Psalm 112:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.

NIV: They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.

NASB: He has given freely to the poor, His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted in honor.

CSB: He distributes freely to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted in honor.

NLT: They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.

KJV: He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

NKJV: He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor.

Psalm 112:7–10 shares the internal blessings that come to those who properly honor God as Lord. Those who participate in evil have constant reasons to fear (Proverbs 3:35; 29:1), but those who follow God can be at ease (Proverbs 19:21). Even when hard times happen, those with faith in God have a solid anchor for their trust (Psalm 46:1–2). Because the godly man acts according to God's will, he does well for others. In contrast, those who reject God are jealous (Psalm 112:7–10).

This psalm begins on a high note as the psalmist praises the Lord. He asserts that the man who fears the Lord is blessed; this is the overall theme of the psalm. This form of "fear" is a deep, submissive, reverent respect (Proverbs 1:7). The book of Proverbs frequently points out that following the Lord's will generally leads to better outcomes in this life (Proverbs 3:33). The person who learns from God can anticipate wisdom, assurance, and the blessings of a life lived in harmony with the Creator. In contrast, the wicked ones who reject God's leading are jealous and eventually find themselves lost.

Both this and the preceding psalm (Psalm 111) are written in an acrostic form. As written in the original, each line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. These lines are often three Hebrew words long, but this pattern doesn't correspond to translated versions. Both Psalm 111 and 112 repeat statements seen in other psalms and the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:7; 20:7). Where Psalm 111 focuses on God's great deeds, Psalm 112 emphasizes the blessings of faithfully honoring the Lord.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/21/2024 8:16:01 AM