Psalm 112

Psalm 112 belongs to Book Five of the Psalms (Psalms 107–150). The preceding psalm, Psalm 111, praises the works of the LORD and ends with the words "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." Psalm 112 continues from that psalm by portraying the life of the one who fears the LORD. Both psalms open with Hallelujah. In the Hebrew original, each is an alphabetic acrostic in which successive lines begin with the twenty-two letters of the alphabet in order, and the two are commonly read as a pair.

Structure

• Verse 1 The psalm opens with "Praise ye the LORD" (Hallelujah). It declares blessed the one who fears the LORD and delights greatly in His commandments.
• Verses 2–3 His descendants will be mighty upon the earth; wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
• Verses 4–6 For the upright, light arises even in the darkness. He is gracious, full of compassion, and righteous. He shows favor and lends, and he conducts his affairs justly. He will never be moved, and the righteous will be remembered forever.
• Verses 7–8 He is not afraid of evil tidings, for his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. In the end he sees the recompense that falls upon his enemies.
• Verse 9 He has dispersed his wealth and given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever, and his horn is exalted with honor.
• Verse 10 The wicked see this and are vexed; they gnash their teeth and melt away, and the desire of the wicked perishes.

Key Verses

• Psalm 112:1 "Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments." — This is the thematic statement of the entire psalm and echoes Psalm 111:10.
• Psalm 112:7 "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings." — The psalm locates the source of the righteous person's peace not in circumstances but in trust in the LORD.
• Psalm 112:9 "He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor." — Paul quotes this verse in the New Testament.

People and Places

No specific individuals or places appear in the psalm.

• The LORD: The object of reverent fear and trust.
• The righteous (the upright): The one who fears the LORD and shows mercy.
• The wicked: Those who are vexed at the prosperity of the righteous.
• The poor: Those in need who receive the generosity of the righteous.

Points for Reflection

• Pairing with Psalm 111: Psalm 111 says of God that "his righteousness endureth for ever" and that He is "gracious and full of compassion." Psalm 112 applies nearly identical language to a human being (verses 3, 4, and 9). For this reason, many interpreters read the psalm as teaching that the one who fears the LORD comes to resemble God in character.
• The blessing of wealth: Some interpreters read verse 3 as a promise of material prosperity to the godly, and this reading also appears in discussions of prosperity theology. Others regard the verse as a general principle of the kind expressed in wisdom literature, holding that the suffering of the righteous, as in the Book of Job, is addressed by other texts. Within the psalm itself, wealth is linked to the "dispersing" of verse 9.
• The horn: The "horn" is a symbol of strength and honor.
• Connection to the New Testament: In 2 Corinthians 9:9, Paul quotes Psalm 112:9. The passage encourages giving to the collection for the saints in Jerusalem, an offering gathered for the relief of those in need.