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Psalms 111

BSB·10 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Hallelujahהַ֥לְלוּhal·lū — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study →! I will give thanksאוֹדֶ֣ה’ō·w·ḏeh — To give thanks, praise, or acknowledgeH3034 — Full Word Study → to the LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → with allבְּכָל־bə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → my heartלֵבָ֑בlê·ḇāḇ — The inner self; mind, will, understandingH3824 — Full Word Study → in the councilבְּס֖וֹדbə·sō·wḏ — Secret counsel, intimate advice, private gatheringH5475 — Full Word Study → of the uprightיְשָׁרִ֣יםyə·šā·rîm — upright, straight, righteous, justH3477 — Full Word Study → and in the assemblyוְעֵדָֽה׃wə·‘ê·ḏāh — congregation, assembly, gathered communityH5712 — Full Word Study →. 2Greatגְּ֭דֹלִיםgə·ḏō·lîm — Great, mighty, large in size or significanceH1419 — Full Word Study → are the worksמַעֲשֵׂ֣יma·‘ă·śê — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →; they are ponderedדְּ֝רוּשִׁ֗יםdə·rū·šîm — to seek, inquire, search diligentlyH1875 — Full Word Study → by allלְכָל־lə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → who delight in themחֶפְצֵיהֶֽם׃ḥep̄·ṣê·hem — Pleasure, desire, delight, or purposeH2656 — Full Word Study →. 3Splendidהוֹד־hō·wḏ- — Splendor, majesty, honor, and gloryH1935 — Full Word Study → and majesticוְהָדָ֥רwə·hā·ḏār — Glory, majesty, splendor, honorH1926 — Full Word Study → is His workפָּֽעֳל֑וֹpā·‘o·lōw — work, deed, or actionH6467 — Full Word Study →; His righteousnessוְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹwə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯōw — Righteousness, justice, right conductH6666 — Full Word Study → enduresעֹמֶ֥דֶת‘ō·me·ḏeṯ — to stand, take a stand, be establishedH5975 — Full Word Study → foreverלָעַֽד׃lā·‘aḏ — perpetuity, eternity, foreverH5703 — Full Word Study →. 4He has causedעָ֭שָׂה‘ā·śāh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → His wondersלְנִפְלְאֹתָ֑יוlə·nip̄·lə·’ō·ṯāw — to be wonderful, perform miracles, do marvelous thingsH6381 — Full Word Study → to be rememberedזֵ֣כֶרzê·ḵer — memorial, remembrance, or fragrant nameH2143 — Full Word Study →; the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → is graciousחַנּ֖וּןḥan·nūn — gracious, merciful, compassionateH2587 — Full Word Study → and compassionateוְרַח֣וּםwə·ra·ḥūm — Merciful, compassionate, full of pityH7349 — Full Word Study →. 5He providesנָתַ֣ןnā·ṯan — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → foodטֶ֭רֶףṭe·rep̄ — Prey; food torn apartH2964 — Full Word Study → for those who fear Himלִֽירֵאָ֑יוlî·rê·’āw — to fear, be afraid, dreadH3373 — Full Word Study →; He remembersיִזְכֹּ֖רyiz·kōr — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study → His covenantבְּרִיתֽוֹ׃bə·rî·ṯōw — A binding agreement or covenant between partiesH1285 — Full Word Study → foreverלְעוֹלָ֣םlə·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →. 6He has shownהִגִּ֣ידhig·gîḏ — to tell, declare, make knownH5046 — Full Word Study → His peopleלְעַמּ֑וֹlə·‘am·mōw — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → the powerכֹּ֣חַkō·aḥ — Strength, power, might, or abilityH3581 — Full Word Study → of His worksמַ֭עֲשָׂיוma·‘ă·śāw — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study → by givingלָתֵ֥תlā·ṯêṯ — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → them the inheritanceנַחֲלַ֥תna·ḥă·laṯ — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → of the nationsגּוֹיִֽם׃gō·w·yim — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study →. 7The worksמַעֲשֵׂ֣יma·‘ă·śê — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study → of His handsיָ֭דָיוyā·ḏāw — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → are truthאֱמֶ֣ת’ĕ·meṯ — Truth; faithfulness; reliability; what is established and sureH571 — Full Word Study → and justiceוּמִשְׁפָּ֑טū·miš·pāṭ — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study →; allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → His preceptsפִּקּוּדָֽיו׃piq·qū·ḏāw — precept, commandment, or ordinanceH6490 — Full Word Study → are trustworthyנֶ֝אֱמָנִ֗יםne·’ĕ·mā·nîm — to trust, believe, be faithfulH539 — Full Word Study →. 8They are upheldסְמוּכִ֣יםsə·mū·ḵîm — to support, sustain, upholdH5564 — Full Word Study → foreverלָעַ֣דlā·‘aḏ — perpetuity, eternity, foreverH5703 — Full Word Study → and everלְעוֹלָ֑םlə·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →, enactedעֲ֝שׂוּיִ֗ם‘ă·śū·yim — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → in truthבֶּאֱמֶ֥תbe·’ĕ·meṯ — Truth; faithfulness; reliability; what is established and sureH571 — Full Word Study → and uprightnessוְיָשָֽׁר׃wə·yā·šār — upright, straight, righteous, justH3477 — Full Word Study →. 9He has sentשָׁ֘לַ֤חšā·laḥ — to send, let go, releaseH7971 — Full Word Study → redemptionפְּד֤וּת׀pə·ḏūṯ — Redemption; deliverance; ransom paymentH6304 — Full Word Study → to His peopleלְעַמּ֗וֹlə·‘am·mōw — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →; He has ordainedצִוָּֽה־ṣiw·wāh- — to command, order, or appoint with authorityH6680 — Full Word Study → His covenantבְּרִית֑וֹbə·rî·ṯōw — A binding agreement or covenant between partiesH1285 — Full Word Study → foreverלְעוֹלָ֥םlə·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →; holyקָד֖וֹשׁqā·ḏō·wōš — Set apart, consecrated, sacredH6918 — Full Word Study → and awesomeוְנוֹרָ֣אwə·nō·w·rā — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study → is His nameשְׁמֽוֹ׃šə·mōw — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study →. 10The fearיִרְאַ֬תyir·’aṯ — Fear, reverence, dread, or aweH3374 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → is the beginningרֵ֘אשִׁ֤יתrê·šîṯ — Beginning, first, principal, chiefH7225 — Full Word Study → of wisdomחָכְמָ֨ה׀ḥāḵ·māh — Wisdom; skillful understanding and discernmentH2451 — Full Word Study →; allלְכָל־lə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → who follow His precepts gain rich understandingשֵׂ֣כֶלśê·ḵel — Understanding, prudent discernment, practical wisdomH7922 — Full Word Study →. His praiseתְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹtə·hil·lā·ṯōw — Praise, song of praise, object of praiseH8416 — Full Word Study → enduresעֹמֶ֥דֶת‘ō·me·ḏeṯ — to stand, take a stand, be establishedH5975 — Full Word Study → foreverלָעַֽד׃lā·‘aḏ — perpetuity, eternity, foreverH5703 — Full Word Study →!
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 111
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 111 is a jubilant hymn of praise that celebrates God's character, works, and faithfulness. Written as an acrostic (each line beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet), it invites the believer into wholehearted worship both privately and corporately. The psalmist demonstrates that authentic praise flows from a deep understanding of God's greatness, mercy, and covenant loyalty, and concludes with the foundational truth that fearing the Lord is the beginning of true wisdom. This psalm calls us to examine God's works and respond with grateful adoration.

Verses 1–2: The Call to Praise

The psalm opens with an emphatic call: "Praise ye the LORD." The psalmist then declares his personal commitment—"I will praise the LORD with my whole heart." This is not half-hearted or reluctant worship; it is complete devotion. Significantly, this praise occurs both "in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation," emphasizing that corporate worship and personal devotion are inseparable. Verse 2 explains why: "The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." God's works reward careful study and meditation. Those who take pleasure in knowing God will discover His greatness displayed throughout creation and history.

Application: True praise begins with investigation. We are invited to examine God's works—in Scripture, in creation, in our own lives—and let that knowledge kindle genuine worship.

Verses 3–5: God's Character and Covenant Faithfulness

Verse 3 declares that "His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever." God's righteousness is not temporary or conditional; it is eternal and unwavering. Verse 4 adds that "He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion." God deliberately ensures that His mighty deeds are preserved in memory—through Scripture, testimony, and the ongoing life of His people. He does this because He is gracious and compassionate, not distant or cold.

Verse 5 shows the practical fruit of this compassion: "He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant." The Lord provides for those who reverence Him, and more importantly, He never forgets His promises. This was especially meaningful to Israel during wilderness wandering and exile; God's provision and covenant memory sustained them.

Application: When we struggle to trust God, we can return to His proven record of faithfulness. He remembers His covenants with us in Christ and sustains us according to His character.

Verses 6–8: God's Power and Judgment

Verses 6–8 focus on God's strength and moral consistency. "He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen" (v. 6) recalls God's mighty redemption—the exodus from Egypt and conquest of Canaan. These displays of power had a purpose: to establish His people and fulfill His promises.

Verses 7–8 emphasize that "The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." God's works are reliable and just; His commands are trustworthy because they reflect His perfect nature. Nothing He does is arbitrary or subject to change.

Application: God's power is never divorced from His righteousness. We can trust His sovereign plans because they are guided by perfect justice and truth.

Verses 9–10: Redemption and Wisdom

Verse 9 reaches a climax: "He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever." This points directly to Christ—God's supreme redemptive act. His name is "holy and reverend," deserving our deepest respect.

The psalm concludes with timeless wisdom: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." Reverence for God is not servile terror but loving awe that recognizes His supreme worth. True understanding comes to those who obey His commandments, and "his praise endureth for ever."

Application: Cultivating the fear of the Lord—holy reverence and loving obedience—is the foundation of a wise, flourishing life.

Application for Today

Psalm 111 invites us to wholehearted praise rooted in honest reflection on God's greatness. Whether we gather corporately or pray privately, we are called to examine His works, celebrate His faithfulness, and respond with obedience and awe. In our modern age of distraction, this psalm challenges us to slow down, remember God's covenant mercies in Christ, and let grateful worship transform our hearts and priorities.

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