Mazmur 103:14-22

103:14 For he knows what we are made of; ¹ 

he realizes ²  we are made of clay. ³ 

103:15 A person’s life is like grass. ⁴ 

Like a flower in the field it flourishes,

103:16 but when the hot wind ⁵  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, ⁶ 

and is faithful to their descendants, ⁷ 

103:18 to those who keep his covenant,

who are careful to obey his commands. ⁸ 

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

his kingdom extends over everything. ⁹ 

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

you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees

and obey his orders! ¹⁰ 

103:21 Praise the Lord, all you warriors of his, ¹¹ 

you servants of his who carry out his desires! ¹² 

103:22 Praise the Lord, all that he has made, ¹³ 

in all the regions ¹⁴  of his kingdom!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

[103:14]  ¹ tn Heb “our form.”

[103:14]  ² tn Heb “remembers.”

[103:14]  ³ tn Heb “we [are] clay.”

[103:15]  ⁴ 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.

[103:16]  ⁵ tn Heb “[the] wind.” The word “hot” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[103:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “but the loyal love of the Lord [is] from everlasting to everlasting over those who fear him.”

[103:17]  ⁷ tn Heb “and his righteousness to sons of sons.”

[103:18]  ⁸ tn Heb “to those who remember his precepts to do them.”

[103:19]  ⁹ tn Heb “his kingdom rules over all.”

[103:20]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “[you] mighty ones of strength, doers of his word, by listening to the voice of his word.”

[103:21]  ¹¹ tn Heb “all his hosts.”

[103:21]  ¹² tn Heb “his attendants, doers of his desire.”

[103:22]  ¹³ tn Heb “all his works,” which includes mankind.

[103:22]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “places.”