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Psalms 112

1
Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in his commandments.
2
His offspring will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3
Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever.
4
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5
It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment.
6
For he will never be shaken. The righteous will be remembered forever.
7
He will not be afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8
His heart is established. He will not be afraid in the end when he sees his adversaries.
9
He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor.
10
The wicked will see it, and be grieved. He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away. The desire of the wicked will perish.
Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter celebrates the blessed life of the one who fears the LORD and delights in His commandments, contrasting the stability, righteousness, and enduring legacy of the godly with the frustration and ultimate ruin of the wicked. It forms part of the second half of the Psalter, which increasingly highlights the life of faith under the Word and rule of God, culminating in doxological praise.

Flow.

  • Begins with a call to praise and defines true blessedness as rooted in the fear of the LORD and love for His law.
  • Describes the generational and material blessings promised to the righteous, not as mere prosperity but as evidences of God’s covenant faithfulness.
  • Portrays the righteous as marked by grace, mercy, and upright conduct, shining as light in darkness and secure in divine upholdings.
  • Concludes with the ultimate vindication of the righteous and the envying, helpless rage of the wicked whose hopes dissolve.

Connections.
Following chapter 111, which extols the works and righteousness of the LORD, chapter 112 mirrors that praise by depicting the character of one who responds rightly to God’s revelation—fearing Him and keeping His commandments. The covenantal language of blessing to the obedient heart (WCF 7.5–6) resonates here, as does the wisdom tradition of intergenerational consequence. The theme of divine and human righteousness intertwining prepares for chapter 113, which lifts the gaze to the exalted LORD who stoops to lift the poor—a divine action mirrored in the righteous man’s giving to the needy (cf. HC LD 51). The contrast between the righteous and the wicked also anticipates the eschatological tensions deepened in later Psalms.

What it teaches.
The fear of the LORD is the fountain of true wisdom and blessedness (Prov. 1:7; WCF 15.6), producing a life conformed to God’s will and marked by justice, generosity, and steadfast trust. The promises of enduring righteousness (v. 3, 9), stability (v. 6, 8), and remembrance (v. 6) reflect God’s covenantal faithfulness to those who walk uprightly (WCF 16.5; BC Article 24). The righteous man’s giving to the poor (v. 9) fulfills the law’s demands (Rom. 13:8–10), and his confidence arises not from self-righteousness but from reliance on the LORD (HC Q&A 1). The wicked’s defeat (v. 10) reflects the ultimate triumph of God’s moral order (CD 1.15), where rebellion collapses before divine justice.

Apply.
The righteous live with open hands and steadfast hearts, trusting that God establishes what He commands.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.