Psalms 111

The LORD Praised for His Goodness.

1 Praise the LORD! I ¹will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart, In the ²company of the upright and in the assembly.

2 ³Great are the works of the LORD; They are ⁴studied by all who delight in them.

3 ⁵Splendid and majestic is His work, And ⁶His righteousness endures forever.

4 He has made His wonders to be remembered; The LORD is ⁷gracious and compassionate.

5 He has ⁸given food to those who fear Him; He will ⁹remember His covenant forever.

6 He has made known to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations.

7 The works of His hands are ¹⁰truth and justice; All His precepts ¹¹are sure.

8 They are ¹²upheld forever and ever; They are performed in ¹³truth and uprightness.

9 He has sent ¹⁴redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; ¹⁵Holy and awesome is His name.

10 The ¹⁶fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A ¹⁷good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His ¹⁸praise endures forever.

Psalms 111 Commentary

Chapter 111

The Lord is to be praised for his works.

- The psalmist resolves to praise God himself. Our exhortations and our examples should agree together. He recommends the works of the Lord, as the proper subject, when we are praising him; and the dealings of his providence toward the world, the church, and particular persons. All the works of the Lord are spoken of as one, it is his work; so admirably do all the dispensations of his providence centre in one design. The works of God, humbly and diligently sought into, shall all be found just and holy. God's pardoning sin is the most wonderful of all his works, and ought to be remembered to his glory. He will ever be mindful of his covenant; he has ever been so, and he ever will be so. His works of providence were done according to the truth of the Divine promises and prophecies, and so were verity, or truth; and by him who has a right to dispose of the earth as he pleases, and so are judgment, or righteous: and this holds good ( psalms 111:7-8 ) God's commandments are sure; all have been fulfilled by Christ, and remain with him for a rule of walk and conversation to us. He sent redemption unto his people, out of Egypt at first, and often afterwards; and these were typical of the great redemption, which in the fulness of time was to be wrought out by the Lord Jesus. Here his everlasting righteousness shines forth in union with his boundless mercy. No man is wise who does not fear the Lord; no man acts wisely except as influenced by that fear. This fear will lead to repentance, to faith in Christ, to watchfulness and obedience. Such persons are of a good understanding, however poor, unlearned, or despised.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 35:18; Psalms 138:1
• 2. Psalms 89:7; Psalms 149:1
• 3. Psalms 92:5
• 4. Psalms 143:5
• 5. Psalms 96:6; Psalms 145:5
• 6. Psalms 112:3, 9; Psalms 119:142
• 7. Psalms 86:5, 15; Psalms 103:8; Psalms 145:8
• 8. Matthew 6:31-33
• 9. Psalms 105:8
• 10. Revelation 15:3
• 11. Psalms 19:7; Psalms 93:5
• 12. Psalms 119:160; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18
• 13. Psalms 19:9
• 14. Luke 1:68
• 15. Psalms 99:3; Luke 1:49
• 16. Job 28:28; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10; Ecclesiastes 12:13
• 17. Psalms 119:98; Proverbs 3:4
• 18. Psalms 145:2

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "Hallelujah! I will"
• [b]. Heb YAH
• [c]. Lit "sought out"
• [d]. Lit "Splendor and majesty"
• [e]. I.e. wonderful acts
• [f]. Lit "a memorial"
• [g]. Lit "prey"
• [h]. Or "revere"
• [i]. Or "faithfulness"
• [j]. Or "trustworthy"
• [k]. Or "faithfulness"
• [l]. Lit "commanded"
• [m]. I.e. inspiring reverence
• [n]. Or "reverence for"
• [o]. Lit "do" them

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 111

This psalm, though without a name, is thought to be penned by David; it is composed in an artificial manner, in an alphabetical order, each clause or sentence beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in course, till the whole is finished; this perhaps was done to recommend the psalm, to make it more observed, and to help the memory; the general design of it is to excite to praise the Lord, from the consideration of his great and wonderful works.