Psalms 103

1 “A psalm of David.” Bless the LORD, O my soul! And all that is within me, bless his holy name!

[I tell] myself that I should praise Yahweh. I will praise him [MTY] with all of my inner being, [because] he [MTY] is holy.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul! And forget not all his benefits!

[I tell] myself that I should praise Yahweh and never forget all the kind things he has done for me:

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

He forgives all my sins, and he heals me from all my diseases/sicknesses;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from the grave; Who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies;

he keeps me from dying [MTY], and blesses me by faithfully loving me and acting mercifully to me.

5 Who satisfieth thine old age with good, So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

He gives me good things during my entire life. He makes me feel young and strong like eagles.

6 The LORD executeth justice And equity for all the oppressed.

Yahweh judges justly and (vindicates/does what is right for) all those who have been treated unfairly.

7 He made known his ways to Moses, His doings to the children of Israel.

[Long ago] he revealed to Moses what he planned to do; he showed to the [ancestors of us] Israeli people the mighty things that he was able to do.

8 The LORD is merciful and kind, Slow to anger and rich in mercy.

Yahweh acts mercifully and kindly; he does not quickly (get angry/punish us) [when we sin]; he is always [showing us that he] faithfully loves us.

9 He doth not always chide, Nor doth he keep his anger for ever.

He will not keep rebuking us, and he will not remain angry forever.

10 He hath not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor requited us according to our iniquities.

He punishes us for our sins, but he does not punish us [severely] as we deserve [DOU]!

11 As high as are the heavens above the earth, So great is his mercy to them that fear him.

The skies are very high above the earth, and Yahweh’s faithful love for all those who revere him is just as great.

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

He has taken away [the guilt for] [MTY] our sins, taking it as far from us as the east is from the west.

13 Even as a father pitieth his children, So the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Just like parents act mercifully toward their children, Yahweh is kind to those who revere him.

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

He knows what our bodies are like; he remembers that [he created us from] dirt, and so we quickly fail [to do what pleases him] [MET].

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

We humans do not live forever [SIM]; we are like grass [SIM] [that withers and dies]. We are like wild flowers: They bloom [for a short while],

16 The wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And its place shall know it no more.

but then the [hot] wind blows over them, and they disappear; no one sees them again.

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting to them that fear him, And his righteousness to children's children,

But Yahweh will faithfully keep loving forever all those who revere him. He will act fairly to our children and to their children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, And remember his commandments to do them.

he will act that way to all those who obey the agreement he made with them [to bless them if they did what he told them to do], to all those who obey what he has commanded.

19 The LORD hath established his throne in the heavens, And his kingdom ruleth over all.

Yahweh made/caused the heavens to be the place where he rules [MTY]; from there he rules over everything.

20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, Ye mighty ones who do his commands, Hearkening to the voice of his word!

You angels who belong to Yahweh, praise him! You are powerful creatures/beings who do what he tells you to do; you obey what he commands.

21 Bless the LORD, all ye his hosts; Ye, his ministers, who do his pleasure!

Praise Yahweh, you armies/thousands of angels who serve him and do what he desires!

22 Bless the LORD, all his works, In all places of his dominion! Bless the LORD, O my soul!

All you things that Yahweh has created, praise him; praise him in every place where he rules, everywhere! And I [also] will praise Yahweh!