Psalm 111 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
More Psalms Chapter 111 (Old Testament)
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 111:1
Verse: הַלְלוּ אֶת-יְהוָה מִכָּל-לֵבָב
Transliteration: Hallelu et-Adonai mikol-levav
English: “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.”
Focus Word: לֵבָב (Levav)
- Root: ל-ב-ב (Lamed-Bet-Bet)
- Meaning: “Heart,” “inner being,” “mind and emotion.”
- Deeper Insight: Levav represents the seat of thought, feeling, and will, emphasizing wholehearted devotion to God.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| הַלְלוּ־יָהּ — hallelu-Yah | Verse 1 — “Praise the LORD…” | “Praise Yah,” exclaim His glory. | Hallelu-Yah (“praise Yah”) summons communal worship. It marks the beginning of an acrostic celebration of God’s works. The term elevates the Psalm’s liturgical nature. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| יָשָׁרִים — yesharim | Verse 1 — “…in the assembly of the upright.” | “Upright ones,” righteous. | Yesharim (“upright ones”) identifies those walking in moral integrity. It stresses alignment with divine standards. The word enhances the communal setting of worship. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| פָּעַל — pa‘al | Verse 2 — “The works of the LORD are great…” | “To do,” accomplish. | Pa‘al (“to do”) emphasizes deliberate divine action. It underscores that God’s works invite study and delight. The verb highlights His purposeful involvement in creation and history. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| דָּרַשׁ — darash | Verse 2 — “…sought out of all them…” | “To seek,” investigate. | Darash (“to seek”) conveys active inquiry into God's works. It indicates reverent study rooted in faith. The verb portrays contemplation as a form of worship. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| כָּבוֹד — kavod | Verse 3 — “…His work is honorable…” | “Glory,” weight, honor. | Kavod (“glory”) denotes divine majesty and moral splendor. It reflects the weightiness of God’s character. The term affirms the unmatched value of His deeds. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| צֶדֶק — tsedeq | Verse 3 — “…and His righteousness endures forever.” | “Righteousness,” justice. | Tsedeq (“righteousness”) expresses perfect moral integrity. It highlights God’s fairness and uprightness. The term underlines the consistency of divine character. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| זֵכֶר — zeker | Verse 4 — “He has made His wonderful works to be remembered…” | “Remembrance,” memorial. | Zeker (“remembrance”) indicates acts preserved in memory for worship. It ensures God's deeds shape future generations. The term links history with devotion. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| חָנּוּן — channun | Verse 4 — “…the LORD is gracious…” | “Gracious,” kind, merciful. | Channun (“gracious”) describes God’s compassionate disposition toward His people. It emphasizes benevolence not based on merit. The term enriches the Psalm’s portrayal of divine kindness. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| יָרֵא — yare | Verse 5 — “…He gives food to those who fear Him.” | “To fear,” revere. | Yare (“to fear/revere”) expresses reverence rooted in covenant loyalty. It blends awe with obedience. The term identifies those who receive God’s provision. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| סְעָד — sa‘ad | Verse 5 — “…He will ever be mindful of His covenant.” | “To support,” uphold. | Sa‘ad (“to support”) indicates divine upholding of promises. It emphasizes reliability in covenant fulfillment. The verb reinforces God’s unfailing faithfulness. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 111 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Scott (University of Edinburgh, 1747–1821) | Commentary on the Holy Bible | Scott portrays the Psalm as a celebration of God’s deeds, urging gratitude and reverence. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | Owen emphasizes that the Psalm teaches the value of remembering and honoring divine works. |
| George Buchanan (St Andrews / Paris, 1506–1582) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Buchanan notes that acknowledging God’s deeds fosters communal and personal devotion. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | The Psalm encourages rejoicing in God’s faithfulness and providential care. |
| John Brown (Edinburgh, 1722–1787) | Self-Interpreting Bible | Brown emphasizes that reflection on God’s works strengthens both knowledge and worship. |
THE GREATNESS IN GOD’S WORK
Thought for the day: God’s works including you are characterized by greatness.
Message:
This is a revelation that is deliberately made known by God to His Children that fear Him which should give a mind shift from the thought of mediocrity that always makes a man settle for less things in life, fidgeting and fearing to maximize the pleasure in the works of God.
The Great Works of God are meant for the Children of God. However, it is notable that it is needed to be sought before it can be explored. It is appalling today that in most cases, it is the heathen that are being given the advantage but glory be to God in the highest because He allowed them to explore it only to hand it over to his children at the end of the day.
This is simply because the heathen are only interested in the great works of God and not the Great God himself. I must emphasize here that the Great God cannot be separated from His Great works and that is why the heathen that are going only for His great works can not retain it.
The greatness in God’s work is:
· Honorable and must be handled in such a manner.
· Glorious - therefore it is attractive.
· Pleasurable - that is, meant to be enjoyed
· Wonderful- unforgettable!
My Counsel
Ø Be intentional in seeking God and He will show you His great works and hand them over to you to be enjoyed
Ø Acknowledge that you are part of God’s great work and always see yourself in that manner and you will always see honour, glory and wonders of God in your life.
Ø Develop the habit of bringing to your remembrance the great works of God and sincerely praise Him for them at all times.
Ø Continuously trust in God to show more of His great works to you because the more you know, the more you'll enjoy.
Ø Let there be no time that you are detached from God because the day you do is the day you stop retaining the great works of God in your life. Remember, they are inseparable.
Declaration
I refuse to detach myself from God and His great works throughout my life in Jesus' name. So help me, God!
