Lyrics
Verse 1
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
And forget not all his benefits.
Praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
Forget not who forgives your sins.
Praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
Verse 2
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
Who heals all your diseases.
Verse 3
Praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
Who redeems your life from the pit,
and crowns you with love and compassion;
who satisfies with good things,
so your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Chorus
Praise the Lord,
praise the Lord,
praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
Praise the Lord,
praise the Lord,
praise the Lord, oh, my soul. (repeat)
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
This short song is a setting of the opening verses of Psalm 103, built around the repeated call "Praise the Lord, oh my soul". Between the refrains it adds the psalm's reminder to "forget not all his benefits".
The benefits are listed one at a time: forgiveness of sins, healing of diseases, redemption of life from the pit, a crown of love and compassion, and good things that satisfy, so that "your youth is renewed like the eagle's". The lyrics stay close to the psalm's own wording and keep a structure of repetition, which makes the song easy for a group to sing.
The final section returns to the repeated praise and ends with a note to repeat. The song works as a simple act of thanksgiving in which the singer speaks to their own soul and names what God has done.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 103:1-2 David tells his soul to bless the Lord and forget none of His benefits.
- Psalm 103:3-5 The psalm lists forgiveness, healing, redemption and renewal like the eagle's.