Psalms 103:20
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Bless the LORD, you his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Bless the LORD, you his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Bless Jehovah, ye his angels, That are mighty in strength, that fulfil his word, Hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Give praise to the Lord, you his angels, who are great in strength, doing his orders, and waiting for his voice.
Webster's Revision
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word.
World English Bible
Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Bless the LORD, ye angels of his: ye mighty in strength, that fulfill his word, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Clarke's Psalms 103:20 Bible Commentary
Bless the Lord, ye his angels - Every person who has a sense of God's goodness to his soul feels his own powers inadequate to the praise which he ought to offer; and therefore naturally calls upon the holiest of men, and the supreme angels, to assist him in this work.
That excel in strength - Some take גברי כה gibborey coach the mighty in strength, for another class of the hierarchy, - they that do his commandments, hearkening to his words; and consider them to be that order of beings who are particularly employed in operations among and for the children of men; probably such as are called powers in the New Testament.
Barnes's Psalms 103:20 Bible Commentary
Bless the Lord - The psalm began Psalm 103:1-2 with an exhortation to "bless the Lord." That exhortation was, however, then addressed by the psalmist to his own soul, and was especially founded on the benefits which he had himself received. The psalm closes also with an exhortation to "bless the Lord," yet on a much wider scale. The psalmist feels that there is not only occasion for him to do it, but that the reason for it extends to the whole universe. The meaning is, that God is worthy of universal praise; and all ranks of beings - all worlds - should join in that praise. Man, feeble, frail, dying, could not come up to the fullness of the praise required. Praise such as was appropriate to God - such as his perfections and works deserved - demanded loftier powers than those of man; the loftiest powers in the universe.
Ye his angels - All beings higher than man; beings around and before his throne.
That excel in strength - Margin, as in Hebrew, "mighty in strength," and therefore more "able" to offer adequate praise.
That do his commandments - Who perfectly obey his law, and who, therefore, can render more acceptable praise than can ever come from human lips.
Hearkening unto the voice of his word - Who always listen to his voice; who never are disobedient; and who can, therefore, approach him as holy beings, and more appropriately worship him.