Psalm 112 is a portrait of the just person: “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.” Generous and merciful, he is like a light shining in the dark: “To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness.” It is the companion of Psalm 111. In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 111. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 112 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.
Glory and wealth shall be in his house: and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.
To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is merciful, and compassionate and just.
Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth: he shall order his words with judgment:
Because he shall not be moved for ever.
The just shall be in everlasting remembrance: he shall not fear the evil hearing. His heart is ready to hope in the Lord:
His heart is strengthened, he shall not be moved until he look over his enemies.
He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory.
The wicked shall see, and shall be angry, he shall gnash with his teeth and pine away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Psalm 112 or Psalm 111?
The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 111 is Psalm 112 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Beatus vir qui timet Dominum. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- Delight in God’s law: the fear of the Lord leads to joy, not fear.
- A light in darkness: the just bring light to others; Jesus says, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).
- Merciful and generous: “Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth.”
- Unafraid of bad news: “He shall not fear the evil hearing. His heart is ready to hope in the Lord.”
- Giving to the poor: “He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever and ever,” quoted by St. Paul (2 Corinthians 9:9). See the works of mercy.
How the Church uses Psalm 112
- At Mass on the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A), with “You are the light of the world”: “The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.”
- At Evening Prayer (Vespers) on Sundays. See Vespers.
- On feasts of holy men, as a portrait of the saints.
A prayer with Psalm 112
Written for this page:
Lord, blessed are those who fear you and delight in your commands.
Make me a light in the darkness for others.
Give me a generous heart that gives freely to the poor,
and a steady heart that trusts in you, unafraid of bad news. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Where is “Light shines in the darkness for the upright”?
Psalm 112:4 (111:4 in the Douay-Rheims: “To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness”).
How is Psalm 112 related to Psalm 111?
Both are alphabetical psalms; Psalm 111 praises God’s works, Psalm 112 the just person who imitates God.
More psalms and prayers
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 111 (112); Matthew 5:14; 2 Corinthians 9:9, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.