Every verse here opens — tap a number for what that one means.
1Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
8His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
10The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Commentary
Psalm 112, explained
What Psalm 112 is saying
Psalm 112 is a companion acrostic to Psalm 111, mirroring its structure while shifting focus from God's character to the character of the person who fears Him. The righteous person is described as generous, gracious, just, stable in heart, and unafraid of bad news. Strikingly, the attributes ascribed to God in Psalm 111 now appear in the life of the faithful person.
The background behind it
The psalm belongs to the wisdom tradition, functioning as a Torah-piety text that describes the blessed life of the righteous. Its pairing with Psalm 111 in the Psalter's editorial arrangement is intentional, creating a theological diptych.
Themes running underneath
The psalm articulates a theology of imitation: the person who fears God comes to reflect God's own character. The vocabulary of 'gracious and compassionate' (v. 4) deliberately echoes Exodus 34:6 and Psalm 111:4. The righteous person's generosity and justice become visible evidence of inner transformation.
Why it still matters
This psalm challenges the notion that godliness is purely internal. True fear of God produces tangible social effects—generosity to the poor, justice in dealings, steadfastness under pressure—that mirror the divine character.
Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.