BOOK 19 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Psalms 103

Psalms book home•Chapter 103 of 150•22 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Psalms 103 Overview

David commands his soul to remember God's benefits, praises forgiveness and healing, recalls God's revelation to Moses, compares divine compassion to a father's, and ends by summoning all creation to bless Him.

PsalmsBook

103Chapter

22Verses

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Before you read Psalms 103

Coming from

Psalm 102 centered on an afflicted man looks from personal ruin to god's enduring reign. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.

In this chapter

Leads into

Psalm 104 turns to the creator continually sustains his world, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Psalm 103 belongs to Book IV of the Psalter (Psalms 90–106). The psalm celebrates God's merciful character without teaching that faithful people never experience sickness, discipline, or earthly death.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

Bless the LORD for forgiveness, compassion, and covenant mercy.

Praise truth

In Psalm 103, praise responds to God’s character and deeds and draws the worshipper beyond self-preoccupation.

Covenant truth

In Psalm 103, god’s covenant faithfulness remains the standard even when His people are unstable or disobedient.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Praise connection

Hebrews 13:15 speaks of offering to God the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips giving thanks to His name. This connection helps frame Psalm 103.

Covenant connection

Exodus 34:6-7 reveals the LORD’s merciful yet just covenant character. This connection helps frame Psalm 103.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep praise in context

The praise practices in Psalm 103 show the breadth of Israel’s worship; not every listed physical expression becomes a universal church requirement.

Keep covenant in context

Do not confuse covenant blessing or chastening in Psalm 103 with a works-based condition for receiving eternal life.

Read Psalms 103 watching for…

forget not benefits.

forgiveth iniquities.

Moses ways.

father pitieth.

from everlasting mercy.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-5David blesses the LORD for forgiveness, healing, redemption, mercy, and renewal 6-18The LORD is righteous, merciful, compassionate, and mindful that man is dust 19-22The LORD’s throne rules all, and angels, hosts, works, and David are called to bless him

[A Psalm] of David.Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Psalms 103:3

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