Psalms
Chapter 111
Praise for the Lord’s Works
Alleluia!A I thank the Lord with all my heart B in the council of the just, in the assembly.
The works of the Lord are great and pondered by all who delight in them.
Glorious and majestic are his deeds, his righteousness endures forever.
He lets us remember his wondrous deeds; the Lord is merciful and kind.
Always mindful of his Covenant, he provides food for those who fear him.
He shows his people the power of his arm by giving them the lands of other nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just, trustworthy are all his precepts,
ordained to last forever, bearers of truth and uprightness.
He has sent his people deliverance S and made with them a Covenant forever. His holy name is to be revered!
R 10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;S prudent are those who live by his precepts.T To him belongs everlasting praise.
Commentaries
111
This is an alphabetical acrostic—each line starts with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It’s only natural that there isn’t much logical development of ideas. Instead, it’s more a series of separate reflections on reverence, ‘awe,’ and ‘fear’ of God (v. 10), but also reverence for God who has saved us, committed himself to us through a covenant, and provides us with food for both soul and body. The great works and wonders he performed revealed God’s very self. Praising God for everything is the ultimate act of creation, the final ‘alleluia’ we join in when we pray with this psalm: ‘To him belongs everlasting praise.’