Psalms

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

1Praise the LORD, my soul. Everything inside me, praise his holy name.

Note"Bless the LORD" here means praise him and thank him out loud.

2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

2Praise the LORD, my soul. Do not forget the good things he does for you.

3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

3He forgives all your sins. He heals all your sicknesses.

4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

4He saves your life from the grave. He crowns you with faithful love and deep kindness.

5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

5He gives you good things until you have enough. Your strength comes back new, like an eagle's.

6The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

6The LORD does what is right and fair for everyone who is treated cruelly.

7He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

7He showed Moses his ways. He showed the people of Israel the things he did.

8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

8The LORD is kind and merciful. He is slow to get angry, and his love runs deep.

9He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

9He will not keep on accusing us. He will not stay angry forever.

10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

10He has not treated us the way our sins deserve. He has not paid us back for our wrongs.

11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

11The sky is high above the earth. God's love is that great for those who honor him.

NoteTo "fear" God in this psalm means to treat him with deep respect and awe, not to be scared of him.

12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

12The east is far from the west. He has carried our sins that far away from us.

13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

13A father feels for his children and is gentle with them. The LORD is like that with those who honor him.

14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

14He knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.

15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

15A person's days are like grass. He blooms like a wildflower in a field.

16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

16The wind blows over it, and it is gone. The place where it grew forgets it.

17But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

17But the LORD's love for those who honor him has no beginning and no end. His fairness reaches their grandchildren.

18To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

18That means those who keep his agreement and remember to obey his commands.

19The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

19The LORD has set up his throne in heaven. His kingdom rules over everything.

20Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

20Praise the LORD, you his angels. You are mighty and strong. You listen to his word and do what he says.

21Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

21Praise the LORD, all his armies in heaven. You are his servants, and you do what he wants.

Note"Hosts" is an old word for armies. Here it means the great crowd of God's servants in heaven.

22Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

22Praise the LORD, everything he has made, everywhere he rules. Praise the LORD, my soul.