The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 4 · Psalm 103
PSALM CIII.
A Pſalm of David.
ARGUMENT.
The Title tells us this Pſalm is one of Davids: and the third, fourth and fifth Verſes may ſatisfie us, that he compoſed it, after his recovery, from a dangerous ſickneſs, to ſuch a vigorous health; as the Eagles have, when they renew their plumes. To that he alludes Ver. 5. as Euthymius and Saint Hierom underſtand it. The latter of which ſays, upon XL. Iſaiah, that he had often taught, the Eagles do no otherway return to youthfulneſs, when they are old; but onelyonly mutatione pennarum by change of their feathers. I have expreſſed this a little more largely then ordinary, in the Paraphraſe (as I have done in the reſt of the Pſalm) to fit it the better to their uſe now, that have eſcaped the like danger: who ſhould take occaſion, when they thank God for ſuch a bleſſing, to imitate David; in making a thankfull commemoration of the reſt of his mercies: both to him and to others; both in the preſent and in paſt ages. And the more to excite devout ſouls to this, and that I might make their thankfulneſs the more affectionate (if they pleaſe to make uſe of this Hymn for that purpoſe) I have oft repeated the beginning of the Pſalm, which I think refers to the whole: and likewiſe put it into a little different form (of a ſoul actually praiſing God) without the leaſt alteration of the ſenſe.
1. BLeſs the LORD, O my ſoul: and all that is within me, bleſs his holy name.
1. BLeſſed, for ever bleſſed, be the Lord of life and health, and all other bleſſings; Bleſſed be his eternal power, wiſedom and goodneſs: with my whole heart, do I bleſs Him; with my moſt ardent love, and the devouteſt affections of my ſoul.
2. Bleſs the LORD, O my ſoul, and forget not all his benefits.
2. Which ſhall be every day thus employed, and praiſe his name, with continual pleaſure: I will never forget (how ſhouldſt thou prove ſo ungratefull, O my ſoul! as not) to acknowledge the ineſtimable benefits I have received from his bounty; which are more then thought can number.
3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities: who healeth all thy diſeaſes.
3. More particularly, I render Thee, O Lord, my moſt hearty thanks, for thy late mercies vouchſafed to me: Bleſſed be thy mercifull kindneſs, that after a ſhort correction for my faults, Thou haſt graciouſly pardoned them; and healed all the ſores and grievous wounds, which they had made.
4. Who redeemeth thy life from deſtruction: who crowneth thee with loving kindneſs and tender mercies.
4. Bleſſed be God, who hath ſaved me from death; and not onelyonly ſpared my life, but ſurrounded it moſt graciouſly with, I know not how, many benefits; which make it exceeding delightfull to me. (I owe my friends, lovers and acquaintance, my carefull attendants, my warm and quiet habitation, the plentifull eſtate Thou haſt given me, the liberal proviſion Thou makeſt for me, with all the reſt of thy mercies, to the bowels of thy tender compaſſions towards me.)
5. Who ſatisfieth thy mouth with good things: ſo that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.
5. Bleſſed be thy almighty Goodneſs, that my, mouth (which lately diſguſted all things, or was reſtrained from what is deſired, or was preſcribed that which was diſguſtfull to it) can now reliſh its food again; and is ſatisfied with many good things: I can never ſufficiently bleſs thy Goodneſs, who by this means doſt reſtore my ſtrength, and makeſt my youth and freſhneſs return like the Eagles. (O that I may with freſh delight and joy be ſtill praiſing Thee! and be lifted up to heaven, (as they are when they have renewed their plumes) in more vigorous love, and affectionate deſires and indeavours; to imploy all my renewed ſtrength in thy faithfull ſervice.)
6. The LORD executeth righteouſneſs and judgment for all that are oppreſſed.
6. Nor am I alone, obliged to my gracious Lord for his ſingular favour to me: but, bleſſed be his name, He relieves all thoſe who ſuffer wrong; and doth juſtice upon their oppreſſours, who are too mighty for them.
7. He made known his ways unto Moſes, his acts unto the children of Iſrael.
7. Moſes and the reſt of our Forefathers, are witneſſes of this: whom the Lord delivered, in a ſtupendious manner, out of the houſe of bondage.
8. The LORD is mercifull and gracious, ſlow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
8. And by other methods of his Providence towards them, and dealings with them, declared how bountifull his bleſſed nature is; and how ready to forgive: forbearing long when men deſerve to be puniſhed; and ſoon releaſing them from their pain, when they heartily repent of their folly.
9. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
9. He doth not love, bleſſed be his Name, to be always chaſtiſing us for our faults: And when He doth chaſtiſe us, He neither loves to prolong our miſeries; nor to inflict them proportionable to our deſerts.
10. He hath not dealt with us after our ſins: nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
10. No, Bleſſed be his holy Name, there is mercy even in our puniſhments: our ſufferings are never ſo great as our ſins; but we might juſtly ſuffer a great deal more, then we do, for our faults.
11. For as the heaven is high above the earth: ſo great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
11. And were we never ſo obedient, there is not a greater diſproportion between the vaſt circumference of the heavens, and this little ſpot of earth; then there is between his mercies towards us, and our ſmall ſervices.
12. As far as the eaſt is from the weſt: ſo far hath he removed our tranſgreſſions from us.
12. To thoſe mercies alone it is to be aſcribed, that we are not bemoaning our ſelves under innumerable miſeries: but He hath quite taken away his wrath from us; and, adored be his goodneſs, perfectly remitted the puniſhment due to our manifold offences.
13. Like as a father pitieth his children: ſo the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
13. O what bowels of mercy are theſe! No father can be more indulgent and tender-hearted, to his returning children; then the Lord, bleſſed be his Name, is to thoſe who ſo reform by his chaſtiſements, as to fear hereafter to offend Him.
14. For he knoweth our frame: he remembreth that we are duſt.
14. He eaſily relents and takes compaſſion on them: conſidering how frail he hath made them; and how ſoon of themſelves they will moulder into the duſt, out of which He took them.
15. As for man, his days are as graſs: as a flower of the field, ſo he flouriſheth.
15. For what is man that the Almighty ſhould contend with him? He looks freſh and fair; but alas! is as feeble as the graſs, and as a flower in the field; whoſe beauty is far greater then its ſtrength.
16. For the wind paſſeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof ſhall know it no more.
16. Many accidents ſnatch him away, even in his prime: Juſt as the biting wind, to which the field flowers are expoſed, blaſts them on a ſudden; and they ſpring up no more, in the place that was adorned with them.
17. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlaſting to everlaſting upon them that fear him: and his righteouſneſs unto childrens children:
17. O how much doth this magnifie the wonderfull mercy of our God! who deſigns to be everlaſtingly kind (bleſſed be his Goodneſs) to ſuch ſhort-liv'd creatures as we are: rewarding the faithfull ſervices of a few years, with eternal life to our ſelves; and with many bleſſings to our poſterity, in future generations.
18. To ſuch as keep his covenant, and to thoſe that remember his commandments to doe them.
18. There is no doubt of this; which hath been verified in thoſe who have ſincerely kept their faith with Him; and, not onelyonly promiſed but, conſtantly performed the obedience they owed Him.
19. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens: and his kingdom ruleth over all.
19. For none can hinder Thee, O moſt mighty Lord, from being as kind as Thou pleaſeſt: who art the univerſal Monarch; the bleſſed and onelyonly Potentate; to whom, not onelyonly the greateſt men on earth but, the higheſt powers in heaven are ſubject.
20. Bleſs the LORD, ye his angels, that excell in ſtrength, that doe his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
20. Let the Angels therefore, who know his greatneſs, power and gracious Providence, better then I, bleſs his holy Name: Let thoſe mighty ones, whoſe ſtrength ſurpaſſes all the powers on earth, and yet never diſpute his ſacred commands, give praiſe unto Him, with all their might; and with the ſame chearfulneſs, wherewith they obey his word.
21. Bleſs ye the LORD, all ye his hoſts, ye miniſters of his that doe his pleaſure.
21. Let the whole company of heaven, all the ſeveral hoſts of thoſe glorious creatures, who have been imployed by His Majeſty ſo many ways for our good, and underſtand how much we are beholden to his love; ſpeak good of his Name, and bleſs his Mercy, both to themſelves and unto us.
22. Bleſs the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bleſs the LORD, O my ſoul.
22. Yea let every creature throughout the wide world, proclaim as well as it is able, the loving kindneſs of the Lord: let none of them be ſilent, but all with one conſent bleſs his holy Name: And thou, O my ſoul, be ſure thou never forget to make one; O fail not to bear thy part in this joyfull quire, that daily ſing his praiſe.