Psalms 103:15-22

Context

103:15 A person’s life is like grass.¹

Like a flower in the field it flourishes,

103:16 but when the hot wind² 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,³

and is faithful to their descendants,⁴

103:18 to those who keep his covenant,

who are careful to obey his commands.⁵

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

his kingdom extends over everything.⁶

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

you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees

and obey his orders!⁷

103:21 Praise the Lord, all you warriors of his,⁸

you servants of his who carry out his desires!⁹

103:22 Praise the Lord, all that he has made,¹⁰

in all the regions¹¹ of his kingdom!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

[103:15] ¹tn 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.

[103:16] ²tn Heb “[the] wind.” The word “hot” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[103:17] ³tn Heb “but the loyal love of the Lord [is] from everlasting to everlasting over those who fear him.”

[103:17] ⁴tn Heb “and his righteousness to sons of sons.”

[103:18] ⁵tn Heb “to those who remember his precepts to do them.”

[103:19] ⁶tn Heb “his kingdom rules over all.”

[103:20] ⁷tn Heb “[you] mighty ones of strength, doers of his word, by listening to the voice of his word.”

[103:21] ⁸tn Heb “all his hosts.”

[103:21] ⁹tn Heb “his attendants, doers of his desire.”

[103:22] ¹⁰tn Heb “all his works,” which includes mankind.

[103:22] ¹¹tn Heb “places.”