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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 103

Psalm 103 is read especially through the theme of praise, within Book IV (Psalms 90–106). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

PraiseCreationJustice
Old Testament

Psalm 103

1By David. Praise the LORD, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!

2Praise the LORD, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits,

3who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases,

4who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,

5who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6The LORD executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed.

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

8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.

9He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.

10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.

11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.

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

13Like a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

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

15As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

16For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more.

17But the LORD’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children’s children,

18to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts.

19The LORD has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all.

20Praise the LORD, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.

21Praise the LORD, all you armies of his, you servants of his, who do his pleasure.

22Praise the LORD, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion. Praise the LORD, my soul!

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 103

Psalm 103 is read especially through the theme of praise, within Book IV (Psalms 90–106). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book IV (Psalms 90–106). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Praise, Creation, Justice. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 103

Psalm 103 contains 22 verses and about 340 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “By David. Praise the LORD, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 22 closes: “Praise the LORD, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion. Praise the LORD, my soul!” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include praise, loving, kindness, soul, like, children. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 103

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 103:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes praise, with related themes of Praise, Creation, Justice. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

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