Psalms 103:11-12

Context

103:11 For as the skies are high above the earth,

so his loyal love towers¹ over his faithful followers.²

103:12 As far as the eastern horizon³ is from the west,⁴

so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions⁵ from us.

Psalms 103:14

Context

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

he realizes⁷ we are made of clay.⁸

[103:11] ¹tn For this sense of the verb גָבַר (gavar), see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 17, 19.

[103:11] ²tn Heb “those who fear him.”

[103:12] ³tn Heb “sunrise.”

[103:12] ⁴tn Or “sunset.”

[103:12] ⁵tn The Hebrew term פֶּשַׁע (pesha’, rebellious act”) is here used metonymically for the guilt such actions produce.

[103:14] ⁶tn Heb “our form.”

[103:14] ⁷tn Heb “remembers.”

[103:14] ⁸tn Heb “we [are] clay.”