Light Dawns in the Darkness
Psalm 112 summary: what it means
Psalm 112 opens with Praise the LORD and then describes a person. He fears the LORD and delights greatly in his commandments. The rest of the psalm shows what that looks like. His children are blessed, his house has wealth, and his righteousness endures for ever. He is gracious and merciful, lends generously and deals fairly. For such a person, light dawns in the darkness.
The centre of the psalm is steadiness. This person will never be shaken and is not afraid of evil news, because his heart trusts in the LORD. He gives freely to the poor. The last verse turns to the wicked, who see it and are grieved, and whose desires come to nothing.
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Psalm 112: Light Dawns in the Darkness
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-112
Psalm 112 commentary: explained verse by verse
Praise the LORD!Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,who delights greatly in his commandments.
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
The psalm opens with Praise the LORD, then turns to its subject: the person who fears the LORD and delights greatly in his commandments. He is called blessed. Everything that follows describes his life.
Also read Psalm 148:11-14, Psalm 150:1, Psalm 40:8, Luke 1:50
His offspring will be mighty in the land.The generation of the upright will be blessed.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
The blessing reaches his children. His offspring will be mighty in the land, and the generation of the upright will be blessed. The good life described here is not only personal.
Also read Genesis 17:7, Genesis 22:17-18, Psalm 102:28, Jeremiah 32:39
Wealth and riches are in his house.His righteousness endures forever.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures for ever. The same phrase about righteousness comes back in verse 9.
Also read Matthew 24:22-24, Psalm 112:9, Psalm 111:10, Isaiah 32:17
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright,gracious, merciful, and righteous.
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright. The verse does not say darkness never comes, only that light rises in it. It also describes the upright as gracious, merciful and righteous.
Also read Colossians 3:12-13, 1 John 3:7, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, Isaiah 50:10
It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends.He will maintain his cause in judgment.
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
It is well with the person who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment. Generosity and fairness are presented as marks of the person who fears the LORD.
Also read Psalm 37:25-26, Luke 6:35, Philippians 1:9, Job 31:16-20
For he will never be shaken.The righteous will be remembered forever.
Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
He will never be shaken, and the righteous will be remembered for ever. Stability and a lasting name go together.
Also read 2 Peter 1:5-11, Nehemiah 13:22, Psalm 15:5, Psalm 55:22
He will not be afraid of evil news.His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
He is not afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast because it trusts in the LORD. The verse does not promise that bad news will never come, only that it will not overthrow him.
Also read Psalm 34:4, Proverbs 3:25-26, Acts 21:13, Daniel 3:16
His heart is established.He will not be afraid in the end when he sees his adversaries.
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
His heart is established and he will not be afraid. In the end he will look on his adversaries without fear. The steadiness of verse 7 is repeated.
Also read Psalm 59:10, Psalm 27:14, Proverbs 3:33, Psalm 92:11
He has dispersed, he has given to the poor.His righteousness endures forever.His horn will be exalted with honor.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
He has scattered his gifts and given to the poor. His righteousness endures for ever and his horn is exalted with honour. 2 Corinthians 9:9 in the New Testament quotes the first part of this verse.
Also read Hebrews 13:16, Acts 4:35, Mark 14:7, 1 John 3:16-18
The wicked will see it, and be grieved.He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away.The desire of the wicked will perish.
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
The psalm ends with the wicked. They see this person's life, are grieved, gnash their teeth and melt away. Their desire perishes, in contrast with the righteousness that endures for ever.
Also read Psalm 37:12, Luke 13:28, Proverbs 11:7, Matthew 22:13
A prayer from Psalm 112
LORD, I want to be one who fears you and delights greatly in your commandments. When the way is dark, let light dawn for me, and make me gracious, merciful and righteous. Teach me to deal graciously, to lend, and to give to the poor. Steady my heart so that I am not afraid of evil news. Let my heart be established, trusting in you, so that I will not be shaken. I place my trust in you, not in what I have. You say the righteous will be remembered forever, and I rest in that. Amen.
Psalm 112 Bible study questions
- In verse 1, what two things describe the blessed man, and how are they connected?
- In verses 5 and 9, what does the righteous person do with what he has, and who benefits?
- Verse 7 says he will not be afraid of evil news because his heart is steadfast: what makes a heart steady in hard news?
- Verse 4 says light dawns in the darkness for the upright: where have you needed that kind of light?
- Psalm 1:2 also describes a person who delights in the LORD's law: what do Psalm 1 and Psalm 112 share, and how do they differ?
Questions about Psalm 112
What does Psalm 112 mean?
It describes the life of a person who fears the LORD and delights in his commandments: generous, fair, steady and unafraid of bad news. It ends by contrasting that life with the wicked, whose desires perish.
Who wrote Psalm 112?
The psalm has no heading, and the text does not name its author.
What does Psalm 112:4 mean?
It says light dawns in the darkness for the upright, and describes them as gracious, merciful and righteous. The King James Version reads "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous."
What does Psalm 112:7 mean?
It says the person who fears the LORD will not be afraid of evil news, because his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. The King James Version has "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD."
What does Psalm 112:1 say in the KJV?
The King James Version reads "Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments."
What does Psalm 112:5 mean?
It says it is well with the person who deals graciously and lends, and that he will maintain his cause in judgment. Generosity and fairness go together.
Psalm 112 KJV: the King James Version
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.1
His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.2
Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.3
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.4
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.5
Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.6
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.7
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.8
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.9
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.10
Psalm 112 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ אַשְׁרֵי־אִ֭ישׁ יָרֵ֣א אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה בְּ֝מִצְוֺתָ֗יו חָפֵ֥ץ מְאֹֽד׃
2 גִּבּ֣וֹר בָּ֭אָרֶץ יִהְיֶ֣ה זַרְע֑וֹ דּ֭וֹר יְשָׁרִ֣ים יְבֹרָֽךְ׃
3 הוֹן־וָעֹ֥שֶׁר בְּבֵית֑וֹ וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃
4 זָ֘רַ֤ח בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ א֭וֹר לַיְשָׁרִ֑ים חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם וְצַדִּֽיק׃
5 טֽוֹב־אִ֭ישׁ חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה יְכַלְכֵּ֖ל דְּבָרָ֣יו בְּמִשְׁפָּֽט׃
6 כִּֽי־לְעוֹלָ֥ם לֹא־יִמּ֑וֹט לְזֵ֥כֶר ע֝וֹלָ֗ם יִהְיֶ֥ה צַדִּֽיק׃
7 מִשְּׁמוּעָ֣ה רָ֭עָה לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א נָכ֥וֹן לִ֝בּ֗וֹ בָּטֻ֥חַ בַּיהוָֽה׃
8 סָמ֣וּךְ לִ֭בּוֹ לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א עַ֖ד אֲשֶׁר־יִרְאֶ֣ה בְצָרָֽיו׃
9 פִּזַּ֤ר ׀ נָ֘תַ֤ן לָאֶבְיוֹנִ֗ים צִ֭דְקָתוֹ עֹמֶ֣דֶת לָעַ֑ד קַ֝רְנ֗וֹ תָּר֥וּם בְּכָבֽוֹד׃
10 רָ֘שָׁ֤ע יִרְאֶ֨ה ׀ וְכָעָ֗ס שִׁנָּ֣יו יַחֲרֹ֣ק וְנָמָ֑ס תַּאֲוַ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֹּאבֵֽד׃
Psalm 112 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 111 there.
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1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.
3 Glory and wealth shall be in his house: and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.
4 To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is merciful, and compassionate and just.
5 Acceptable is the man that showeth mercy and lendeth: he shall order his words with judgment:
6 Because he shall not be moved for ever.
7 The just shall be in everlasting remembrance: he shall not hear the evil hearing. His heart is ready to hope in the Lord:
8 His heart is strengthened, he shall not be moved until he look over his enemies.
9 He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory.
10 The wicked shall see, and shall be angry, he shall gnash with his teeth and pine away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Psalm 112 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 111.
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1 Alleluja, reversionis Aggæi et Zachariæ. Beatus vir qui timet Dominum: in mandatis ejus volet nimis.
2 Potens in terra erit semen ejus; generatio rectorum benedicetur.
3 Gloria et divitiæ in domo ejus, et justitia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.
4 Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis: misericors, et miserator, et justus.
5 Jucundus homo qui miseretur et commodat; disponet sermones suos in judicio:
6 quia in æternum non commovebitur.
7 In memoria æterna erit justus; ab auditione mala non timebit. Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino,
8 confirmatum est cor ejus; non commovebitur donec despiciat inimicos suos.
9 Dispersit, dedit pauperibus; justitia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi: cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria.
10 Peccator videbit, et irascetur; dentibus suis fremet et tabescet: desiderium peccatorum peribit.
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Psalm 112 at a glance
| Verses | 10 |
| Heading in the text | No heading |
| Attributed to | The psalm has no heading, so its author is not named in the text. |
| Type | Wisdom and Praise |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 111 |
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Psalm 112 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 112 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 112 belongs
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- New Testament quotations: 2 Corinthians 9:9 checked against the King James Version text from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source