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Psalms 111

Psalms 111

The big picture

Psalms 111 opens in verse 1 with “Praise ye the LORD . I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 5 with “He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.”, and closes in verse 10 with “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, works, praise, commandments, covenant. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.

Scripture beside the summary

Psalms · King James Version · 10

Psalms 111:1-5

1–5: Praise ye the LORD . I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the…

Psalms 111:1–5 opens with “Praise ye the LORD . I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright…” and reaches “He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, praise, works.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “Praise ye the LORD . I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the…” By verse 3, the text has turned to “His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.” It lands on “He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 3 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as LORD, praise, works, assembly, compassion, congregation tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include His, Praise. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 3: “His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: LORD, praise, works, assembly, compassion, congregation

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 111:1

    “Praise ye the LORD . I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the…” Naming Praise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  2. Psalms 111:2

    “The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, pleasure, sought. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

  3. Psalms 111:3

    “His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.” Naming His keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  4. Psalms 111:4

    “He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.” The line’s distinctive content terms include compassion, full, gracious. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

  5. Psalms 111:5

    “He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

Psalms 111:1-5

King James Version

1Praise ye the LORD . I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

2The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

3His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

5He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

Psalms 111:6-10

6–10: He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them…

Psalms 111:6–10 opens with “He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the…” and reaches “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by commandments, people, works.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the…” By verse 8, the text has turned to “They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” It lands on “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as commandments, people, works, beginning, commanded, covenant tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include commandments, people, works, beginning, commanded. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 8: “They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: commandments, people, works, beginning, commanded, covenant

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 111:6

    “He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.” The line’s distinctive content terms include heathen, heritage, people. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

  2. Psalms 111:7

    “The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.” The line’s distinctive content terms include commandments, hands, judgment. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

  3. Psalms 111:8

    “They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fast, stand, truth. Its relationship to verses 7 and 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

  4. Psalms 111:9

    “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

  5. Psalms 111:10

    “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beginning, commandments, endureth. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

Psalms 111:6-10

King James Version

6He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

7The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

8They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

9He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Questions to keep in mind while reading

  1. Follow the speaker, images, parallel lines, questions, and emotional movement.
  2. Notice where tension or suffering resists an easy answer.
  3. Read a saying as wisdom for faithful discernment, not as a mechanical promise detached from context.

Text first

Where readers differ

The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.

The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.

Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.

Questions beneath the surface

  1. What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Psalms 111?
  2. Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
  3. What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
  4. Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?

Questions for serious personal contemplation

These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.

Observe without rushing

  1. What part of Psalms 111 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?

  2. Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?

  3. Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Psalms 111:1–10 completes a passage that was not covered by the original study-unit map. Its own wording and immediate context supply the focus.?

  4. What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?

Examine your inner life honestly

  1. Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?

  2. What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?

  3. Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?

  4. If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?

Respond with wisdom and courage

  1. What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?

  2. How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?

  3. What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?

  4. What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?