103:8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful;

he is patient ¹  and demonstrates great loyal love. ² 

103:9 He does not always accuse,

and does not stay angry. ³ 

103:10 He does not deal with us as our sins deserve; ⁴ 

he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve. ⁵ 

103:11 For as the skies are high above the earth,

so his loyal love towers ⁶  over his faithful followers. ⁷ 

103:12 As far as the eastern horizon ⁸  is from the west, ⁹ 

so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions ¹⁰  from us.

103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, ¹¹ 

so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers. ¹² 

103:14 For he knows what we are made of; ¹³ 

he realizes ¹⁴  we are made of clay. ¹⁵