The Book of Psalms

Psalm 112

Psalm CXII · Vol. II, p. 1060

1 Godliness hath the promises of this life, 4 and of the life to come. 10 The prosperity of the godly shall be despised by the wicked.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

1 Praise ye the LORD.¹ Blessed^a is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

1 Heb. Hallelujah.

a Ps.128.1; 1.1-3; 119.1,16,45,47,70,72,127,128,165; 111.10.

2 His^b seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

b 1 Ti.4.8. Ps.37.26; 128.3,6; 127.3,5; 102.28; 69.36; 90.16. Is.54.13.

3 Wealth^c and riches shall be in his house; ^dand his righteousness endureth for ever.

c Pr.3.16; 10.22. Mat.6.33. Phi.4.19.

d ver.9. Is.32.17. 1 Co.15.58. 2 Ti.4.7,8.

4 Unto^e the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: ^ghe is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

e Job 11.17. Ps.97.11. Is.58.10. Es.8.16. Zec.14.7. De.32.36. Mi.7.7-9.

g Ja.4.17. Ep.4.31,32. Tit.2.11,12; 3.8.

5 A^h good man showeth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.²

h Ps.37.26. Lu.6.35.

2 Heb. judgment, Pr.13.16. Ep.5.15.

6 Surelyⁱ he shall not be moved for ever: ^jthe righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

i Ps.15.5; 125.1.

j Pr.10.7. Mal.3.16. He.6.10. Mat.25.35,36.

7 He^k shall not be afraid of evil ³tidings: ^lhis heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

k Pr.1.33; 3.25,26. Is.26.3.

3 Evil reports, such as of 'wars, and rumours of wars;' more especially of the 'calumnies' of evil tongues, by which he was constantly assailed.—C.

l Ps.57.7; 62.2,6; 27.13,14; 118.6. Is.26.4; 50.10.

8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until ⁿhe see his desire upon his enemies.

n Ps.59.10; 110.1,5,6; 118.7; 92.11.

9 He^o hath dispersed; he hath given to the poor; ^phis righteousness endureth for ⁴ever; ^qhis horn shall be exalted with honour.

o 2 Co.9.9. Ec.11.1,2. Pr.11.24,25; 19.17.

p De.24.13. Lu.16.9; 6.35,36. Re.22.11.

4 See note on ver.3.—C.

q Ps.75.10; 92.10. 1 Sa.2.30.

10 The^r wicked⁵ shall see it, and be grieved; ^she shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: ^tthe desire of the wicked shall perish.

5 'The wicked one,' Satan, or his representative, Antichrist.—C.

r Is.65.13,14. Job 5.2.

s Lu.13.28. Ps.58.7,8. Mat.22.13.

t Pr.10.28; 11.7; 13.9. Mi.1.12. Je.14.19. Is.59.11.

Notes

Ver. 3. Every torture of accommodation has been exhausted in applying this psalm to every believer, at least to every one of high attainments. But surely a comparison of this single verse with Ro. 3. 10, 21, 22, should have convinced every interpreter, that, though not altogether a prophecy, it was still a description, a spiritual picture of Messiah, whereby the church might recognize him at his coming. C.

Ver. 9. He hath dispersed. This is explained by what follows. It means he is liberal and benevolent. He scatters with a bountiful, and yet wise and prudent hand, whatever God commits to his stewardship. P.

Reflections.—What holy awe of God, delight in spiritual things, candour, kindness, and equity, are necessary in our obedience to God's law! And great profit, stability, honour, safety, quietness of mind, and victory over all our enemies, are secured for its reward. But how unhappy are the wicked, whose wishes shall be either cursed or denied: and to whom even the happiness of the godly is an insupportable vexation.