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Psalm 111

Psalm 111 grounds public praise in God’s enduring works and covenant faithfulness, then joins wisdom to reverence and obedience.

An unnamed psalmist pledges wholehearted thanks to YHWH among the upright and the gathered congregation. The song recounts God’s great works: he provides food, remembers his covenant, gives his people an inheritance, and sends redemption. His deeds display the same truth and justice as his commands, which stand forever. The psalm closes by linking wisdom with the fear of YHWH and understanding with obedience. Its date and occasion are unknown.

praise and worshipgratitudesermon or Bible study notes
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1Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation.
2The LORD’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them.
3His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever.
4He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. The LORD is gracious and merciful.
5He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant.
6He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7The works of his hands are truth and justice. All his precepts are sure.
8They are established forever and ever. They are done in truth and uprightness.
9He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome!
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
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Key verses
Psalm 111:10The closing verse joins praise to wisdom, showing that reverence for God takes shape in obedience.
Psalm 111:2Delight in God’s works leads to thoughtful attention, setting the pattern for the praise that follows.
Psalm 111:4God makes his wonders remembered, and the psalm names grace and mercy as marks of his character.
Where this chapter reaches

Proverbs and Job share the link between the fear of YHWH and wisdom, while Deuteronomy recounts God’s provision, covenant, and gift of land. Luke shares the themes of redemption and remembered covenant, and Revelation joins praise for God’s great works with recognition of his holiness and justice.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

Which work of God named in this psalm would you want to ponder, and why?

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How does the closing link between reverence and obedience shape your understanding of wisdom?

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Questions people ask about Psalm 111

Who wrote Psalm 111?

Psalm 111 does not name its author, and its date and occasion are unknown. The speaker pledges thanks among God’s gathered people. In Hebrew, the poem follows an alphabetic pattern, with successive lines beginning with successive letters. That structure is not visible in this English translation.

What does “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” mean?

In verse 10, fear means reverence and awe before the God whose name is holy and whose commands endure. The next sentence connects understanding with doing his work. Within the psalm, wisdom begins with honoring God and taking his authority with the seriousness his works and character deserve.

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Psalms · 150 chapters
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What the Bible says about worship →What the Bible says about gratitude →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).