Psalm 103 (KJV): Full Text, Meaning & Prayer
Read Psalm 103 in the King James Version, see what each part means, and pray a short prayer of thanks based on its words of mercy and praise.
Psalm 103 (King James Version)
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. 8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. 17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. 19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. 20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. 21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
Psalm 103:1-22, King James Version
A Prayer Based on Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul. Wake me up to everything You have done for me, and keep me from forgetting.
You have forgiven what I could not undo. You have healed what I could not mend. You have carried me through days I thought I would not finish. For all of it, I thank You.
You know how fragile I am, and You are not impatient with me. Teach me to be as gentle with others as You have been with me, and to forgive as freely as I have been forgiven.
When my days feel short and my strength feels small, remind me that Your mercy has no end. Let my whole life be a blessing to Your name. Amen.
What Psalm 103 Means
Psalm 103 is a psalm of thanksgiving. The heading in the King James Version reads "A Psalm of David." It is often read when someone wants to give thanks, to feel forgiven, or to remember that God is kind. It moves in four steps.
Verses 1-5: Praise from the whole self. The writer speaks to his own soul and tells it to bless the Lord and forget not all his benefits. Then he names them: forgiveness, healing, rescue, and good things that renew the spirit. Gratitude here is something you choose to remember.
Verses 6-14: The character of God. God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy (verse 8). He does not treat us as our sins deserve. Verse 12 gives one of the best-loved images in Scripture: as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions. Verse 13 compares God to a father who pities his children, and verse 14 says that he knows we are dust.
Verses 15-18: Our brief lives and his lasting mercy. Human life is compared to grass and a flower of the field, here today and gone tomorrow. Against that stands the mercy of the Lord, from everlasting to everlasting, reaching even to children's children.
Verses 19-22: Let everything bless the Lord. The psalm ends with a wide view. God's throne is in the heavens, and the angels, his hosts, and all his works are called to bless him. The last line returns to where it began: bless the LORD, O my soul.
How to pray it: read it slowly, once aloud. Stop at the benefit in verses 3-5 that you most need to remember today, and thank God for it by name. Many people read it in the morning, on a day of rest, or after receiving good news or forgiveness.
Scripture to Pray With
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psalm 103:2 (KJV)
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Psalm 103:8 (KJV)
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12 (KJV)
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psalm 103:13 (KJV)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Psalm 103 about?
It is a psalm of thanksgiving that praises God for forgiving sins, healing, and showing mercy. It also reminds us that human life is short while God's mercy lasts forever.
Who wrote Psalm 103?
The King James Version heading reads "A Psalm of David," so it is traditionally attributed to King David.
What does "as far as the east is from the west" mean in Psalm 103?
Verse 12 says God removes our sins from us as far as east is from west, which can never meet. It is a picture of complete forgiveness.
What does "bless the Lord, O my soul" mean?
It is the writer telling himself to praise God with his whole being. To bless the Lord means to thank and honor him.
When should you read Psalm 103?
It fits any time you want to give thanks, ask for a sense of forgiveness, or remember God's kindness, such as at the start of the day or after answered prayer.
Last updated 2026-10-17