Psalms 112:3-10

112:3 His house contains wealth and riches;

his integrity endures. ¹ 

112:4 In the darkness a light ²  shines for the godly,

for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just. ³ 

112:5 It goes well for the one ⁴  who generously lends money,

and conducts his business honestly. ⁵ 

112:6 For he will never be upended;

others will always remember one who is just. ⁶ 

112:7 He does not fear bad news.

He ⁷  is confident; he trusts ⁸  in the Lord.

112:8 His resolve ⁹  is firm; he will not succumb to fear

before he looks in triumph on his enemies.

112:9 He generously gives ¹⁰  to the needy;

his integrity endures. ¹¹ 

He will be vindicated and honored. ¹² 

112:10 When the wicked ¹³  see this, they will worry;

they will grind their teeth in frustration ¹⁴  and melt away;

the desire of the wicked will perish. ¹⁵ 

[112:3]  ¹ tn Heb “stands forever.”

[112:4]  ² tn In this context “light” symbolizes divine blessing in its various forms (see v. 2), including material prosperity and stability.

[112:4]  ³ tn Heb “merciful and compassionate and just.” The Hebrew text has three singular adjectives, which are probably substantival and in apposition to the “godly” (which is plural, however). By switching to the singular, the psalmist focuses on each individual member of the group known as the “godly.” Note how vv. 5-9, like vv. 1-2a, use the singular to describe the representative godly individual who typifies the whole group.

[112:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “man.”

[112:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “he sustains his matters with justice.”

[112:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “for an eternal memorial a just [one] will be.”

[112:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “his heart,” viewed here as the seat of the volition and emotions (see Ps 108:1).

[112:7]  ⁸ tn The passive participle בָּטֻחַ [בָּטוּחַ] (batuakh [batuakh]) expresses a state that results from the subject’s action. See Isa 26:3.

[112:8]  ⁹ tn Heb “his heart,” viewed here as the seat of the volition.

[112:9]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “he scatters, he gives.”

[112:9]  ¹¹ tn Heb “stands forever.”

[112:9]  ¹² tn Heb “his horn will be lifted up in honor.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (see Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Ps 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt/lift up the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 89:17, 24; 92:10; Lam 2:17).

[112:10]  ¹³ tn The Hebrew text uses the singular; the representative wicked individual is in view as typifying the group (note the use of the plural form in v. 10).

[112:10]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “his teeth he will gnash.” In Pss 35:16 and 37:12 this action is associated with a vicious attack.

[112:10]  ¹⁵ tn This could mean that the desires of the wicked will go unfulfilled. Another possibility is that “desire” refers by metonymy to the object desired and acquired. In this case the point is that the wicked will lose what they desired so badly and acquired by evil means (see Ps 10:3).