Psalm 103:2-3

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Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.

Psalm 103:2-3 (NKJV)

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.

Psalm 103:2-3 (NIV)

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.

Psalm 103:2-3 (KJV)

Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.

Psalm 103:2-3 (NLT)

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.

Psalm 103:2-3 (ESV)

Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits; Who forgives all your sins, Who heals all your diseases.

Psalm 103:2-3 (AMP)

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.lockman.org

O my soul, bless God, don't forget a single blessing! He forgives your sins — every one. He heals your diseases — every one.

Psalm 103:2-3 (MSG)

Scripture quotations from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

New Covenant Meaning

All, Not Some

David says "all your iniquities" and "all your diseases." Not most. Not the ones you deserve to be healed from. All. The scope of God's forgiveness and healing is comprehensive. Psalm 103 lists the benefits of covenant relationship and healing is listed right alongside forgiveness. The two are paired intentionally. In Matthew 9:5, Jesus connects them explicitly: "Which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven' or to say 'Rise and walk'?" The healing ministry of Jesus was the visible demonstration of Psalm 103:3 in action.

Do Not Forget

The command is to not forget His benefits. This implies the benefits are real and known, not vague spiritual sentiments. David is instructing his own soul to actively remember what God does. Forgiveness is a benefit. Healing is a benefit. Redemption from destruction is a benefit (v. 4). Crowning with lovingkindness is a benefit (v. 4). Satisfying your mouth with good things is a benefit (v. 5). The covenant relationship with God comes with a comprehensive benefit package, and David says: remember it. Do not let familiarity or disappointment cause you to forget what God has declared He does.

Matthew 8:16-17 records that Jesus healed all who were sick "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." The New Testament writer quotes Isaiah 53:4 as the fulfillment of the healing ministry. Psalm 103:3 and Isaiah 53:4-5 point to the same reality: healing is part of the covenant provision God makes for His people.

Application for Your Life

Preach the Benefits to Your Own Soul

David's method is instructive: he talks to himself. "Bless the Lord, O my soul." He is commanding his inner man to worship rather than worry, to remember rather than forget. When sickness, guilt, or condemnation are pressing in, the response is to do what David did: remind your soul of the benefits. Say them out loud. He forgives all my iniquities. He heals all my diseases. He redeems my life from destruction. These are not wishful thoughts. They are covenant declarations backed by the character of God.

Healing and Forgiveness Come From the Same Source

Because healing and forgiveness are listed together as benefits of the same covenant God, you can approach God for healing with the same confidence you approach Him for forgiveness. You do not wonder whether God wants to forgive you when you come to Him in repentance. The covenant settles it. In the same way, you do not need to wonder whether God wants to heal you. Psalm 103:3 settles it. All your diseases fall within the scope of His covenant provision.

Prayer Based on This Verse

Father, I bless You today and I will not forget Your benefits. You forgive all my iniquities: every sin, every failure, every shortcoming. The record is clean. And You heal all my diseases: not some, not the ones I deserve, but all. I receive both of those covenant realities right now. I speak to my soul: remember what God does. He redeems. He heals. He crowns with lovingkindness. I align my expectations with Your character today. In Jesus' name. Amen.