Psalms 111:5-10

111:5 He gives ¹  food to his faithful followers; ² 

he always remembers his covenant. ³ 

111:6 He announced that he would do mighty deeds for his people,

giving them a land that belonged to other nations. ⁴ 

111:7 His acts are characterized by ⁵  faithfulness and justice;

all his precepts are reliable. ⁶ 

111:8 They are forever firm,

and should be faithfully and properly carried out. ⁷ 

111:9 He delivered his people; ⁸ 

he ordained that his covenant be observed forever. ⁹ 

His name is holy and awesome.

111:10 To obey the Lord is the fundamental principle for wise living; ¹⁰ 

all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. ¹¹ 

He will receive praise forever. ¹² 

[111:5]  ¹ tn Or “gave,” if the events of the exodus and conquest period (see v. 6, 9) are primarily in view.

[111:5]  ² tn Heb “those who fear him.”

[111:5]  ³ tn Or “he remembers his covenant forever” (see Ps 105:8).

[111:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “the strength of his deeds he proclaimed to his people, to give to them an inheritance of nations.”

[111:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “the deeds of his hands [are].”

[111:7]  ⁶ tn That is, fair and for man’s good.

[111:8]  ⁷ tn Heb “done in faithfulness and uprightness.” The passive participle probably has the force of a gerund. See L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 89.

[111:9]  ⁸ tn Heb “redemption he sent for his people.”

[111:9]  ⁹ tn Heb “he commanded forever his covenant.”

[111:10]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the beginning of wisdom [is] the fear of the Lord.”

[111:10]  ¹¹ tn Heb “good sense [is] to all who do them.” The third masculine plural pronominal suffix must refer back to the “precepts” mentioned in v. 7. In the translation the referent has been specified for clarity. The phrase שֵׂכֶל טוֹב (shekhel tov) also occurs in Prov 3:4; 13:15 and 2 Chr 30:22.

[111:10]  ¹² tn Heb “his praise stands forever.”