Psalms 111

General context

The psalm begins with Praise ye the Lord, and the speaker vows to praise the Lord with his whole heart in the assembly of the upright and the congregation. The works of the Lord are great, sought out by all who have pleasure in them; his work is honourable and glorious and his righteousness endures for ever. He has made his wonderful works to be remembered, is gracious and full of compassion, has given meat to those who fear him and will ever be mindful of his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his works so that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of his hands are verity and judgment, his commandments sure, standing fast for ever and done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people and commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, all who do his commandments have a good understanding, and his praise endures for ever.

Cited passages: Psalms 111:1, Psalms 111:2, Psalms 111:3, Psalms 111:4, Psalms 111:5, Psalms 111:6, Psalms 111:7, Psalms 111:8, Psalms 111:9, Psalms 111:10

Psalms 111 (KJV)

This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.

Historical context

This source prints no superscription; the psalm is ten verses and opens with Praise ye the Lord, followed by a single speaker's vow, I will praise. The setting is the assembly of the upright and the congregation, not otherwise located. The works praised are described only in general terms, wonderful works, the power of his works, meat given to those who fear him, redemption sent, and the heritage of the heathen given; no event, place or person is named. The covenant is mentioned twice, in verses 5 and 9, without being described. The word reverend is applied in this text to God's name. There is no Selah.

Cited passages: Psalms 111:1, Psalms 111:4, Psalms 111:6, Psalms 111:9, Psalms 111:5

Literary context

The psalm is built on the word works. It appears in verses 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, moving from works in general to his work, his wonderful works, the power of his works and the works of his hands, and then the poem shifts from works to commandments, which are sure and stand fast. For ever is the other repeated phrase, said of righteousness, of the commandments, of the covenant and finally of praise, so the psalm ends on the same measure it gives to God's acts. The single I of verse 1 disappears after the vow; every other verse is about the Lord and his works. Verse 10 changes register from praise to instruction, with fear, wisdom and understanding, and its last clause returns to praise. Gracious and full of compassion in verse 4 is the one description of God's character in a poem otherwise about what he does.

Cited passages: Psalms 111:2, Psalms 111:3, Psalms 111:7, Psalms 111:8, Psalms 111:10, Psalms 111:1, Psalms 111:4

Key moments

1. Praise with my whole heart (Psalms 111:1). The speaker vows praise in the assembly of the upright.
2. Works sought out (Psalms 111:2). The Lord's great works are sought by those who take pleasure in them.
3. Meat and covenant (Psalms 111:5). God feeds those who fear him and remains mindful of his covenant.
4. The heritage of the heathen (Psalms 111:6). God shows his people his power in order to give them a heritage.
5. Holy and reverend (Psalms 111:9). Redemption is sent and the covenant commanded for ever.
6. The beginning of wisdom (Psalms 111:10). The psalm closes with the fear of the Lord and enduring praise.

For reflection

The psalm says God made his wonderful works to be remembered, yet names none of them. What kind of remembering does a poem like this ask for, if it leaves the reader to supply the works?