Psalm 103

William Helder © 1972, 2000-2005

1. O bless the LORD, my soul, bless your preserver!
   My inmost being, praise His name with fervour.
   Do not forget His deeds of love and grace.
   O bless the LORD, who pardons your transgressions,
   Who heals your illnesses in His compassion,
   And who redeems your life from death’s abyss.
   
2. O bless the LORD, who with His mercy crowns you,
   Who with His love and faithfulness surrounds you,
   Who grants His bounteous gifts your whole life through.
   To Him who shows His righteousness, sing praises;
   From their affliction He His people raises.
   Your youth He, like the eagle’s, will renew.
   
3. To the oppressed His justice He discloses.
   He long ago revealed His ways to Moses,
   Made known His mighty deeds to Israel.
   His love abounds; the LORD is slow to anger.
   He will not let His wrath forever linger;
   His chiding He’ll not endlessly recall.
   
4. The LORD has dealt with us in great compassion,
   Not punished us according to transgression.
   High as the vault of heaven, without end,
   So great His mercy is to those who fear Him;
   He sweeps the sins of all those who revere Him
   As far away as east from west extends.
   
5. In tender mercy, like that of a father
   Who has compassion on his sons and daughters,
   God looks on those who put in Him their trust.
   To all who fear Him, He will show compassion,
   For well He knows how we were formed and fashioned;
   The LORD remembers we are only dust.
   
6. Life is like grass, so quick to fade and perish,
   And like a flow’r that will but briefly flourish,
   Only to sear and wither in the wind;
   It soon is gone, not leaving any traces.
   But God is ever merciful and gracious:
   His love stands firm, abiding without end.
   
7. God’s mercy, everlasting and unfailing,
   His righteousness, for evermore prevailing,
   Will rest on those who fear Him all their days.
   God will be faithful through the generations
   To children’s children who with dedication
   Uphold His cov’nant and His laws obey.
   
8. His holy throne the LORD in heav’n has founded;
   From there He rules with sovereign power unbounded,
   For all the universe is His domain.
   Praise Him, you angels, great in might and splendor.
   You loyal servants, in your awe and wonder
   Shout forth the praise of His eternal reign!
   
9. You host of angels, worship and adore Him.
   All you who serve and minister before Him,
   His justice and His majesty extol!
   Let all created things in glad communion
   Exalt His name throughout His vast dominion.
   Come, praise the LORD and bless Him, O my soul!