(= Psalm 103 in Hebrew numbering)
A psalm of healing, restoration, and the renewal of the inner life.
No truncation required (total = 22 verses; Word Notes included through v. 20).
Versus 1
Benedic, anima mea, Domino, et omnia quae intra me sunt nomini sancto eius.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all that is within me bless his holy name.
Word Notes:
- benedico – benedicere – benedixi – benedictum – to bless, praise.
- anima, -ae f. – soul, self.
- intra me – “within me,” inner life.
Versus 2
Benedic, anima mea, Domino, et noli oblivisci omnes retributiones eius.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his gifts.
Word Notes:
- obliviscor – oblivisci – oblitus sum – to forget (takes genitive).
- retributio, -onis f. – recompense, benefit.
Versus 3
Qui propitiatur omnibus iniquitatibus tuis, qui sanat omnes infirmitates tuas.
He who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases.
Word Notes:
- propitior – propitiari – to show mercy, forgive.
- iniquitas, -atis f. – wrongdoing, injustice.
- sanare – to heal.
- infirmitas, -atis f. – weakness, sickness.
Versus 4
Qui redimit de interitu vitam tuam, qui coronat te in misericordia et miserationibus.
He who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with mercy and compassion.
Word Notes:
- redimo – redimere – redemi – redemptum – to redeem, rescue.
- interitus, -us m. – ruin, destruction.
- corono – coronare – to crown.
- miseratio, -onis f. – compassion.
Versus 5
Qui replet in bonis desiderium tuum; renovabitur ut aquilae iuventus tua.
He fills your desire with good things; your youth shall be renewed like the eagle’s.
Word Notes:
- repleo – replere – replevi – repletum – to fill.
- bonum, -i n. – good thing.
- desiderium, -ii n. – desire, longing.
- renovo – renovare – to renew.
Versus 6
Faciens misericordias Dominus et iudicium omnibus iniuriam patientibus.
The Lord performs acts of mercy and justice for all who suffer wrong.
Word Notes:
- facio – facere – feci – factum – to do, to act.
- iniuria, -ae f. – wrong, injustice.
- patior – pati – passus sum – to suffer, endure.
Versus 7
Notas fecit vias suas Moysi, filiis Israel voluntates suas.
He made his ways known to Moses, his intentions to the children of Israel.
Word Notes:
- via, -ae f. – way, path.
- voluntas, -atis f. – will, intention.
- notus (from nosco) – known.
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:
- miserator, -oris m. – one who shows mercy.
- longanimis, -e – patient, long-suffering.
Versus 9
Non in perpetuum irascetur, neque in aeternum comminabitur.
He will not be angry forever, nor threaten eternally.
Word Notes:
- irascor – irasci – to be angry.
- comminor – comminari – 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.
- retribuo – retribuere – retribui – retributum – to repay.
Versus 11
Quoniam secundum altitudinem caeli a terra, corroboravit misericordiam suam super timentes se.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so has he strengthened his mercy over those who fear him.
Word Notes:
- altitudo, -inis f. – height.
- corroboro – corroborare – to strengthen, confirm.
- timeo – timere – to fear, reverence.
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:
- disto – distare – to be distant.
- ortus, -us m. – rising, east.
- occidens, -entis m. – west.
- longe – far away.
Versus 13
Quomodo miseretur pater filiorum, misertus est Dominus timentibus se.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.
Word Notes:
- miseror – miserari – to have pity.
- pater, patris m. – father.
- filius, -ii m. – son.
Versus 14
Quoniam ipse cognovit figmentum nostrum; recordatus est quoniam pulvis sumus.
For he knows of what we are made; he remembers that we are dust.
Word Notes:
- cognosco – cognoscere – to know.
- figmentum, -i n. – something formed, constitution.
- recordor – recordari – to remember.
- pulvis, -eris m. – dust.
Versus 15
Homo, sicut foenum dies eius; tamquam flos agri sic efflorebit.
Man—his days are like grass; like a flower of the field he blooms.
Word Notes:
- foenum, -i n. – grass, hay.
- flos, floris m. – flower.
- effloreo – efflorere – to blossom.
Versus 16
Quoniam spiritus pertransibit in illo, et non subsistet, et non cognoscet eum amplius locus eius.
For the wind passes over it and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
Word Notes:
- spiritus, -us m. – breath, wind, spirit.
- pertranso – pertransire – to pass over.
- subsisto – subsistere – to remain.
- locus, -i m. – place.
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.
Word Notes:
- ab aeterno… in aeternum – from eternity to eternity.
- iustitia, -ae f. – righteousness, justice.
Versus 18
His qui servant testamentum eius, et memores sunt mandatorum ipsius ad faciendum ea.
To those who keep his covenant, who remember his commandments to do them.
Word Notes:
- servo – servare – to keep, preserve.
- testamentum, -i n. – covenant.
- mandatum, -i n. – command, charge.
- memor, -oris – mindful of.
Versus 19
Dominus in caelo paravit sedem suam, et regnum ipsius omnibus dominabitur.
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Word Notes:
- paro – parare – to prepare, establish.
- sedeo / sedes, -is f. – seat, throne.
- dominor – dominari – to rule, exercise dominion.
Versus 20
Benedicite Domino omnes angeli eius, potentes virtute, facientes verbum illius.
Bless the Lord, all his angels, mighty in strength, performing his word.
Word Notes:
- angelus, -i m. – messenger, angel.
- potens, -entis – powerful.
- virtus, -utis f. – strength, power.
- verbum, -i n. – word, command.
Verses 21–22 (translation only)
21. Benedicite Domino omnes virtutes eius, ministri eius qui facitis voluntatem eius.
Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers who do his will.
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.
Summary Commentary
Psalm 102 (Vulgate) is a meditation on healing and the rediscovery of one’s true life.
1. The restoration of the inner person
God forgives, heals, renews, and crowns with compassion.
This is the recovery of the wounded self.
2. Memory and mercy
“Do not forget”—the psalm assumes forgetfulness as a spiritual disease.
The remedy is recollection: remembering mercy and identity.
3. The fragility of humanity
We are dust, grass, flowers—images of transience.
Yet mercy is everlasting: divine steadiness meets human frailty.
4. From the self to the cosmos
The psalm rises from inner healing to cosmic praise:
angels, hosts, all creation blessing the Source of life.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
- He heals all your diseases.
Sanat omnes infirmitates tuas. - He crowns you with mercy.
Coronat te in misericordia. - As a father pities his children.
Quomodo miseretur pater filiorum. - Bless the Lord, all his angels.
Benedicite Domino omnes angeli eius.
(b) Verb Practice — present / imperfect / future
- benedico – benedicere → benedico / benedicebam / benedicam
- sanare → sano / sanabam / sanabo
- cognoscere → cognosco / cognoscebam / cognoscam
- recordari → recordor / recordabar / recordabor
- parare → paro / parabam / parabo
(c) Reflection Questions
- Which parts of the “inner self” feel like they need healing in this psalm?
- What does it mean to “not forget” the gifts of life?
- How do images of human frailty shape your own understanding of compassion?