Psalm 103:9
New International Version
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

New Living Translation
He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.

English Standard Version
He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.

Berean Standard Bible
He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever.

King James Bible
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

New King James Version
He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.

New American Standard Bible
He will not always contend with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.

NASB 1995
He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.

NASB 1977
He will not always strive with us; Nor will He keep His anger forever.

Legacy Standard Bible
He will not always contend with us, And He will not keep His anger forever.

Amplified Bible
He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.

Christian Standard Bible
He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.

American Standard Version
He will not always chide; Neither will he keep his anger for ever.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD won't always be angry and point out our sins;

English Revised Version
He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger for ever.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He will not always accuse us of wrong or be angry [with us] forever.

Good News Translation
He does not keep on rebuking; he is not angry forever.

International Standard Version
He does not maintain a dispute continuously or remain angry for all time.

Majority Standard Bible
He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever.

NET Bible
He does not always accuse, and does not stay angry.

New Heart English Bible
He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.

Webster's Bible Translation
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

World English Bible
He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He does not strive forever, "" Nor does He watch for all time.

Young's Literal Translation
Not for ever doth He strive, Nor to the age doth He watch.

Smith's Literal Translation
He will not contend forever; he will not keep forever.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten for ever.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He will not be angry forever, and he will not threaten for eternity.

New American Bible
He will not always accuse, and nurses no lasting anger;

New Revised Standard Version
He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He will not always chide; neither will he retain his anger for ever.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because he does not harbor ill will to eternity and will not keep his wrath to eternity.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He will not always contend; Neither will He keep His anger for ever.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He will not be always angry; neither will he be wrathful for ever.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Bless the LORD, O My Soul
8The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. 9He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. 10He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.…

Cross References
Exodus 34:6-7
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, / maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

Isaiah 57:16
For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me—the breath of life I have made.

Micah 7:18
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?

Nehemiah 9:17
They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.

Jeremiah 3:12
Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘Return, O faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will no longer look on you with anger, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will not be angry forever.

Lamentations 3:31-32
For the Lord will not cast us off forever. / Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion.

Numbers 14:18
‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’

Psalm 30:5
For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.

Psalm 145:8
The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

James 1:19-20
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, / for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.

Ephesians 4:26
“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,

Colossians 3:13
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. / But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.

Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.


Treasury of Scripture

He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

neither

Psalm 30:5
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Isaiah 57:16
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

Jeremiah 3:5
Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.

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Accuse Age Always Anger Angry Bitter Chide Contend Feeling Forever Harbor Longer Strive Watch Wrath
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Accuse Age Always Anger Angry Bitter Chide Contend Feeling Forever Harbor Longer Strive Watch Wrath
Psalm 103
1. An exhortation to bless God for his mercy
5. And for the constancy thereof














He will not always accuse
The phrase "He will not always accuse" speaks to the nature of God's mercy and patience. The Hebrew word for "accuse" here is "rîb," which can also mean to contend or strive. This suggests a legal or judicial context, where God, as the ultimate judge, has the right to bring charges against humanity for their sins. However, the word "always" indicates a limitation to this divine contention. Historically, this reflects God's covenant relationship with Israel, where despite their repeated failures, God continually offered forgiveness and restoration. This phrase reassures believers of God's enduring patience and His desire for reconciliation rather than perpetual judgment.

nor harbor His anger forever
The phrase "nor harbor His anger forever" further emphasizes God's merciful nature. The Hebrew word for "harbor" is "nātan," which means to keep or maintain. This suggests that while God may express righteous anger towards sin, He does not hold onto it indefinitely. The word "forever" is translated from "ʿôlām," which often denotes an indefinite or unending time. In the context of God's character, it highlights the contrast between human tendencies to hold grudges and God's willingness to forgive. Scripturally, this aligns with the broader biblical narrative of God's redemptive plan, where His anger is temporary, but His love and mercy are everlasting. This assurance of God's forgiving nature is a source of hope and encouragement for believers, reminding them of the promise of grace and the opportunity for repentance and renewal.

(9, 10) This reflection naturally follows after the last quotation from Exodus.

Verse 9. - He will not always chide; or, contend (see Isaiah 57:16; and comp. Jeremiah 3:5, 12). God will relent from his anger and forgive men, after a while. He will not be "extreme to mark what is done amiss." Neither will he keep his anger forever. He is not implacable. He will accept repentance and amendment (Ezekiel 18:27) He will accept atonement (1 John 2:2).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He will not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

always
לָנֶ֥צַח (lā·ne·ṣaḥ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5331: Eminence, enduring, everlastingness, perpetuity

accuse us,
יָרִ֑יב (yā·rîḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7378: To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defend

nor
וְלֹ֖א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

harbor [His anger]
יִטּֽוֹר׃ (yiṭ·ṭō·wr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5201: To guard, to cherish

forever.
לְעוֹלָ֣ם (lə·‘ō·w·lām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always


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OT Poetry: Psalm 103:9 He will not always accuse (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 103:8
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