Psalm 103

Abraham Coles

2 O bless the Lord, my soul!
Let memory awake,
And think of all His benefits,
And grateful mention make:

3 Who all thy sins forgives;
All thy diseases heals;
4 Who saved thy life from threatened death,
And for thee pity feels.

5 Who gives thee pleasant food,
And makes an end of pain;
So, like an eagle, is renewed
Thy faded youth again.

6 He judgment executes
For all that are oppressed;
7 He made to Israel of old
His goodness manifest.

8 The Lord is merciful,
And is to anger slow;
The plenteous fountains of His grace
Continually o'erflow.

9 He will not always chide,
His anger always keep;
10 He has not dealt with us to match
Our soul's demerit deep.

11 For as the heaven is high
Above this lower sphere,
So great His mercy is toward them,
Who reverence Him and fear.

12 Far as from east to west,
He doth our sins remove;
13 He pities us, as parents do
The children of their love.

14 For He knows well our frame;
How frail we are, He knows;
How man's original is dust,
And back to it he goes.

15 His days are as the grass;
He blossoms like the flower,
16 The wind sweeps o'er it, and 't is gone —
The vision of an hour.

17 But then His mercies are
Forever and for aye,
18 To such as keep His covenant,
And His commands obey.

19 His throne is in the heavens,
His kingdom over all:
20 Ye angels — that excel in strength,
Who hearken to His call.

Then fly to execute
His powerful decrees —
21 Bless ye the Lord; and thou, my soul!
22 Bless Him on bended knees.