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Psalms 112

The mirror of Psalm 111, and another alphabetic acrostic. Where 111 praised God's righteousness that "endures forever," this one says the same of the person who fears him (v.3) — the human life takes on the qualities just ascribed to God. The portrait is concrete: offspring mighty in the land, light dawning in darkness, generosity that lends and gives to the poor, a heart so steadfast he "will not be afraid of evil news" (v.7). Watch the last verse swerve to the wicked, who see all this and melt away.

Parallel reading
English + Português (Brasil)
Psalms 112 (WEB)
  1. 1

    Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in his commandments.

  2. 2

    His offspring will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed.

  3. 3

    Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever.

  4. 4

    Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous.

  5. 5

    It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment.

  6. 6

    For he will never be shaken. The righteous will be remembered forever.

  7. 7

    He will not be afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

  8. 8

    His heart is established. He will not be afraid in the end when he sees his adversaries.

  9. 9

    He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor.

  10. 10

    The wicked will see it, and be grieved. He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away. The desire of the wicked will perish.

The God-fearer who echoes God

The shared phrase is the key. "His righteousness endures forever" is said of the LORD in 111:3 and of the upright person in 112:3 and 112:9. The point is correspondence: the one who fears the LORD comes to resemble what he reveres — gracious, merciful, steadfast.

Verse 10 breaks the symmetry. After nine verses of blessing on the righteous, the wicked appears only to gnash his teeth and melt away, his desire perishing. The contrast sharpens the whole poem: two destinies, one stable, one dissolving.

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