The Psalms of David in Metre

 Back to the 1650 Scottish Psalter

 

Psalm 103

A Psalm of David.

1 O thou my soul, bless God the Lord;
and all that in me is
Be stirred up his holy name
to magnify and bless.

2 Bless, O my soul, the Lord thy God,
and not forgetful be
Of all his gracious benefits
he hath bestowed on thee.

3 All thine iniquities who doth
most graciously forgive:
Who thy diseases all and pains
doth heal, and thee relieve.

4 Who doth redeem thy life, that thou
to death may’st not go down;
Who thee with loving-kindness doth
and tender mercies crown:

5 Who with abundance of good things
doth satisfy thy mouth;
So that, ev’n as the eagle’s age,
renewed is thy youth.

6 God righteous judgment executes
for all oppressed ones.
7 His ways to Moses, he his acts
made known to Isr’el’s sons.

8 The Lord our God is merciful,
and he is gracious,
Long-suffering, and slow to wrath,
in mercy plenteous.

9 He will not chide continually,
nor keep his anger still.
10 With us he dealt not as we sinned,
nor did requite our ill.

11 For as the heaven in its height
the earth surmounteth far;
So great to those that do him fear
his tender mercies are:

12 As far as east is distant from
the west, so far hath he
From us removed, in his love,
all our iniquity.

13 Such pity as a father hath
unto his children dear;
Like pity shews the Lord to such
as worship him in fear.

14 For he remembers we are dust,
and he our frame well knows.
15 Frail man, his days are like the grass,
as flow’r in field he grows:

16 For over it the wind doth pass,
and it away is gone;
And of the place where once it was
it shall no more be known.

17 But unto them that do him fear
God’s mercy never ends;
And to their children’s children still
his righteousness extends:

18 To such as keep his covenant,
and mindful are alway
Of his most just commandements,
that they may them obey.

19 The Lord prepared hath his throne
in heavens firm to stand;
And ev’ry thing that being hath
his kingdom doth command.

20 O ye his angels, that excel
in strength, bless ye the Lord;
Ye who obey what he commands,
and hearken to his word.

21 O bless and magnify the Lord,
ye glorious hosts of his;
Ye ministers, that do fulfil
whate’er his pleasure is.

22 O bless the Lord, all ye his works,
wherewith the world is stored
In his dominions ev’ry where.
My soul, bless thou the Lord.