Bless the LORD: Mercy for Sinners, Fatherly Compassion, and Everlasting Love

Psalm 103 is a call for the whole soul to bless the LORD by remembering His benefits, especially His mercy toward sinners and His power to heal, redeem, and restore. It proclaims God’s character: compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and rich in mercy, yet never excusing evil as if it did not matter. The psalm highlights the covenant truth that God does not repay His people according to what their sins deserve, but removes transgressions far away and treats His children with fatherly pity. At the same time, it humbles us by contrasting human frailty—our days are like grass—with God’s everlasting mercy upon those who fear Him. The chapter ends with a global summons: angels, hosts, and every part of creation must bless the LORD who reigns from His throne.

Psalms 103:1 – 103:22

  1 [A Psalm] of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, [bless] his holy name.
  2 Bless the Lord, O 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 destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
  5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good [things]; [so that] thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
  6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
  7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
  8 The Lord [is] merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
  9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep [his anger] for ever.
  10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
  11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, [so] great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
  12 As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
  13 Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
  14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we [are] dust.
  15 [As for] man, his days [are] as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
  16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
  17 But the mercy of the Lord [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
  18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
  19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
  20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
  21 Bless ye the Lord, all [ye] his hosts; [ye] ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
  22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.