Psalm 103:8–18

⁸The Lord is compassionate, merciful, patient, 

and always ready to forgive. 

⁹He will not always accuse us of wrong 

or be angry ⸤with us⸥ forever. 

¹⁰He has not treated us as we deserve for our sins 

or paid us back for our wrongs. 

¹¹As high as the heavens are above the earth— 

that is how vast his mercy is toward those who fear him. 

¹²As far as the east is from the west— 

that is how far he has removed our rebellious acts from himself. 

¹³As a father has compassion for his children, 

so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him. 

¹⁴He certainly knows what we are made of. 

He bears in mind that we are dust. 

¹⁵Human life is as short-lived as grass. 

It blossoms like a flower in the field. 

¹⁶When the wind blows over the flower, it disappears, 

and there is no longer any sign of it. 

¹⁷But from everlasting to everlasting, 

the Lord’s mercy is on those who fear him. 

His righteousness belongs 

to their children and grandchildren, 

¹⁸to those who are faithful to his promise,^a

to those who remember to follow his guiding principles.