The Bible — World English Bible

Psalm 111

In brief

Psalm 111 is a song of praise written as an acrostic: each line begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order. The psalmist promises to praise God with his whole heart, then meditates on his works, great, glorious and righteous. He mentions the food given to those who fear him, his faithfulness to his covenant and the redemption of his people. He concludes with a famous sentence: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

The chapter in 4 parts

  1. v. 1I will praise the Lord with my whole heart
  2. v. 2-4The works of the Lord: greatness, splendor, remembrance of his wonders
  3. v. 5-9Faithful to his covenant, he feeds and redeems his people
  4. v. 10The fear of the Lord, the beginning of wisdom

1Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation.

2Yahweh’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. Yahweh 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 Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Key verses

Verse 1
Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation.

Praise is personal, with the whole heart, and it is also lived in community, in the assembly of the upright.

Verse 2
Yahweh’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them.

God's works are worth studying: those who love them search them out. Praise rests on reflection.

Verse 4
He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. Yahweh is gracious and merciful.

God has left a remembrance of his wonders. The collective memory of the people is a gift that feeds faith.

Verse 10
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

The fear of the Lord is respect full of trust before God. It is the starting point of wisdom and of good decisions. It is also found in Proverbs 9:10.

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What the sermons say

25 Bible Verses About Wisdom and Decision-MakingVerse 10 is cited in this selection on wisdom: every decision begins with respect and trust toward God, as Proverbs 9:10 also says.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Psalm 111

What does it mean that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom?

This sentence from Psalm 111:10, repeated in Proverbs 9:10, is not about panic. Fear means deep respect and trust toward God. It is the beginning because we cannot judge life well without first recognizing who God is and what place he holds.

Why is Psalm 111 an acrostic?

Each line begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from aleph to tav. This form helped memorize the text and expressed the idea of a complete praise, from A to Z. Translations do not keep this effect, but it structures the psalm into short phrases.

How can I pray Psalm 111?

Start with verse 1 by praising God with all your heart. Then list the works of his that you have seen, in the Bible and in your life, drawing on verses 2 to 9. Finish with verse 10 by asking God for wisdom for a decision you have to make.

Articles quoting Psalm 111

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World English Bible translation — public domain.