THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Key verse: 10
NIV
Psalm 111[a]
1 Praise the Lord.[b]
I will extol the Lord(A) with all my heart(B)
in the council(C) of the upright and in the assembly.(D)
2 Great are the works(E) of the Lord;
they are pondered by all(F) who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures(G) forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.(H)
5 He provides food(I) for those who fear him;(J)
he remembers his covenant(K) forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,(L)
giving them the lands of other nations.(M)
7 The works of his hands(N) are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.(O)
8 They are established for ever(P) and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption(Q) for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome(R) is his name.
Footnotes
- Psalm 111:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the lines of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 111:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
Cross references
- Psalm 111:1 : Ps 34:1; 109:30; 115:18; 145:10
- Psalm 111:1 : S Ps 9:1
- Psalm 111:1 : Ps 89:7
- Psalm 111:1 : S Ps 1:5
- Psalm 111:2 : S Job 36:24; Ps 143:5; Rev 15:3
- Psalm 111:2 : Ps 64:9
- Psalm 111:3 : Ps 112:3, 9; 119:142
- Psalm 111:4 : S Dt 4:31; S Ps 86:15
- Psalm 111:5 : S Ge 1:30; S Ps 37:25; Mt 6:26, 31-33
- Psalm 111:5 : Ps 103:11
- Psalm 111:5 : S 1Ch 16:15; S Ps 105:8
- Psalm 111:6 : Ps 64:9; S 66:3, 5
- Psalm 111:6 : S Ps 105:44
- Psalm 111:7 : S Ps 92:4
- Psalm 111:7 : Ps 19:7; 119:128
- Psalm 111:8 : Ps 119:89, 152, 160; Isa 40:8; S Mt 5:18
- Psalm 111:9 : Ps 34:22; S 103:4; 130:7; Lk 1:68
- Psalm 111:9 : Ps 30:4; 99:3; Lk 1:49
- Psalm 111:10 : S Job 23:15; S Ps 19:9
- Psalm 111:10 : Dt 4:6
- Psalm 111:10 : S Dt 4:6; Ps 119:98, 104, 130
- Psalm 111:10 : Ps 28:6; 89:52
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Great Are the Lord's Works
111 [a] (A)Praise the Lord!
I (B)will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of (C)the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the (D)works of the Lord,
(E)studied by all who delight in them.
3 (F)Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his (G)righteousness endures forever.
4 He has (H)caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he (I)remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are (J)trustworthy;
8 they are (K)established forever and ever,
to be performed with (L)faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent (M)redemption to his people;
he has (N)commanded his covenant forever.
(O)Holy and awesome is his name!
10 (P)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have (Q)a good understanding.
His (R)praise endures forever!
Footnotes
- Psalm 111:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each line beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
Cross references
- Psalm 111:1 : See Ps. 104:35
- Psalm 111:1 : Ps. 138:1
- Psalm 111:1 : [Ps. 149:1]
- Psalm 111:2 : Ps. 92:5; Rev. 3:2; [Ps. 139:14]
- Psalm 111:2 : Ps. 119:45, 94, 155; [Ps. 112:1; 143:5]
- Psalm 111:3 : Ps. 145:5
- Psalm 111:3 : Ps. 112:3, 9
- Psalm 111:4 : [Ps. 78:4]
- Psalm 111:5 : See Ps. 105:8
- Psalm 111:7 : Ps. 93:5; [Ps. 19:7]
- Psalm 111:8 : Isa. 40:8; Matt. 5:18
- Psalm 111:8 : Ps. 19:9; Rev. 15:3
- Psalm 111:9 : [Matt. 1:21]; Luke 1:68
- Psalm 111:9 : [Ps. 133:3]
- Psalm 111:9 : Ps. 99:3; Luke 1:49; [Ps. 8:1]
- Psalm 111:10 : Prov. 9:10; See Prov. 1:7
- Psalm 111:10 : [Prov. 3:4; 13:15; John 7:17]
- Psalm 111:10 : [Ps. 44:8]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. He provides food for those who fear him (1-8)
Let us ponder the works of God and worship him with all our hearts. His glorious deeds reveal him to be righteous, gracious and compassionate. God is love. He provides food that sustains life for all those who fear him. So, fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (1
). God is faithful. He keeps his promises. His laws are given for the best and highest good of man, so they are trustworthy (7). The person who flaunts God's laws is inviting misery.
2. He provided redemption for his people (9-1
)
God knows that just as man's body needs food, his soul needs salvation. Times and customs may change, but God's laws and precepts stand forever. When people disobey God's laws, they become slaves of sin, and desperately need redemption. Those who fear God and follow his laws have understanding. He gives his people the nations of the world as their inheritance (6).
Prayer: Lord, I extol you with all my heart, and ponder your wonderful works.
One Word: Fear God and obey his laws
