Devine Scripture

Psalms 103:18

What does Psalms 103:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Psalms 103:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Psalms 103:18 means

This verse specifies the recipients of God's everlasting lovingkindness and righteousness: those who keep His covenant and remember His precepts to do them. It clarifies that while God's character is eternally merciful, the full experience of His covenant blessings is uniquely reserved for those who actively respond to His grace with obedient faith. It underscores the reciprocal nature of the covenant relationship, where human faithfulness is linked to experiencing divine enduring promises.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

To such as keep his covenant, And to those that remember his precepts to do them.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

To such as keep his covenant, And to those that remember his precepts to do them.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

If they keep his agreement, and have his laws in mind to do them.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

To those keeping His covenant, And to those remembering His precepts to do them.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

The high hills are a refuge for the harts, the rock for the irchins.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

To such as keep his covenant and to those that remember his precepts to do them.

Context

Following the declaration of God's everlasting lovingkindness and righteousness in verse 17, this verse defines the specific people who receive these enduring benefits: those who keep His covenant. This qualification links God's eternal attributes to human obedience, forming a foundation for the psalm's final movement into a universal call to bless the Lord, initiated by His supreme sovereignty in verse 19.

v.17But the lovingkindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children’s children;

v.18This passage

v.19Jehovah hath established his throne in the heavens; And his kingdom ruleth over all.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Deuteronomy 4:23

    Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of Jehovah your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image in the form of anything which Jehovah thy God hath forbidden thee.

  • Proverbs 3:1

    My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments:

  • Luke 1:6

    And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:1

    Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,—that ye abound more and more.

  • Deuteronomy 7:9

    Know therefore that Jehovah thy God, he is God, the faithful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations,

  • Psalms 132:12

    If thy children will keep my covenant And my testimony that I shall teach them, Their children also shall sit upon thy throne for evermore.

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