Psalm 112


Psalm 112 is the 112th psalm of the biblical Book of Psalms. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation in the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 111 in a slightly different numbering system.
Psalm 111, 112 and 119 are the only Psalms that are acrostic by phrase in the Bible; that is, each 7-9 syllable phrase begins with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order.

Text

Hebrew Bible version

Following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 112:
VerseHebrew
1אַשְׁרֵי־אִ֖ישׁ יָרֵ֣א אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה בְּ֜מִצְו‍ֹתָ֗יו חָפֵ֥ץ מְאֹֽד
2גִּבּ֣וֹר בָּאָרֶץ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה זַרְע֑וֹ דּ֖וֹר יְשָׁרִ֣ים יְבֹרָֽךְ
3הוֹן־וָעֹ֥שֶׁר בְּבֵית֑וֹ וְ֜צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד
4זָ֘רַ֚ח בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ א֣וֹר לַיְשָׁרִ֑ים חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם וְצַדִּֽיק
5ט֣וֹב אִ֖ישׁ חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה יְכַלְכֵּ֖ל דְּבָרָ֣יו בְּמִשְׁפָּֽט
6כִּֽי־לְ֖עוֹלָם לֹ֣א יִמּ֑וֹט לְזֵ֥כֶר ע֜וֹלָ֗ם יִֽהְיֶ֥ה צַדִּֽיק
7מִשְּׁמוּעָ֣ה רָ֖עָה לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א נָ֘כ֥וֹן לִ֜בּ֗וֹ בָּטֻ֥חַ בַּֽיהֹוָֽה
8סָמ֣וּךְ לִ֖בּוֹ לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א עַ֖ד אֲשֶׁר־יִרְאֶ֣ה בְצָרָֽיו
9נָ֘תַ֚ן לָאֶֽבְיוֹנִ֗ים צִ֖דְקָתוֹ עֹמֶ֣דֶת לָעַ֑ד קַ֜רְנ֗וֹ תָּר֥וּם בְּכָבֽוֹד
10וְכָעָ֗ס שִׁנָּ֣יו יַֽחֲרֹ֣ק וְנָמָ֑ס תַּֽאֲוַ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֹּאבֵֽד

King James Version

  1. Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
  2. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
  3. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
  4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
  5. A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
  6. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
  7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
  8. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
  9. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
  10. The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

    Latin Vulgate

  11. Beatus vir, qui timet Dominum, in mandatis ejus volet nimis.
  12. Potens in terra erit semen ejus, generatio rectorum benedicetur.
  13. Gloria et divitiae in domo ejus, et iustitia ejus manet in saeculum saeculi.
  14. Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis, misericors et miserator et iustus.
  15. Iucundus homo, qui miseretur et commodat, disponet res suas in judicio,
  16. quia in aeternum non commovebitur. In memoria aeterna erit iustus,
  17. ab auditione mala non timebit. Paratum cor ejus, sperare in Domino,
  18. confirmatum est cor eius, non commovebitur, donec despiciat inimicos suos.
  19. Dispersit dedit pauperibus; justitia ejus manet in saeculum saeculi, cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria.
  20. Peccator videbit et irascetur, dentibus suis fremet et tabescet. Desiderium peccatorum peribit.

    Uses

[Judaism]

The psalm begins הַלְלוּ-יָהּ:אַשְׁרֵי-אִישׁ, יָרֵא אֶת-יְהוָה; בְּמִצְו‍ֹתָיו, חָפֵץ מְאֹד.

[New Testament]

attributed the psalms from the Psalm 110 at the services of Vespers, in its Rule of St. Benedict set to 530AD. So this psalm was traditionally recited or sung during the solemn service of Vespers on Sunday between the Psalm 111 and Psalm 113.
In ordinary Roman rite, Psalm 112 is currently the reading of the fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Moreover, in the Liturgy of the Hours enacted in 1970, the psalm is still recited at Vespers of Sunday's fourth week and evening of the Solemnity of the Epiphany.

Musical settings

The Latin text was set to music by many composers of different nationalities, such as Antonio Vivaldi or Claudio Monteverdi. In France, Michel-Richard Delalande and many others also used these words.
It is usually known by its opening phrase Beatus vir, under which title it is included in numerous musical settings such as Claudio Monteverdi's 1640 Selva morale e spirituale, also known as the Vespers of 1640; Vivaldi's 'Beatus Vir', the third movements of Mozart's Vesperae de Dominica and Vesperae solennes de confessore. Beatus Vir , is a musical psalm setting written by Henryk Górecki in 1979.