Psalms 111

Book: Chapter:

← Previous ChapterPsalms 111Next Chapter →

CHAPTER COMPASS

Orient yourself to the world surrounding the chapter.

TIME No datable event named; Book V of the Psalter Psalm 111 supplies no secure calendar date in its heading or body. Its present placement in Book V is therefore firmer evidence for literary context than attempts to assign an exact year.

PLACE Teaching assembly

LITERARY LENS Hymn / praise / thanksgiving Read neighboring lines together: notice what repeats, contrasts or develops, and where the voice or address changes. The poem develops an alphabetic praise of God's works, covenant memory, provision, and the beginning of wisdom. Its dominant form is best approached through Hebrew poetic structure—parallel lines, repetition, imagery, shifts of voice, and larger stanza movement—rather than as prose narrative. Learn how to read biblical songs and prayers →

¹ Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

² The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

³ His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

⁴ He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

⁵ He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

⁶ He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

⁷ The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

⁸ They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

⁹ He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

World Behind This Chapter

Explore the people, places, language, history, and material world connected to Psalms 111.

QUESTIONS WORTH EXPLORING

What stands out about an alphabetic praise of God's works in Psalm 111?

Psalm 111 builds its movement around an alphabetic praise of God's works, covenant memory, provision, and the beginning of wisdom. Tracking repeated words, parallel lines, changes of speaker, and image clusters shows how the poem develops before assigning a later interpretation.

What world does Psalm 111 ask the reader to picture?

The poem evokes teaching assembly. Those settings may be literal, remembered, ritual, or metaphorical; distinguishing those possibilities is part of reading Hebrew poetry carefully.

Research PathsCurated links for exploring this chapter 2

Language & Literature2

Psalm 111: NET Bible Translation NotesNET Bible
Translation notes clarify the opening Hallelujah, public praise in the assembly, the enduring memory of divine works, covenant and food imagery, the gift of land, trustworthy precepts, redemption, and the concluding claim that reverence is the beginning of wisdom.
The ABCs of Hebrew Acrostic PoemsTyndale House
Explains how biblical alphabetic poems are constructed and directly identifies Psalm 111 as an acrostic in which successive half-lines begin with the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The form gives tightly ordered expression to praise, memory, covenant, and wisdom.

Comments

Public Discussion Cancel reply

Public discussion

Your display name and comment can be seen by anyone visiting this chapter. Do not include private or sensitive information. Read the Community Guidelines.

You must be logged in to post a comment.