Mazmur 103:12-22

103:12 As far as the eastern horizon ¹  is from the west, ² 

so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions ³  from us.

103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, ⁴ 

so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers. ⁵ 

103:14 For he knows what we are made of; ⁶ 

he realizes ⁷  we are made of clay. ⁸ 

103:15 A person’s life is like grass. ⁹ 

Like a flower in the field it flourishes,

103:16 but when the hot wind ¹⁰  blows by, it disappears,

and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.

103:17 But the Lord continually shows loyal love to his faithful followers, ¹¹ 

and is faithful to their descendants, ¹² 

103:18 to those who keep his covenant,

who are careful to obey his commands. ¹³ 

103:19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven;

his kingdom extends over everything. ¹⁴ 

103:20 Praise the Lord, you angels of his,

you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees

and obey his orders! ¹⁵ 

103:21 Praise the Lord, all you warriors of his, ¹⁶ 

you servants of his who carry out his desires! ¹⁷ 

103:22 Praise the Lord, all that he has made, ¹⁸ 

in all the regions ¹⁹  of his kingdom!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

[103:12]  ¹ tn Heb “sunrise.”

[103:12]  ² tn Or “sunset.”

[103:12]  ³ tn The Hebrew term פֶּשַׁע (pesha’, rebellious act”) is here used metonymically for the guilt such actions produce.

[103:13]  ⁴ tn Or “sons,” but the Hebrew term sometimes refers to children in general.

[103:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “those who fear him.”

[103:14]  ⁶ tn Heb “our form.”

[103:14]  ⁷ tn Heb “remembers.”

[103:14]  ⁸ tn Heb “we [are] clay.”

[103:15]  ⁹ tn Heb “[as for] mankind, like grass [are] his days.” The Hebrew noun אֱנוֹשׁ (’enosh) is used here generically of human beings. What is said is true of all mankind.

[103:16]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “[the] wind.” The word “hot” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[103:17]  ¹¹ tn Heb “but the loyal love of the Lord [is] from everlasting to everlasting over those who fear him.”

[103:17]  ¹² tn Heb “and his righteousness to sons of sons.”

[103:18]  ¹³ tn Heb “to those who remember his precepts to do them.”

[103:19]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “his kingdom rules over all.”

[103:20]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “[you] mighty ones of strength, doers of his word, by listening to the voice of his word.”

[103:21]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “all his hosts.”

[103:21]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “his attendants, doers of his desire.”

[103:22]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “all his works,” which includes mankind.

[103:22]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “places.”