Psalm 111

This article is about Psalm 111 in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. For Psalm 111 in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, see Psalm 112 .

Psalm 111
"Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart"
Royal psalm
Psalm 111:2 in German at Tiefenbach chapel near the Furka Pass
Other name	Psalm 110 "Confitebor tibi Domine in toto corde meo"
Language	Hebrew (original)

Psalm 111
←  Psalm 110 Psalm 112  →
Book	Book of Psalms
Hebrew Bible part	Ketuvim
Order in the Hebrew part	1
Category	Sifrei Emet
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	19

Psalm 111 is the 111th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 110. In Latin, it is known as Confitebor tibi Domine. ^[1] It is a psalm "in praise of the divine attributes". ^[2] This psalm, along with Psalm 112, is acrostic by phrase, ^[3] that is, each 7-9 syllable phrase begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order. Psalm 119 is also acrostic, with each eight-verse strophe commencing with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order. ^[4] The Jerusalem Bible describes Psalm 112, "in praise of the virtuous", as "akin to this psalm in doctrine, style and poetic structure. ^[5]

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. Musical settings include works by Heinrich Schütz in German, and Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Henri Desmarets and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi in Latin.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text ^{[6] [7]} of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ אוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה בְּכׇל־לֵבָ֑ב בְּס֖וֹד יְשָׁרִ֣ים וְעֵדָֽה׃‎	Hallelujah. I will give thanks unto the LORD with my whole heart, . In the council of the upright, and in the congregation.
2	גְּ֭דֹלִים מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה דְּ֝רוּשִׁ֗ים לְכׇל־חֶפְצֵיהֶֽם׃‎	The works of the LORD are great, Sought out of all them that have delight therein.
3	הוֹד־וְהָדָ֥ר פׇּעֳל֑וֹ וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃‎	His work is glory and majesty; And His righteousness endureth for ever.
4	זֵ֣כֶר עָ֭שָׂה לְנִפְלְאוֹתָ֑יו חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם יְהֹוָֽה׃‎	He hath made a memorial for His wonderful works; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5	טֶ֭רֶף נָתַ֣ן לִירֵאָ֑יו יִזְכֹּ֖ר לְעוֹלָ֣ם בְּרִיתֽוֹ׃‎	He hath given food unto them that fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
6	כֹּ֣חַ מַ֭עֲשָׂיו הִגִּ֣יד לְעַמּ֑וֹ לָתֵ֥ת לָ֝הֶ֗ם נַחֲלַ֥ת גּוֹיִֽם׃‎	He hath declared to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations.
7	מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יָ֭דָיו אֱמֶ֣ת וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נֶ֝אֱמָנִ֗ים כׇּל־פִּקּוּדָֽיו׃‎	The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are sure.
8	סְמוּכִ֣ים לָעַ֣ד לְעוֹלָ֑ם עֲ֝שׂוּיִ֗ם בֶּאֱמֶ֥ת וְיָשָֽׁר׃‎	They are established for ever and ever, They are done in truth and uprightness.
9	פְּד֤וּת ׀ שָׁ֘לַ֤ח לְעַמּ֗וֹ צִוָּֽה־לְעוֹלָ֥ם בְּרִית֑וֹ קָד֖וֹשׁ וְנוֹרָ֣א שְׁמֽוֹ׃‎	He hath sent redemption unto His people; He hath commanded His covenant for ever; Holy and awful is His name.
10	רֵ֘אשִׁ֤ית חׇכְמָ֨ה ׀ יִרְאַ֬ת יְהֹוָ֗ה שֵׂ֣כֶל ט֭וֹב לְכׇל־עֹֽשֵׂיהֶ֑ם תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃‎	The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that do thereafter; His praise endureth for ever.

King James Version

1. Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2. The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5. He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6. He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Uses

Judaism

• Verse 4-5 are found in the repetition of the Amidah during Rosh Hashanah. ^[8]
• Verse 10 is recited upon awakening following Modeh Ani and handwashing. ^[9]

New Testament

In the New Testament, Psalm 111 is quoted twice:

• Verse 9a is quoted in Luke 1:68. ^[10]
• Verse 9c is quoted in Luke 1:49. ^[10]

Protestantism

This is a psalm of praise to God for:^{[ citation needed ]}

• His great works v.2
• His enduring righteousness v.3
• His grace and compassion v.4
• His provision v.5
• Truth and Justice v.7
• Redemption for His people v.9
• Granting of wisdom to those who revere him v.10

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer , this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the twenty-third day of the month, ^[11] as well as at Mattins on Easter Day. ^[12]

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz wrote a setting of Psalm 111 in German, "Ich danke dem Herrn", SWV 34, as part of Psalmen Davids , published first in 1619. He wrote a setting of a metred paraphrase of the psalm in German, "Ich will von Herzen danken Gott dem Herren", SWV 209, for the Becker Psalter , published first in 1628. Marc-Antoine Charpentier composed four settings of the psalm in Latin:

• In 1670s, grand motet "Confitebor tibi Domine", H.151, for soloists, chorus, 2 violins, and continuo
• In 1690s, grand motet "Confitebor tibi Domine", H.200 - H.200 a, for soloists, chorus, and continuo
• In 1690s, grand motet "Confitebor tibi Domine", H.220, for soloists, chorus and continuo
• Mid - 1690s, grand motet "Confitebor tibi Domine", H.225, for soloists, chorus, flutes, strings and continuo

Henri Desmarets set one grand motet lorrain of it, "Confitebor tibi Domine" in 1707. Giovanni Battista Pergolesi composed a setting, Confitebor tibi Domine in C major for soprano, alto, choir, strings and continuo 1732.

References

1. "Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 110 (111)". Archived from the original on 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
2. Jerusalem Bible (1966), sub-heading to Psalm 111
3. Pratico, Gary (2001), "Basics of Bible Hebrew", p.6
4. Jerusalem Bible, Footnote a at Psalm 119
5. Jerusalem Bible (1966), Footnote a at Psalm 111
6. "Psalms – Chapter 111". Mechon Mamre.
7. "Psalms 111 - JPS 1917". Sefaria.org.
8. The Complete Artscroll Machzor for Rosh Hashanah, pages 323, 461
9. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 2
10. Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1901). The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Vol. Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p.  839 . Retrieved February 28, 2019.
11. Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 283ff
12. "The Book of Common Prayer: Proper Psalms On Certain Days" (PDF). The Church of England. p. 6. Retrieved 19 April 2023.

External links

• Pieces with text from Psalm 111 : Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Psalm 111 : Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Psalms Chapter 111 text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org
• Psalm 111 – The Greatness of God’s Works text and detailed commentary, enduringword.com
• Hallelujah! / I will praise the LORD with all my heart. text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Psalm 111:1 introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
• Psalm 111 / Refrain: The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. Church of England
• Psalm 111 at biblegateway.com
• Hymns for Psalm 111 hymnary.org