Psalm 103:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

NIV: The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

NASB: The Lord performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed.

CSB: The Lord executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

NLT: The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

KJV: The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

NKJV: The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed.

Prior verses contained David's personal reasons for honoring God. Here, David moves from personal to general statements about God's governance. His direction of the world is another reason for Israel to praise Him.

David states that God performs righteous deeds and justice. Israel had many opportunities to observe God's righteous deeds. From His call of Abraham to the time of David, God performed righteous acts on behalf of the nation. He delivered the nation from slavery in Egypt (Judges 6:9) and provided miraculously for the Israelites in the wilderness by supplying water from a rock (Exodus 17:1–6), manna from heaven (Exodus 16:15–16), and abundant quail for meat (Exodus 16:13).

God also judged Israel's wicked enemies and punished those who violated His covenant. He displayed His justice for His oppressed people by rescuing them from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 20:2) and later, in the era of the Judges, by repeatedly delivering them from their oppressive enemy nations. He had also commanded His people to show kindness and generosity to the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7–11).

Psalm 103:6–19 reflects on the Lord's benefits to Israel. Deuteronomy 6:1–15 contains the Lord's promise to bless the people of Israel if they would obey him. Psalm 105 and 106 are companion psalms that stress the Lord's goodness to Israel.

Psalm 103 praises God for what He has done. This includes celebration of His personal influence, as well as the way God has blessed the nation of Israel. David encourages praises from himself, from the people in general, and even from the angels and hosts of heaven.

Psalm 103 is one of four psalms which complete the fourth division of the book of Psalms (Psalms 90—106). These four psalms ascribe praise to the Lord. Psalm 103 was written by David and expresses his gratitude to the Lord for all His benefits. First Thessalonians 5:18 conveys the same theme of thanksgiving by exhorting believers to ''give thanks in all circumstances.''

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.