Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 111 (MT) / Psalm 110 (LXX) is an acrostic praise-psalm — each poetic-line begins with a successive-letter of the Hebrew alphabet (aleph through taw, 22 letters across 10 verses). Paired with Psalm 112 as twin-acrostic-psalms (Ps 111 on God's-works, Ps 112 on the righteous-who-fear-him). The famous v. 10 — 'the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom' — echoes Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10.
Notable Variants
111:10 'the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom' // Prov 1:7 / 9:10; the Hebrew alphabetic-acrostic structure; 111:9 'he has sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever' as covenant-and-redemption pairing.
Structural Notes
MT Ps 111 = LXX Ps 110. 10 verses. Acrostic (aleph-taw, 22 letters, one per half-verse); paired with Ps 112.
Praise the LORD! I will thank the LORD with all my heart, in the council of the upright and in the congregation.
'Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation' tracks MT. HALLELUJAH opening. The acrostic begins: 'odeh (aleph) … be-khol (beth)…
Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.
'Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them' tracks MT. STUDIED-BY-ALL-WHO-DELIGHT — contemplative-meditation on divine-works.
Splendor and majesty mark His work, and His righteousness stands forever.
'Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever' tracks MT. HIS-RIGHTEOUSNESS-ENDURES-FOREVER refrain (repeats at vv. 3, 9 and at Ps 112:3, 9).
He has made a memorial of His wonders; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
'He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful' tracks MT. GRACIOUS-AND-MERCIFUL (chanun ve-rachum / eleēmōn kai oiktirmōn) — Exodus 34:6 echo.
He gives food to those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.
'He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever' tracks MT. FOOD-FOR-THOSE-WHO-FEAR-HIM. Matthew 6:26 ('your heavenly Father feeds them') Christologically extends.
He declared the power of His works to His people, giving them the inheritance of the nations.
'He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations' tracks MT.
The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are trustworthy.
'The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy' tracks MT.
They are established forever and ever, carried out in truth and uprightness.
'They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness' tracks MT.
He sent redemption to His people; He commanded His covenant forever. Holy and awe-inspiring is His name.
'He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!' tracks MT. SENT-REDEMPTION. The 'sent redemption' (shalach pedut / lytrōsin apesteilen) vocabulary anticipates Luke 1:68 (Zechariah: 'he has visited and REDEEMED his people,' epoiēsen lytrōsin). HOLY-AND-AWESOME-IS-HIS-NAME — Matthew 6:9's 'hallowed be your name' Christianizes.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; good understanding belongs to all who practice it. His praise endures forever.
'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!' tracks MT. FEAR-OF-LORD beginning-of-wisdom — shared with Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, Job 28:28, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Sirach 1:14. The biblical-wisdom-tradition's foundational axiom.