Psalms 103:15-22

103:15 A person’s life is like grass.

Like a flower in the field it flourishes,

103:16 but when the hot wind 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,

and is faithful to their descendants,

103:18 to those who keep his covenant,

who are careful to obey his commands.

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

his kingdom extends over everything.

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

you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees

and obey his orders!

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

you servants of his who carry out his desires!

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!


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.

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

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

tn Heb “and his righteousness to sons of sons.”

tn Heb “to those who remember his precepts to do them.”

tn Heb “his kingdom rules over all.”

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

tn Heb “all his hosts.”

tn Heb “his attendants, doers of his desire.”

10 tn Heb “all his works,” which includes mankind.

11 tn Heb “places.”