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Psalm 103:9

He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.

7He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel.
8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.
9He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.
10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.
11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.
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← Psalm 103:8Psalm 103:10 →
Notice

The words “always” and “forever” confront the fear of endless accusation with a promise that God will not stay angry forever.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What changes in your view of God when you read “neither will he stay angry forever”?

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How does the surrounding description of God's mercy shape your reading of his anger here?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

9 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 30:5For his anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.Both psalms describe God's anger as limited in duration; Psalm 30 contrasts its brief span with a lifetime of favor.
Isaiah 57:16For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls whom I have made.Both passages deny that God will remain angry forever; Isaiah adds his concern for the frailty of those he made.
Micah 7:18–19Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he …Both passages say God does not retain anger forever, and Micah connects this with his delight in loving kindness.
Jeremiah 3:5“‘Will he retain his anger forever? Will he keep it to the end?’ Behold, you have spoken and have done evil things, and have had your way.”Both passages address whether God's anger lasts forever; Jeremiah records the question alongside an accusation of continued evil.
Jeremiah 3:12Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, you backsliding Israel,’ says the LORD; ‘I will not look in anger on you, for I am merciful,’ …Both passages declare that God's anger will not last forever; Jeremiah joins that promise to mercy and a command to return.
Psalm 125:3For the scepter of wickedness won’t remain over the allotment of the righteous, so that the righteous won’t use their hands to do evil.Both passages speak of an end to something grievous, though Psalm 125 concerns wicked rule rather than God's anger.
Zechariah 8:11But now I will not be to the remnant of this people as in the former days,” says the LORD of Armies.Both passages speak of a change in God's dealings with his people, though Zechariah does not name anger here.
Psalm 79:5How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?Psalm 79 asks whether God's anger will last forever, while Psalm 103 declares that it will not.
Isaiah 27:4Wrath is not in me, but if I should find briers and thorns, I would do battle! I would march on them and I would burn them together.Both passages address God's anger; Isaiah speaks of wrath being absent while also describing battle against briers and thorns.
Where this verse fits

Guilt and confession. feeling distant from God.

What the Bible says about guilt →What the Bible says about doubt →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Thank God that his anger does not last forever

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Encouragement

God's anger is real, and this psalm names its limit. In this song of mercy toward those who fear him, he will not stay angry forever.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 103:9. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 103 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).