Bible Commentaries
Psalms 112

Introduction

CXII.

Verse 2

(2) Mighty.—In the sense of wealthy, as in Ruth 2:1.

Verse 3

(3) His righteousness endureth for ever.—The parallelism in Psalms 112:9, where the same clause is repeated, seems to require for righteousness the limited sense which the Talmud gives the word—viz., liberality or beneficence. See also Daniel 4:27, in the LXX. Still the saying is true in its widest sense. “There is nothing, no, nothing, innocent or good, that dies or is forgotten; let us hold to that faith, or none” (Dickens).

Verse 4

(4) Ariseth . . .—The Hebrew verb is commonly used of the sunrise. (Comp. Psalms 97:11; Isaiah 58:8.) For the good man the darkest night of trouble and sorrow will have a dawn of hope.

He is gracious . . .—The Authorised Version is right in making this a description of the upright man’s character. The construction certainly at first appears strange, since “the upright” is in the plural, while the epithets in this clause resume the singular of Psalms 112:3. This may be best explained by treating the first clause of this verse as a familiar proverbial saying, which the poet introduces, as a quotation, without changing the number to suit his own construction.

Verse 5

(5) A good man.—Rather, happy is the man who gives and lends, good being here not used in a moral sense, but meaning prosperous.

He will guide . . .—Rather, he will gain his cause: in (the) judgment. So apparently the LXX. and Vulg. Others, “he will sustain his affairs by justice.” The verb primarily means “to measure,” but in the conjugation here used has the sense of “sustains.” (See Genesis 45:11; Genesis 47:12; Genesis 1:21, where the Authorised Version has “nourish.”) The meaning is confirmed by the parallelism of the next verse.

Verse 6

(6) See Psalms 15:5; Proverbs 10:7.

Verse 7

(7) The story of Job, when the messengers of ill succeeded one another so fast, is an illustration of the truth of this verse. “A good conscience before God” is the best “armour against fate.”

“Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.”—
SHAKESPERE: Measure for Measure.

Verse 8

(8) Until he see.—See Note, Psalms 59:10, and comp. Psalms 112:8.

Verse 9

(9) He hath dispersed.—The conjugation of the verb indicates a frequent and customary action.

For St. Paul’s use of this verse, see New Test. Com. 2 Corinthians 9:9.

His horn.—For the image of the exalted horn see Note, Psalms 75:5.

Verse 10

(10) Gnash.—See Psalms 35:16.

Melt away.—As we say, “Consume with vexation.”