Mazmur 103:15-22

103:15 A person’s life is like grass. ¹ 

Like a flower in the field it flourishes,

103:16 but when the hot wind ²  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, ³ 

and is faithful to their descendants, ⁴ 

103:18 to those who keep his covenant,

who are careful to obey his commands. ⁵ 

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

his kingdom extends over everything. ⁶ 

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

you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees

and obey his orders! ⁷ 

103:21 Praise the Lord, all you warriors of his, ⁸ 

you servants of his who carry out his desires! ⁹ 

103:22 Praise the Lord, all that he has made, ¹⁰ 

in all the regions ¹¹  of his kingdom!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

[103:15]  ¹ 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]  ² tn Heb “[the] wind.” The word “hot” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[103:17]  ³ tn Heb “but the loyal love of the Lord [is] from everlasting to everlasting over those who fear him.”

[103:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “and his righteousness to sons of sons.”

[103:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “to those who remember his precepts to do them.”

[103:19]  ⁶ tn Heb “his kingdom rules over all.”

[103:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “[you] mighty ones of strength, doers of his word, by listening to the voice of his word.”

[103:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “all his hosts.”

[103:21]  ⁹ tn Heb “his attendants, doers of his desire.”

[103:22]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “all his works,” which includes mankind.

[103:22]  ¹¹ tn Heb “places.”