Why read Psalm 102?
Psalm 102 is a prayer of thanksgiving for God's mercy, forgiveness and care. Its call not to forget His blessings recalls both divine compassion and human frailty.
You can read this psalm when its themes speak to your circumstances, or as part of your regular reading of the Psalter. This explanation draws on the text itself; the psalm is not reserved for one particular need.
The full text of Psalm 102 (22 verses), from the 14th Kathisma of the Psalter. The opening words — “Bless the Lord, O my soul...” — are also the psalm’s traditional “name”: our grandmothers did not say “psalm 102”, but called it by name, using its first words. The Orthodox Septuagint numbering is retained: this Psalm 102 corresponds to Psalm 103 in the Hebrew numbering.
The text of Psalm 102
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 rewards.
3. Who cleanseth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases;
4. Who redeemeth thy life from corruption; Who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion;
5. Who satisfieth thy desire with good things; thy youth shall be renewed like that of the eagle.
6. The Lord executeth mercies and judgement for all that suffer wrong.
7. He made known His ways unto Moses, His will unto the sons of Israel.
8. Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy.
9. He will not always be wroth, neither will He be angry for ever.
10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities,
11. For as high as the heaven is 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. As a father hath mercy on his sons, so the Lord hath had mercy on them that fear Him;
14. For He knoweth our frame; He remembered that we are dust.
15. Man is like unto grass; his days are as a flower of the field; so shall he flourish.
16. For the wind hath passed over him, and he shall be no more, and his place shall no longer be known.
17. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him,
18. And His righteousness upon sons' sons, upon such as keep His covenant
19. And remember His commandments, to do them. The Lord hath prepared His throne in heaven, and His kingdom ruleth over all.
20. Bless the Lord, all ye His angels, mighty in strength, that perform His word and hearken unto the voice of His words.
21. Bless the Lord, all ye His powers, His servants that do His will.
22. Bless the Lord, all ye His works, in every place of His dominion; bless the Lord, O my soul.
When Psalm 102 is read
- the great thanksgiving — it is read at Vespers.
- At the end of each psalm, tradition adds: «Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.».
Adjacent psalms
Read also
The numbering follows the Orthodox Psalter (Septuagint). The same psalm may have a different number in other Bible editions.
