Psalms 103
What Happens in This Chapter
This psalm is a song of praise. The writer tells his own soul to praise the LORD and to remember what God does: he forgives, heals, rescues, and is slow to get angry. The song says people are as short-lived as grass, but God's love lasts forever. It ends by calling the angels, God's servants, and everything God made to praise him too.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
1My whole self, praise the LORD. Everything inside me, praise his holy name.
"Bless the LORD" means praise him and thank him. It does not mean giving God something he needs.
2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
2My whole self, praise the LORD. Do not forget the good things he does.
3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
3He forgives every wrong thing you have done. 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 covers you with love and gentle care.
5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
5He fills you with good things. You feel young and strong again, like an eagle.
6The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
6The LORD does what is right. He brings fairness to everyone who is treated badly.
7He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
7He showed Moses the way he works. 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 gentle. He is slow to get angry. His love is very great.
9He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
9He will not keep scolding us. He will not stay angry forever.
The old word here is "chide," which means to scold or find fault with someone.
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 the wrong we did.
11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
11The heavens are high above the earth. God's love is just that great for those who honor him.
To "fear" God here means to honor him with deep respect. It does not mean being scared of him.
12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
12The east is very far from the west. God 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 is gentle with his children. The LORD is that gentle 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 only 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 for a while, like a flower 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 that flower, and it is gone. Its spot does not remember 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 has no beginning and no end for those who honor him. He keeps doing right for their children and their grandchildren.
18To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
18This is for people who keep his covenant, the promise he made with them. It is for those who remember to obey what he says.
19The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
19The LORD has set up his throne, his king's seat, 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 angels. You are very strong. You do what he says and listen to his voice.
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.
22Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
22Praise the LORD, everything he made, in every place he rules. My whole self, praise the LORD.
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