Psalms 103:13 (YLT)

Passage

As a father hath mercy on sons, Jehovah hath mercy on those fearing Him.

Nearby Context

Psalms 103:11 For, as the height of the heavens <FI>is<Fi> above the earth, His kindness hath been mighty over those fearing Him.

Psalms 103:12 As the distance of east from west He hath put far from us our transgressions.

Psalms 103:13 As a father hath mercy on sons, Jehovah hath mercy on those fearing Him.

Psalms 103:14 For He hath known our frame, Remembering that we <FI>are<Fi> dust.

Psalms 103:15 Mortal man! as grass <FI>are<Fi> his days, As a flower of the field so he flourisheth;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "mercy", "father", "hath", "sons", "jehovah", and "fearing". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "mercy" and "father", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "As the distance of east from west..." into verse 14's "For He hath known our frame Remembering...", so "mercy" and "father" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "mercy" and "father" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.