him!
One Word: Praise the LORD and remember his undeserved blessings.
