Psalms 111

KJV · Chapter 111/150

1Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

2The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

3His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

5He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

6He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

7The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

8They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

9He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

An alphabetic hymn of praise (each line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) that celebrates God's great works and concludes that 'the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.'

Explanation

This psalm is an acrostic, a Hebrew literary device in which each verse or phrase begins with the next letter of the alphabet (from aleph to tav), a technique used both to beautify the text and to aid memorization. It specifically celebrates God's covenant and his faithfulness in keeping it, closing with a line also repeated in Proverbs 9:10 about the fear of the Lord as the foundation of wisdom. The application today is that genuine reverence for God (not paralyzing fear, but respect and awe) is the healthy starting point for living wisely.

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