Benedic, anima mea, Domino
A psalm of praise for divine mercy, compassion, healing, and renewal — the gospel in miniature.
No truncation required.
Versus 1
Benedic, anima mea, Domino, et omnia quae intra me sunt, nomini sancto eius.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Word Notes:
- benedicō, benedīcere — to bless, praise
- anima, -ae f. — soul, inner self
- sanctus, -a, -um — holy
Versus 2
Benedic, anima mea, Domino, et noli oblivisci omnes retributiones eius.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits.
Word Notes:
- oblivīscor, oblivīscī — to forget
- retributiō, -ōnis f. — recompense, benefit
Versus 3
Qui propitiatur omnibus iniquitatibus tuis, qui sanat omnes infirmitates tuas.
He forgives all your iniquities; he heals all your diseases.
Word Notes:
- propitior, propitiārī (dep.) — to forgive, show mercy
- īnfirmitās, -ātis f. — weakness, sickness
Versus 4
Qui redimit de interitu vitam tuam, qui coronat te in misericordia et miserationibus.
He redeems your life from destruction; he crowns you with steadfast mercy and compassion.
Word Notes:
- redimō, redimere — to redeem, buy back
- interitus, -ūs m. — destruction
- miseratio, -ōnis f. — pity, compassion
Versus 5
Qui replet in bonis desiderium tuum; renovabitur ut aquilae iuventus tua.
He fills your longing with good; your youth shall be renewed like the eagle’s.
Word Notes:
- repleō, replēre — to fill
- dēsīderium, -iī n. — desire, longing
- renovō, renovāre — to renew
Versus 6
Facit misericordias Dominus, et iudicium omnibus iniuriam patientibus.
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who suffer wrong.
Word Notes:
- iniūria, -ae f. — injustice, wrong
- patiōr, patī (dep.) — to suffer
Versus 7
Notas fecit vias suas Moysi, filiis Israel voluntates suas.
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel.
Word Notes:
- via, -ae f. — way, path
- voluntas, -ātis f. — will, disposition
Versus 8
Miserator et misericors Dominus; longanimis et multum misericors.
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to anger and rich in mercy.
Word Notes:
- miserātor, -ōris m. — one who shows compassion
- longanimis, -e — slow to anger, patient
Versus 9
Non in perpetuum irascetur, neque in aeternum comminabitur.
He will not be angry forever, nor will he threaten for eternity.
Word Notes:
- īrāscor, īrāscī (dep.) — to be angry
- comminor, comminārī (dep.) — to threaten
Versus 10
Non secundum peccata nostra fecit nobis, neque secundum iniquitates nostras retribuit nobis.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us according to our iniquities.
Word Notes:
- secundum — according to
- retribuō, retribuere — to repay, recompense
Versus 11
Quoniam secundum altitudinem caeli a terra, corroboravit misericordiam suam super timentes se.
For as high as the heaven is above the earth, so strong is his mercy over those who fear him.
Word Notes:
- altitūdō, -inis f. — height
- corrobōrō, corrobōrāre — to strengthen
Versus 12
Quantum distat ortus ab occidente, longe fecit a nobis iniquitates nostras.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our iniquities from us.
Word Notes:
- distō, distāre — to be distant
- occidēns, -entis m. — the west
Versus 13
Quomodo miseretur pater filiorum, misertus est Dominus timentibus se.
As a father shows mercy to children, so the Lord has mercy on those who fear him.
Word Notes:
- pater, patris m. — father
- misereor (+ gen.) — to pity, have mercy
Versus 14
Quoniam ipse cognovit figmentum nostrum; recordatus est quoniam pulvis sumus.
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Word Notes:
- figmentum, -ī n. — frame, formation
- pulver, pulveris m. — dust
Versus 15
Homo sicut fœnum dies eius; tamquam flos agri sic efflorebit.
Man — his days are like grass; like the flower of the field he blooms.
Word Notes:
- flōs, flōris m. — flower
- efflōreō, efflōrēre — to bloom
Versus 16
Quoniam spiritus pertransibit in illo, et non subsistet, et non cognoscet amplius locum suum.
For the wind passes over it and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
Word Notes:
- pertranseō, pertransīre — to pass through
- subsistō, subsistere — to remain, stand
Versus 17
Misericordia autem Domini ab aeterno et usque in aeternum super timentes eum; et iustitia eius in filios filiorum.
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his justice upon their children’s children.
Versus 18
His qui servant testamentum eius, et memores sunt mandatorum ipsius ad faciendum ea.
Upon those who keep his covenant and remember his commandments to do them.
Word Notes:
- testamentum, -ī n. — covenant
- mandātum, -ī n. — commandment
Versus 19
Dominus in caelo paravit sedem suam, et regnum ipsius omnibus dominabitur.
The Lord has prepared his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Word Notes:
- sedeō, sedēre → sēsē parare sedem = to prepare a seat/throne
- dominor, dominārī (dep.) — to rule
Versus 20
Benedicite Domino, omnes angeli eius, potentes virtute, facientes verbum illius, ad audiendam vocem sermonum eius.
Bless the Lord, all his angels, mighty in strength, who do his word, obedient to the voice of his commands.
Word Notes:
- angelus, -ī m. — angel, messenger
- sermō, -ōnis m. — word, utterance
Versus 21
Benedicite Domino, omnes virtutes eius, ministri eius qui facitis voluntatem eius.
Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers who do his will.
Word Notes:
- virtūtes (pl.) — heavenly powers
- minister, -trī m. — servant, minister
Versus 22
Benedicite Domino, omnia opera eius, in omni loco dominationis eius. Benedic, anima mea, Domino.
Bless the Lord, all his works, in every place of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Word Notes:
- opus, operis n. — work, creation
- dominātiō, -ōnis f. — dominion, rule
Summary Commentary
The psalm of pure praise.
Psalm 103 is the most complete poetic expression of divine compassion in the Psalter. It anchors praise not in fear or ritual but in God’s healing, forgiveness, and transforming mercy.
The inner self blessing God.
“Anima mea” signals introspection: this is praise arising from within, not performance. The psalm invites the whole inner world — emotions, memories, desires — to acknowledge goodness.
Mercy as God’s character.
Verses 8–14 are a theological summit: God is patient, not punitive; compassionate, not condemning; mindful of human frailty, not surprised by it.
Human fragility meets eternal mercy.
The contrast is deliberate:
- We are grass, passing, forgotten.
- God is eternal, constant, remembering.
In psychological terms:
Human instability is embraced rather than punished; compassion becomes the foundation for inner renewal.
Universal praise at the end.
The psalm crescendos to cosmic scale: angels, hosts, creation itself — all join the praise. The soul which began in solitude ends in the harmony of the universe.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
Translate:
- Bless the Lord, O my soul.
- He heals all your weaknesses.
- As a father pities his children.
- His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting.
Key:
- Benedic, anima mea, Domino.
- Ipse sanat omnes infirmitates tuas.
- Quomodo miseretur pater filiorum.
- Misericordia Domini ab aeterno et usque in aeternum est.
(b) Verb Form Practice
benedīcō – benedīcere
sanō – sanāre
memor sum – memor esse
dominor – dominārī
Model answers:
- benedīcō / benedīcēbam / benedīcam
- sanō / sanābam / sanābō
- memor sum / memor eram / memor erō
- dominor / dominābar / dominābor
(c) Reflection Questions
- Which line best expresses your experience of divine compassion?
- What does it mean that God “remembers that we are dust”?
- How does praise transform the inner self in this psalm?