January 23, 2019 (Wednesday)
(From the Cambridge Bible Commentary): Psalms 111, 112 are closely connected in structure, contents, and language. Each consists of twenty-two lines, which begin with the letters of the alphabet in regular order, and are arranged in eight distichs and two tristichs. Psalms 111 celebrates the power, goodness, and righteousness of Jehovah; Psalms 112 describes the prosperity, beneficence, and righteousness of those who fear Him. Words and phrases applied to God in Psalms 111 are transferred in Psalms 112 with some modification of meaning, and sometimes with startling boldness, to the godly man, describing his character as the reflection of the character of Jehovah. Thus Psalm 112:1 a takes up the thought of Psalm 111:10 a: with Psalm 112:1 b (delighteth) cp. Psalm 111:2; Psalm 112:3 b, Psalm 111:9 b = Psalm 111:3 b; Psalm 112:4 b = Psalm 111:4 b: with Psalm 112:6 b cp. Psalm 111:4 a. The trustfulness of the godly man in Psalm 112:7-8 answers to the trustworthiness of Jehovah in Psalm 111:7-8. Other correspondences of thought and language may be noticed by the student.
New International Version (NIV)
This psalm is an acrostic poem, the lines of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.*
THE HEBREW ALPHABET (READ RIGHT TO LEFT)
1 Praise the Lord. (Hebrew Hallelu Yah).
I will extol the Lord with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the Lord;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever–
holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
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New International Version (NIV)
1 Praise the Lord. (Hebrew Hallelu Yah)
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
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Praise the Lord for the Joy he gives to us.Click here to listen to a joyful song!