Psalm 103

This article is about Psalm 103 in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. For Psalm 103 in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, see Psalm 104 .

Psalm 103
"Bless the LORD, O my soul"
Hymn psalm
Psalm 103 in Luttrell Psalter c. 1325–1335
Other name	Psalm 102 (Vulgate) "Benedic anima mea Domino"
Language	Hebrew (original)

Psalm 103 is the 103rd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Bless the LORD, O my soul". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In Latin, it is known as "Benedic anima mea Domino". ^[1] The psalm is a hymn psalm. ^[2]

In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 102.

The first verse (the sub-heading in most English translations) attributes the psalm to King David. The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. The psalm has been paraphrased in hymns, and has often been set to music.

Background and themes

Baptist preacher and biblical commentator Charles Spurgeon suggests that the psalm was written in David's later life, as seen by the psalmist's focus on the frailty of life and his "higher sense of the preciousness of pardon, because a keener sense of sin". ^[3] Spurgeon divides the psalm into three sections:

• Verses 1–5: The Psalmist's personal experience of God's compassion;
• Verses 6–19: The attributes of God as seen in his interactions with his people;
• Verses 20–22: The Psalmist's call to all creatures to join him in blessing God. ^[3]

Lutheran minister Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg notes that the number of verses in the psalm parallels the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and that the concluding words repeat the opening words, "finishing" and "rounding off" the psalm into a complete whole. ^[3] Nonconformist minister Matthew Henry also notes this circular form, stating: "Blessing God and giving him glory must be the alpha and the omega of all our services". ^[4]

The Midrash Tehillim offers several explanations of the first verse, among them:

Rabbi Levi said in the name of Rabbi Hama: A sculptor makes a statue; the sculptor dies, but his sculpture endures. It is not thus with the Holy One, blessed be He. The Holy One made man, and man dies, but the Holy One lives and endures. … Another comment: A sculptor makes a statue, but cannot make a soul or vital organs. But the Holy One made a statue, man, and within him made a soul and vital organs. Therefore, David offered praise, "Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name". ^[5]

The opening words, "Bless the LORD, O my soul", appear again at the beginning of Psalm 104, reinforcing the thematic connection between these psalms. But Patrick D. Miller also sees Psalm 103 as a logical extension of Psalm 102, pointing out that "one may see [Psalm] 102 as opening issues and questions to which [Psalm] 103 offers the solution or answer". For example, in Psalm 102 the psalmist blames his illness and pain on God's "indignation and anger" (verse 10), while Psalm 103 makes it clear that divine anger is not the final word, nor will it last forever. ^[6]

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text ^{[7] [8]} of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ בָּרְכִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְכׇל־קְ֝רָבַ֗י אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם קׇדְשֽׁוֹ׃‎	[A Psalm] of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2	בָּרְכִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאַל־תִּ֝שְׁכְּחִ֗י כׇּל־גְּמוּלָֽיו׃‎	Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits;
3	הַסֹּלֵ֥חַ לְכׇל־עֲוֺנֵ֑כִי הָ֝רֹפֵ֗א לְכׇל־תַּחֲלוּאָֽיְכִי׃‎	Who forgiveth all thine iniquity; Who healeth all Thy diseases;
4	הַגּוֹאֵ֣ל מִשַּׁ֣חַת חַיָּ֑יְכִי הַֽ֝מְעַטְּרֵ֗כִי חֶ֣סֶד וְרַחֲמִֽים׃‎	Who redeemeth Thy life from the pit; Who encompasseth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5	הַמַּשְׂבִּ֣יעַ בַּטּ֣וֹב עֶדְיֵ֑ךְ תִּתְחַדֵּ֖שׁ כַּנֶּ֣שֶׁר נְעוּרָֽיְכִי׃‎	Who satisfieth thine old age with good things; So that Thy youth is renewed like the eagle. [9]
6	עֹשֵׂ֣ה צְדָק֣וֹת יְהֹוָ֑ה וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטִ֗ים לְכׇל־עֲשׁוּקִֽים׃‎	The LORD executeth righteousness, And acts of justice for all that are oppressed.
7	יוֹדִ֣יעַ דְּרָכָ֣יו לְמֹשֶׁ֑ה לִבְנֵ֥י יִ֝שְׂרָאֵ֗ל עֲלִילוֹתָֽיו׃‎	He made known His ways unto Moses, His doings unto the children of Israel.
8	רַח֣וּם וְחַנּ֣וּן יְהֹוָ֑ה אֶ֖רֶךְ אַפַּ֣יִם וְרַב־חָֽסֶד׃‎	The LORD is full of compassion and gracious, Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9	לֹא־לָנֶ֥צַח יָרִ֑יב וְלֹ֖א לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִטּֽוֹר׃‎	He will not always contend; Neither will He keep His anger for ever.
10	לֹ֣א כַ֭חֲטָאֵינוּ עָ֣שָׂה לָ֑נוּ וְלֹ֥א כַ֝עֲוֺנֹתֵ֗ינוּ גָּמַ֥ל עָלֵֽינוּ׃‎	He hath not dealt with us after our sins, Nor requited us according to our iniquities.
11	כִּ֤י כִגְבֹ֣הַּ שָׁ֭מַיִם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ גָּבַ֥ר חַ֝סְדּ֗וֹ עַל־יְרֵאָֽיו׃‎	For as the heaven is high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.
12	כִּרְחֹ֣ק מִ֭זְרָח מִֽמַּעֲרָ֑ב הִֽרְחִ֥יק מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּ אֶת־פְּשָׁעֵֽינוּ׃‎	As far as the east is from the west, So far hath He removed our transgressions from us.
13	כְּרַחֵ֣ם אָ֭ב עַל־בָּנִ֑ים רִחַ֥ם יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה עַל־יְרֵאָֽיו׃‎	Like as a father hath compassion upon his children, So hath the LORD compassion upon them that fear Him. .
14	כִּי־ה֭וּא יָדַ֣ע יִצְרֵ֑נוּ זָ֝כ֗וּר כִּי־עָפָ֥ר אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃‎	For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.
15	אֱ֭נוֹשׁ כֶּחָצִ֣יר יָמָ֑יו כְּצִ֥יץ הַ֝שָּׂדֶ֗ה כֵּ֣ן יָצִֽיץ׃‎	As for man, his days are as grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16	כִּ֤י ר֣וּחַ עָֽבְרָה־בּ֣וֹ וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ וְלֹֽא־יַכִּירֶ֖נּוּ ע֣וֹד מְקוֹמֽוֹ׃‎	For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof knoweth it no more.
17	וְחֶ֤סֶד יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ מֵעוֹלָ֣ם וְעַד־ע֭וֹלָם עַל־יְרֵאָ֑יו וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ לִבְנֵ֥י בָנִֽים׃‎	But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, And His righteousness unto children's children;
18	לְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י בְרִית֑וֹ וּלְזֹכְרֵ֥י פִ֝קֻּדָ֗יו לַעֲשׂוֹתָֽם׃‎	To such as keep His covenant, And to those that remember His precepts to do them.
19	יְֽהֹוָ֗ה בַּ֭שָּׁמַיִם הֵכִ֣ין כִּסְא֑וֹ וּ֝מַלְכוּת֗וֹ בַּכֹּ֥ל מָשָֽׁלָה׃‎	The LORD hath established His throne in the heavens; And His kingdom ruleth over all.
20	בָּרְכ֥וּ יְהֹוָ֗ה מַלְאָ֫כָ֥יו גִּבֹּ֣רֵי כֹ֭חַ עֹשֵׂ֣י דְבָר֑וֹ לִ֝שְׁמֹ֗עַ בְּק֣וֹל דְּבָרֽוֹ׃‎	Bless the LORD, ye angels of His, Ye mighty in strength, that fulfil His word, Hearkening unto the voice of His word.
21	בָּרְכ֣וּ יְ֭הֹוָה כׇּל־צְבָאָ֑יו מְ֝שָׁרְתָ֗יו עֹשֵׂ֥י רְצוֹנֽוֹ׃‎	Bless the LORD, all ye His hosts; Ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure.
22	בָּרְכ֤וּ יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ כׇּֽל־מַעֲשָׂ֗יו בְּכׇל־מְקֹמ֥וֹת מֶמְשַׁלְתּ֑וֹ בָּרְכִ֥י נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃‎	Bless the LORD, all ye His works, In all places of His dominion; Bless the LORD, O my soul.

King James Version

1. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18. To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008). ^[10]

The extant palimpsest Aq^Taylor includes a translation into Koine Greek by Aquila of Sinope in c. 130 CE, containing verses 1–13. ^[11]

Uses

Judaism

Verse 1 is the final verse of Nishmat. ^[12]

Verses 2, 10, and 13 are recited during Selichot. ^[13]

Verses 10, 13, and 14 are part of the Tachanun prayer. ^[13] Verse 14 is also recited during a burial service. ^[13]

Verse 17 is recited during the blessings before the Shema on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. ^[14]

Verse 19 is part of the Yehi kevod prayer recited during Pesukei Dezimra. ^{[15] [13]}

New Testament

Verse 17 is quoted in Mary's song of praise, the Magnificat, in Luke 1:50. ^[16]

Catholic Church

Verse 3 of the psalm on a cross in the village of Kétvölgy, Hungary

In the Western church, this psalm was traditionally performed during the celebration of Matins of Saturday by the order of St. Benedict, probably since its founding to 530. ^[17]

In the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 103 is sung or recited during the Office of Sunday readings, second week. It is also used for Mass readings: it is the psalm read at the Mass of the Sacred Heart in Year A of the three-yearly cycle. In ordinary time, we find the 7th and the 24th Sunday of the year A and the eighth Sunday of the year B. In Lent, it is played the 3rd and 7th Sunday. Finally, it is the 7th Psalm on Easter Sunday.

Eastern Orthodox Church

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Psalm 102 (Psalm 103 in the Masoretic Text) is read daily at Matins and at Typica. It is part of the fourteenth Kathisma division of the Psalter, read at Matins on Thursday mornings, as well as on Tuesdays and Fridays during Lent, at the Third Hour and Matins, respectively. ^[18]

In whole or in part, Psalm 102/103 is sung as the First Antiphon at the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and festal weekdays that do not have a proper antiphon. ^[19]

Protestant

R. J. Thesman finds in this psalm a declaration that God never betrays us, never abandons us, and never forgets ..... His mercy covers our mistakes and our human tendencies, ^[20] while Thomas Coke, calls it an exquisite performance, very applicable to every deliverance: it may properly be said to describe the wonders of grace. ^[21] This Psalm is one continued hymn of praise, and includes a comprehensive view of the goodness of Jehovah, in all the great works of creation and redemption, ^[22] while Albert Barnes called it exceedingly regular in its structure and composition; beautiful in its language and conceptions; adapted to all times and ages; suited to express the feelings of gratitude to God for deliverance from trouble, and for the manifestation of his mercy; suited to elevate the soul, and to fill it with cheerful views. ^[23]

The Old Testament scholar Bernhard Duhm considers the Psalm a "compilation of all sorts of beautiful sentences from a fairly extensive reading". ^[24]

Musical settings

Hymns

Psalm 103 is the basis of several hymns. A paraphrase of Psalm 103 in German is "Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren", written by Johann Gramann in 1525, which was translated by Catherine Winkworth as "My Soul, now Praise thy Maker!" and published in 1863. English hymns include "Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven", written in the nineteenth century by Henry Francis Lyte, as well as "Sing to the Lord and praise him"; and “Like as a Father” by Florence Margaret Spencer Palmer. ^[25] In 1991, "Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele" as written as a hymn with a refrain round of verses 2 and 1.

Compositions

In the 16th century, Claudin de Sermisy set the Psalm 102. Heinrich Schütz set the hymn "Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren", SWV 201, for the Becker Psalter , published first in 1628. Henry Dumont set the psalm in Latin for La Chapelle Royale au Louvre in 1666.

In contemporary music, the song "Bless the Lord" in the musical Godspell is based on this psalm. "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin takes lyrics from this psalm, ^[26] as does "The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate" by Vineyard Worship.

References

1. Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 102 (103 Archived 2017-05-07 at the Wayback Machine medievalist.net
2. Pankhurst 2018.
3. Spurgeon, Charles (2020). "Psalm 103 Bible Commentary". Christianity.com. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
4. Henry, Matthew (2020). "Psalms 103". Bible Study Tools. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
5. "Midrash Tehillim / Psalms 103" (PDF). matsati.com. October 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2020. password: www.matsati.com
6. Miller 2013, p. 83.
7. "Psalms – Chapter 103". Mechon Mamre.
8. "Psalms 103 - JPS 1917". Sefaria.org.
9. Although many translations have interpreted נשר as 'eagle', it more accurately refers to the griffon vulture. Slifkin, Nosson (2004). "The Identity of the Nesher". Zoo Torah. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
10. • Würthwein, Ernst (1995). The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans. pp. 35–37. ISBN   0-8028-0788-7 . Retrieved 26 January 2019.
11. • Schürer, Emil; Vermes, Geza; Millar, Fergus (2014). The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ: Volume 3.i. A&C Black. p. 497. ISBN   9780567604521.
12. Scherman 2003, p. 402.
13. Brauner, Reuven (2013). "Shimush Pesukim: Comprehensive Index to Liturgical and Ceremonial Uses of Biblical Verses and Passages" (PDF) (2nd ed.). p. 45.
14. Scherman 1985, p. 272.
15. Scherman 2003, p. 66.
16. Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1901). The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Vol. Book IV and V: Psalms XC–CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p. 839. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
17. "La distribution des Psaumes dans la Règle de Saint Benoît - Mont de Cats". www.abbaye-montdescats.fr.
18. The Holy Psalter, Saint Ignatius Orthodox Press, 2022
19. The Holy Apostle, Saint Ignatius Orthodox Press, 2019
20. R. J. Thesman, A Meditation on Psalm 103.
21. Coke, Thomas, Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible: Psalms 103, accessed 21 January 2021
22. Hawker, Robert, D.D. "Commentary on Psalms 103:1". "Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary".
23. Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible, (1834)
24. Bernhard Duhm, Psalmen (1922), p. 371
25. Evans, Robert; Humphreys, Maggie (1 January 1997). Dictionary of Composers for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4411-3796-8.
26. "10,000 Reasons". Word to Worship. Retrieved 23 June 2020.

Sources

• Miller, Patrick D. (2013). The Lord of the Psalms. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN   978-0664239275.
• Pankhurst, Jennifer (2018). "The Conventions of Biblical Poetry". myjewishlearning.com. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
• Scherman, Rabbi Nosson (1985). The Complete Artscroll Machzor – Rosh Hashanah (1st ed.). Mesorah Publications Ltd. ISBN   978-0-89906-676-9.
• Scherman, Rabbi Nosson (2003). The Complete Artscroll Siddur (3rd ed.). Mesorah Publications, Ltd. ISBN   978-0899066509.

External links

• Pieces with text from Psalm 103 : Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Psalm 103 : Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Text of Psalm 103 according to the 1928 Psalter
• Psalms Chapter 103 text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org
• Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name! United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Psalm 103:1 introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
• Psalm 103 – Help Quickly, O Lord enduringword.com
• Psalm 103 / Refrain: Come to me quickly, O God. Church of England
• Psalm 103 at biblegateway.com
• Tehillim – Psalm 103 (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org