Psalms 103:11-13

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

so his loyal love towers ¹  over his faithful followers. ² 

103:12 As far as the eastern horizon ³  is from the west, ⁴ 

so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions ⁵  from us.

103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, ⁶ 

so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers. ⁷ 

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

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

[103:12]  ³ tn Heb “sunrise.”

[103:12]  ⁴ tn Or “sunset.”

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

[103:13]  ⁵ tn Or “sons,” but the Hebrew term sometimes refers to children in general.

[103:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “those who fear him.”