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.
1 [[A Psalm of David.]] H1732 Bless H1288 the LORD, H3068 O my soul: H5315 and all that is within H7130 me, bless his holy H6944 name. H8034
2 Bless H1288 the LORD, H3068 O my soul, H5315 and forget H7911 not all his benefits: H1576
3 Who forgiveth H5545 all thine iniquities; H5771 who healeth H7495 all thy diseases; H8463
4 Who redeemeth H1350 thy life H2416 from destruction; H7845 who crowneth H5849 thee with lovingkindness H2617 and tender mercies; H7356
5 Who satisfieth H7646 thy mouth H5716 with good H2896 things; so that thy youth H5271 is renewed H2318 like the eagle's. H5404
6 The LORD H3068 executeth H6213 righteousness H6666 and judgment H4941 for all that are oppressed. H6231
7 He made known H3045 his ways H1870 unto Moses, H4872 his acts H5949 unto the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
8 The LORD H3068 is merciful H7349 and gracious, H2587 slow H750 to anger, H639 and plenteous H7227 in mercy. H2617
9 He will not always H5331 chide: H7378 neither will he keep H5201 his anger for ever. H5769
10 He hath not dealt H6213 with us after our sins; H2399 nor rewarded H1580 us according to our iniquities. H5771
11 For as the heaven H8064 is high above H1361 the earth, H776 so great H1396 is his mercy H2617 toward them that fear H3373 him.
12 As far as H7368 the east H4217 is from the west, H4628 so far hath he removed H7368 our transgressions H6588 from us.
13 Like as a father H1 pitieth H7355 his children, H1121 so the LORD H3068 pitieth H7355 them that fear H3373 him.
14 For he knoweth H3045 our frame; H3336 he remembereth H2142 that we are dust. H6083
15 As for man, H582 his days H3117 are as grass: H2682 as a flower H6731 of the field, H7704 so he flourisheth. H6692
16 For the wind H7307 passeth over H5674 it, and it is gone; and the place H4725 thereof shall know H5234 it no more.
17 But the mercy H2617 of the LORD H3068 is from everlasting H5769 to H5704 everlasting H5769 upon them that fear H3373 him, and his righteousness H6666 unto children's H1121 children; H1121
18 To such as keep H8104 his covenant, H1285 and to those that remember H2142 his commandments H6490 to do H6213 them.
19 The LORD H3068 hath prepared H3559 his throne H3678 in the heavens; H8064 and his kingdom H4438 ruleth H4910 over all.
20 Bless H1288 the LORD, H3068 ye his angels, H4397 that excel H1368 in strength, H3581 that do H6213 his commandments, H1697 hearkening H8085 unto the voice H6963 of his word. H1697
21 Bless H1288 ye the LORD, H3068 all ye his hosts; H6635 ye ministers H8334 of his, that do H6213 his pleasure. H7522
22 Bless H1288 the LORD, H3068 all his works H4639 in all places H4725 of his dominion: H4475 bless H1288 the LORD, H3068 O my soul. H5315
1 Bless Jehovah, O my soul; And all that is within me, `bless' his holy name.
2 Bless Jehovah, 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 desire with good things, `So that' thy youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 Jehovah executeth righteous acts, And judgments for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, His doings unto the children of Israel.
8 Jehovah is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness.
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 after our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his lovingkindness 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 Jehovah 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 lovingkindness of Jehovah 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 precepts to do them.
19 Jehovah hath established his throne in the heavens; And his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless Jehovah, ye his angels, That are mighty in strength, that fulfil his word, Hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless Jehovah, all ye his hosts, Ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless Jehovah, all ye his works, In all places of his dominion: Bless Jehovah, O my soul.
1 By David. Bless, O my soul, Jehovah, And all my inward parts -- His Holy Name.
2 Bless, O my soul, Jehovah, And forget not all His benefits,
3 Who is forgiving all thine iniquities, Who is healing all thy diseases,
4 Who is redeeming from destruction thy life, Who is crowning thee -- kindness and mercies,
5 Who is satisfying with good thy desire, Renew itself as an eagle doth thy youth.
6 Jehovah is doing righteousness and judgments For all the oppressed.
7 He maketh known His ways to Moses, To the sons of Israel His acts.
8 Merciful and gracious `is' Jehovah, Slow to anger, and abundant in mercy.
9 Not for ever doth He strive, Nor to the age doth He watch.
10 Not according to our sins hath He done to us, Nor according to our iniquities Hath He conferred benefits upon us.
11 For, as the height of the heavens `is' above the earth, His kindness hath been mighty over those fearing Him.
12 As the distance of east from west He hath put far from us our transgressions.
13 As a father hath mercy on sons, Jehovah hath mercy on those fearing Him.
14 For He hath known our frame, Remembering that we `are' dust.
15 Mortal man! as grass `are' his days, As a flower of the field so he flourisheth;
16 For a wind hath passed over it, and it is not, And its place doth not discern it any more.
17 And the kindness of Jehovah `Is' from age even unto age on those fearing Him, And His righteousness to sons' sons,
18 To those keeping His covenant, And to those remembering His precepts to do them.
19 Jehovah in the heavens Hath established His throne, And His kingdom over all hath ruled.
20 Bless Jehovah, ye His messengers, Mighty in power -- doing His word, To hearken to the voice of His Word.
21 Bless Jehovah, all ye His hosts, His ministers -- doing His pleasure.
22 Bless Jehovah, all ye His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless, O my soul, Jehovah!
1 {[A Psalm] of David.} Bless Jehovah, O my soul; and all that is within me, [bless] his holy name!
2 Bless Jehovah, 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 the pit, who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thine old age with good [things]; thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 Jehovah executeth righteousness and justice for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 Jehovah is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness.
9 He will not always chide, neither will he keep [his anger] for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving-kindness 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 As a father pitieth [his] children, so Jehovah pitieth them that fear him.
14 For himself 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 knoweth it no more.
17 But the loving-kindness of Jehovah is from everlasting and 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 precepts to do them.
19 Jehovah hath established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless Jehovah, ye his angels, mighty in strength, that execute his word, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless Jehovah, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his that do his will.
22 Bless Jehovah, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless Jehovah, O my soul!
1 > Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!
2 Praise Yahweh, my soul, And don't forget all his benefits;
3 Who forgives all your sins; Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from destruction; Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfies your desire with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 Yahweh executes righteous acts, And justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, His deeds to the children of Israel.
8 Yahweh is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.
9 He will not always accuse; Neither will he stay angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor repaid us for our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like a father has compassion on his children, So Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more.
17 But Yahweh's loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, His righteousness to children's children;
18 To those who keep his covenant, To those who remember to obey his precepts.
19 Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, Who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, Obeying the voice of his word.
21 Praise Yahweh, all you hosts of his, You servants of his, who do his pleasure.
22 Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, In all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul.
1 <Of David.> Give praise to the Lord, O my soul; let everything in me give praise to his holy name.
2 Give praise to the Lord, O my soul; let not all his blessings go from your memory.
3 He has forgiveness for all your sins; he takes away all your diseases;
4 He keeps back your life from destruction, crowning you with mercy and grace.
5 He makes your mouth full of good things, so that your strength is made new again like the eagle's.
6 The Lord gives decisions in righteousness for all who are in trouble.
7 He gave knowledge of his way to Moses, and made his acts clear to the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is kind and full of pity, not quickly made angry, but ever ready to have mercy.
9 His feeling will no longer be bitter; he will not keep his wrath for ever.
10 He has not given us the punishment for our sins, or the reward of our wrongdoing.
11 For as the heaven is high over the earth, so great is his mercy to his worshippers.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our sins from us.
13 As a father has pity on his children, so the Lord has pity on his worshippers.
14 For he has knowledge of our feeble frame; he sees that we are only dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: his beautiful growth is like the flower of the field.
16 The wind goes over it and it is gone; and its place sees it no longer.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is eternal for his worshippers, and their children's children will see his righteousness;
18 If they keep his agreement, and have his laws in mind to do them.
19 The Lord has made ready his high seat in the heavens; his kingdom is ruling over all.
20 Give praise to the Lord, you his angels, who are great in strength, doing his orders, and waiting for his voice.
21 Give praise to the Lord, all you his armies; and you his servants who do his pleasure.
22 Give praise to the Lord, all his works, in all places under his rule: give praise to the Lord, O my soul.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 103
Commentary on Psalms 103 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
Hymn in Honour of God the All-Compassionate One
To the “Thou wilt have compassion upon Zion” of Psalms 102:14 is appended Psalms 103, which has this as its substance throughout; but in other respects the two Psalms stand in contrast to one another. The inscription לדוד is also found thus by itself without any further addition even before Psalms of the First Book (Psalms 26:1, Ps 35, Ps 37). It undoubtedly does not rest merely on conjecture, but upon tradition. For no internal grounds which might have given rise to the annotation לדוד can be traced. The form of the language does not favour it. This pensive song, so powerful in its tone, has an Aramaic colouring like Ps 116; Psalms 124:1-8; Psalms 129:1-8. In the heaping up of Aramaizing suffix-forms it has its equal only in the story of Elisha, 2 Kings 4:1-7, where, moreover, the Kerî throughout substitutes the usual forms, whilst here, where these suffix-forms are intentional ornaments of the expression, the Chethîb rightly remains unaltered. The forms are 2nd sing. fem. ēchi for ēch , and 2nd sing. plur. ājchi for ajich . The i without the tone which is added here is just the one with which originally the pronunciation was אתּי instead of אתּ and לכי for לך . Out of the Psalter (here and Psalms 116:7, Psalms 116:19) these suffix-forms echi and ajchi occur only in Jeremiah 11:15, and in the North-Palestinian history of the prophet in the Book of Kings. The groups or strophes into which the Psalm falls are Psalms 103:1, Psalms 103:6, Psalms 103:11, Psalms 103:15, Psalms 103:19. If we count their lines we obtain the schema 10. 10. 8. 8. 10. The coptic version accordingly reckons 46 CTYXOC , i.e., στίχοι .
In the strophe Psalms 103:1 the poet calls upon his soul to arise to praiseful gratitude for God's justifying, redeeming, and renewing grace. In such soliloquies it is the Ego that speaks, gathering itself up with the spirit, the stronger, more manly part of man ( Psychology , S. 104f.; tr. p. 126), or even, because the soul as the spiritual medium of the spirit and of the body represents the whole person of man ( Psychology , S. 203; tr. p. 240), the Ego rendering objective in the soul the whole of its own personality. So here in Psalms 103:3 the soul, which is addressed, represents the whole man. The קובים which occurs here is a more choice expression for מעים ( מעים ): the heart, which is called קרב κατ ̓ ἐξοχήν , the reins, the liver, etc.; for according to the scriptural conception ( Psychology , S. 266; tr. p. 313) these organs of the cavities of the breast and abdomen serve not merely for the bodily life, but also the psycho-spiritual life. The summoning בּרכי is repeated per anaphoram . There is nothing the soul of man is so prone to forget as to render thanks that are due, and more especially thanks that are due to God. It therefore needs to be expressly aroused in order that it may not leave the blessing with which God blesses it unacknowledged, and may not forget all His acts performed ( גּמל = גּמר ) on it ( גּמוּל , ῥῆμα μέσον , e.g., in Psalms 137:8), which are purely deeds of loving-kindness), which is the primal condition and the foundation of all the others, viz., sin-pardoning mercy. The verbs סלח and רפא with a dative of the object denote the bestowment of that which is expressed by the verbal notion. תּחלוּאים (taken from Deuteronomy 29:21, cf. 1 Chronicles 21:19, from חלא = חלה , root הל , solutum, laxum esse ) are not merely bodily diseases, but all kinds of inward and outward sufferings. משּׁחת the lxx renders ἐκ φθορᾶς (from שׁחת , as in Job 17:14); but in this antithesis to life it is more natural to render the “pit” (from שׁוּח ) as a name of Hades, as in Psalms 16:10. Just as the soul owes its deliverance from guilt and distress and death to God, so also does it owe to God that with which it is endowed out of the riches of divine love. The verb עטּר , without any such addition as in Ps 5:13, is “to crown,” cf. Psalms 8:6. As is usually the case, it is construed with a double accusative; the crown is as it were woven out of loving-kindness and compassion. The Beth of בּטּוב in Psalms 103:5 instead of the accusative (Psalms 104:28) denotes the means of satisfaction, which is at the same time that which satisfies. עדיך the Targum renders: dies senectutis tuae , whereas in Psalms 32:9 it is ornatus ejus ; the Peshîto renders: corpus tuum , and in Psalms 32:9 inversely, juventus eorum . These significations, “old age” or “youth,” are pure inventions. And since the words are addressed to the soul, עדי cannot also, like כבוד in other instances, be a name of the soul itself (Aben-Ezra, Mendelssohn, Philippsohn, Hengstenberg, and others). We, therefore, with Hitzig, fall back upon the sense of the word in Psalms 32:9, where the lxx renders τάς σιαγόνας αὐτῶν , but here more freely, apparently starting from the primary notion of עדי = Arabic chadd , the cheek: τὸν ἐμπιπλῶντα ἐν ἀγαθοῖς τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν σου (whereas Saadia's victum tuum is based upon a comparison of the Arabic gdâ , to nourish). The poet tells the soul (i.e., his own person, himself) that God satisfies it with good, so that it as it were gets its cheeks full of it (cf. Psalms 81:11). The comparison כּנּשׁר is, as in Micah 1:16 (cf. Isaiah 40:31), to be referred to the annual moulting of the eagle. Its renewing of its plumage is an emblem of the renovation of his youth by grace. The predicate to נעוּריכי (plural of extension in relation to time) stands first regularly in the sing. fem .
His range of vision being widened from himself, the poet now in Psalms 103:6 describes God's gracious and fatherly conduct towards sinful and perishing men, and that as it shines forth from the history of Israel and is known and recognised in the light of revelation. What Psalms 103:6 says is a common-place drawn from the history of Israel. משׁפּטים is an accusative governed by the עשׂה that is to be borrowed out of עשׂה (so Baer after the Masora). And because Psalms 103:6 is the result of an historical retrospect and survey, יודיע in Psalms 103:7 can affirm that which happened in the past (cf. Psalms 96:6.); for the supposition of Hengstenberg and Hitzig, that Moses here represents Israel like Jacob , Isaac , and Joseph in other instances, is without example in the whole Israelitish literature. It becomes clear from Psalms 103:8 in what sense the making of His ways known is meant. The poet has in his mind Moses' prayer: “make known to me now Thy way” (Exodus 33:13), which Jahve fulfilled by passing by him as he stood in the cleft of the rock and making Himself visible to him as he looked after Him, amidst the proclamation of His attributes. The ways of Jahve are therefore in this passage not those in which men are to walk in accordance with His precepts (Psalms 25:4), but those which He Himself follows in the course of His redemptive history (Psalms 67:3). The confession drawn from Exodus 34:6. is become a formula of the Israelitish faith (Psalms 86:15; Psalms 145:8; Joel 2:13; Nehemiah 9:17, and frequently). In Psalms 103:9. the fourth attribute ( ורב־חסד ) is made the object of further praise. He is not only long ( ארך from ארך , like כּבד from כּבד ) in anger, i.e., waiting a long time before He lets His anger loose, but when He contends, i.e., interposes judicially, this too is not carried to the full extent (Psalms 78:38), He is not angry for ever ( נטר , to keep, viz., anger, Amos 1:11; cf. the parallels, both as to matter and words, Jeremiah 3:5; Isaiah 57:16). The procedure of His righteousness is regulated not according to our sins, but according to His purpose of mercy. The prefects in Psalms 103:10 state that which God has constantly not done, and the futures in Psalms 103:9 what He continually will not do.
The ingenious figures in Psalms 103:11. (cf. Psalms 36:6; Psalms 57:11) illustrate the infinite power and complete unreservedness of mercy (loving-kindness). הרחיק has Gaja (as have also השׁחיתו and התעיבו , Psalms 14:1; Psalms 53:2, in exact texts), in order to render possible the distinct pronunciation of the guttural in the combination רח . Psalms 103:13 sounds just as much like the spirit of the New Testament as Psalms 103:11, Psalms 103:12. The relationship to Jahve in which those stand who fear Him is a filial relationship based upon free reciprocity (Malachi 3:11). His Fatherly compassion is (Psalms 103:14) based upon the frailty and perishableness of man, which are known to God, much the same as God's promise after the Flood not to decree a like judgment again (Genesis 8:21). According to this passage and Deuteronomy 31:21, יצרנוּ appears to be intended of the moral nature; but according to Psalms 103:14 , one is obliged to think rather of the natural form which man possesses from God the Creator ( ויּיצר , Genesis 2:7) than of the form of heart which he has by his own choice and, so far as its groundwork is concerned, by inheritance (Psalms 51:7). In זכוּר , mindful, the passive, according to Böttcher's correct apprehension of it, expresses a passive state after an action that is completed by the person himself, as in בּטוּה , ידוּע , and the like. In its form Psalms 103:14 reminds one of the Book of Job Job 11:11; Job 28:23, and Psalms 103:14 as to subject-matter recalls Job 7:7, and other passages (cf. Psalms 78:39; Psalms 89:48); but the following figurative representation of human frailty, with which the poet contrasts the eternal nature of the divine mercy as the sure stay of all God-fearing ones in the midst of the rise and decay of things here below, still more strongly recalls that book.
The figure of the grass recalls Psalms 90:5., cf. Isaiah 40:6-8; Isaiah 51:12; that of the flower, Job 14:2. אנושׁ is man as a mortal being; his life's duration is likened to that of a blade of grass, and his beauty and glory to a flower of the field, whose fullest bloom is also the beginning of its fading. In Psalms 103:16 בּו (the same as in Isaiah 40:7.) refers to man, who is compared to grass and flowers. כּי is ἐάν with a hypothetical perfect; and the wind that scorches up the plants, referred to man, is an emblem of every form of peril that threatens life: often enough it is really a breath of wind which snaps off a man's life. The bold designation of vanishing away without leaving any trace, “and his place knoweth him no more,” is taken from Job 7:10, cf. ibid . Job 8:18; Job 20:9. In the midst of this plant-like, frail destiny, there is, however, one strong ground of comfort. There is an everlasting power, which raises all those who link themselves with it above the transitoriness involved in nature's laws, and makes them eternal like itself. This power is the mercy of God, which spans itself above ( על ) all those who fear Him like an eternal heaven. This is God's righteousness, which rewards faithful adherence to His covenant and conscientious fulfilment of His precepts in accordance with the order of redemption, and shows itself even to ( ל ) children's children, according to Exodus 20:6; Exodus 34:7; Deuteronomy 7:9 : on into a thousand generations, i.e., into infinity.
He is able to show Himself thus gracious to His own, for He is the supra-mundane, all-ruling King. With this thought the poet draws on to the close of his song of praise. The heavens in opposition to the earth, as in Psalms 115:3; Ecclesiastes 5:12, is the unchangeable realm above the rise and fall of things here below. On Psalms 103:19 cf. 1 Chronicles 29:12. בּכּל refers to everything created without exception, the universe of created things. In connection with the heavens of glory the poet cannot but call to mind the angels. His call to these to join in the praise of Jahve has its parallel only in Psalms 29:1-11 and Psalms 148:1-14. It arises from the consciousness of the church on earth that it stands in living like-minded fellowship with the angels of God, and that it possesses a dignity which rises above all created things, even the angels which are appointed to serve it (Psalms 91:11). They are called גּבּרים as in Joel 3:11, and in fact גּבּרי כּח , as the strong to whom belongs strength unequalled. Their life endowed with heroic strength is spent entirely - an example for mortals - in an obedient execution of the word of God. לשׁמע is a definition not of the purpose, but of the manner: obediendo (as in Genesis 2:3 perficiendo ). Hearing the call of His word, they also forthwith put it into execution. the hosts ( צבאיו ), as משׁרתיו shows, are the celestial spirits gathered around the angels of a higher rank (cf. Luke 2:13), the innumerable λειτουργικὰ πνεῦματα (Psalms 104:4, Daniel 7:10; Hebrews 1:14), for there is a hierarchia caelestis . From the archangels the poet comes to the myriads of the heavenly hosts, and from these to all creatures, that they, wheresoever they may be throughout Jahve's wide domain, may join in the song of praise that is to be struck up; and from this point he comes back to his own soul, which he modestly includes among the creatures mentioned in the third passage. A threefold בּרכי נפשׁי now corresponds to the threefold בּרכוּ ; and inasmuch as the poet thus comes back to his own soul, his Psalm also turns back into itself and assumes the form of a converging circle.