Side by side
Psalm 112
Our plain-language guide next to the Bible text. Each row lines up one section with the verses it explains.
Section 1: Blessed Is the OneVerses 1 to 4
"Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments." (112:1).
Two marks of the blessed person: they fear the LORD, and they delight in His commands. Not duty — delight.
"His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed" (112:2).
The blessing extends. What a person lives shapes what their children inherit.
"Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever" (112:3).
Both material abundance and lasting righteousness. The psalm does not spiritualize away the physical.
"Light dawns in the darkness for the upright— for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous." (112:4).
The one who fears God becomes a light. The attributes of God (Psalm 111) are now found in the person who worships Him.
1Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments. 2His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. 4Light dawns in the darkness for the upright— for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous.
Section 2: They Give FreelyVerses 5 to 9
"It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice." (112:5).
Generosity is not described as sacrifice — it is described as the way a righteous person naturally operates.
"Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous man will be remembered forever." (112:6).
"He does not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD." (112:7).
This verse is not about optimism — it is about a grounded person. The news may be bad. The heart does not collapse.
"His heart is assured; he does not fear, until he looks in triumph on his foes." (112:8).
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor." (112:9).
Giving to the poor is not separate from righteousness — it is part of it.
5It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice. 6Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous man will be remembered forever. 7He does not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. 8His heart is assured; he does not fear, until he looks in triumph on his foes. 9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.
Section 3: The Wicked See and Are FuriousVerse 10
"The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish." (112:10).
The final verse: the contrast. The righteous are stable; the wicked seethe. What the wicked desire — what the righteous have — will not be given to them. It will vanish.
10The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish.
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