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Psalm 112[a]

The Blessings of the Just

Hallelujah!

Blessed the man who fears the Lord,
    who greatly delights in his commands.(A)
His descendants shall be mighty in the land,
    a generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
    his righteousness[b] shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;(B)
    gracious, compassionate, and righteous.
It is good for the man gracious in lending,
    who conducts his affairs with justice.
For he shall never be shaken;
    the righteous shall be remembered forever.(C)
He shall not fear an ill report;
    his heart is steadfast, trusting the Lord.
His heart is tranquil, without fear,
    till at last he looks down on his foes.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
    his righteousness shall endure forever;(D)
    his horn[c] shall be exalted in honor.
10 The wicked sees and is angry;
    gnashes his teeth and wastes away;
    the desire of the wicked come to nothing.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 112 An acrostic poem detailing the blessings received by those who remain close to God by obedience to the commandments. Among their blessings are children (Ps 112:2), wealth that enables them to be magnanimous (Ps 112:3, 5, 9), and virtue by which they encourage others (Ps 112:4). The just person is an affront to the wicked, whose hopes remain unfulfilled (Ps 112:10). The logic resembles Ps 1; 111.
  2. 112:3 Righteousness: in the Second Temple period the word acquired the nuance of liberality and almsgiving, cf. Sir 3:30; 7:10; Mt 6:1–4.
  3. 112:9 His horn: the symbol for vitality and honor.