Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, November 26th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Read the Bible

King James Version

Psalms 111:10

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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Fear of God;   Obedience;   Praise;   Wisdom;   Thompson Chain Reference - Wisdom-Folly;   The Topic Concordance - Endurance;   Fear;   Obedience;   Praise;   Understanding;   Wisdom;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Fear, Godly;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Letters;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fear;   Knowledge of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, the Book of;   Maschil;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Faith;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Acrostic;   Ethics;   Fear;   Haggai;   Hallelujah;   Psalms;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Eternity;   Sin (2);   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Psalms the book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Acrostic;   Alphabet;   Eunice;   Haggai;   Hallelujah;   Proverbs, Book of;   Succeed;   Wisdom;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Cardinal Virtues;   Fear of God;  

Parallel Translations

New Living Translation
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!
English Revised Version
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
Update Bible Version
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those that do that: His praise endures forever.
New Century Version
Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord ; those who obey his orders have good understanding. He should be praised forever.
New English Translation
To obey the Lord is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. He will receive praise forever.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
World English Bible
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Amplified Bible
The [reverent] fear of the LORD is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; A good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the LORD; His praise endures forever.
English Standard Version
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
the bigynnyng of wisdom is the drede of the Lord. Good vndirstondyng is to alle that doen it; his preising dwellith in to the world of world.
Berean Standard Bible
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
Contemporary English Version
Respect and obey the Lord ! This is the first step to wisdom and good sense. God will always be respected.
American Standard Version
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that do his commandments: His praise endureth for ever.
Bible in Basic English
The fear of the Lord is the best part of wisdom: all those who keep his laws are wise: his praise is eternal.
Complete Jewish Bible
the first and foremost point of wisdom is the fear of Adonai ; all those living by it gain good common sense. His praise stands forever.
Darby Translation
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do [his precepts]: his praise abideth for ever.
Easy-to-Read Version
Wisdom begins with fear and respect for the Lord . Those who obey him are very wise. Praises will be sung to him forever.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; {P}
King James Version (1611)
The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome, a good vnderstanding haue all they that doe his commandements: his praise endureth for euer.
New Life Bible
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All who obey His Laws have good understanding. His praise lasts forever.
New Revised Standard
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The beginning of wisedome is the feare of the Lord: all they that obserue them, haue good vnderstanding: his praise endureth for euer.
George Lamsa Translation
The reverence of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments; his praise endures for ever.
Good News Translation
The way to become wise is to honor the Lord ; he gives sound judgment to all who obey his commands. He is to be praised forever.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The beginning of wisdom, is the reverence of Yahweh, Good discretion, have all that do them, His praise, endureth for aye.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(110-10) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding to all that do it: his praise continueth for ever and ever.
Revised Standard Version
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it. His praise endures for ever!
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The beginning of wysdome is the feare of God: all they haue a good vnderstanding that do his commaundements, the praise of it endureth for euer.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and all that act accordingly have a good understanding; his praise endures for ever and ever.
Christian Standard Bible®
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;all who follow his instructions have good insight.His praise endures forever.
Hebrew Names Version
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Lexham English Bible
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom; all who do them have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.
Literal Translation
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; all who do them have a good understanding; His praise is standing forever!
Young's Literal Translation
The beginning of wisdom [is] fear of Jehovah, Good understanding have all doing them, His praise [is] standing for ever!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The feare of the LORDE is the begynnynge of wy?dome, a good vnderstondinge haue all they that do therafter: the prayse of it endureth for euer.
New American Standard Bible
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; All those who follow His commandments have a good understanding; His praise endures forever.
New King James Version
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.
Legacy Standard Bible
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom;Good insight belongs to all those who do His commandments;His praise stands forever.

Contextual Overview

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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

fear: Job 28:28, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, Ecclesiastes 12:13

a good understanding: or, good success, Psalms 1:3, Deuteronomy 4:6, Joshua 1:7, Joshua 1:8, Proverbs 3:4, 2 Timothy 3:15-17

do his commandments: Heb. do them, John 13:17, Revelation 22:14

his praise: Matthew 25:21, Matthew 25:23, John 5:44, John 12:43, Romans 2:7, Romans 2:29, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Peter 1:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 22:12 - now Deuteronomy 6:2 - fear Deuteronomy 28:1 - If thou shalt Joshua 24:14 - fear 1 Samuel 12:24 - fear the Lord Psalms 19:9 - enduring Psalms 25:12 - What Psalms 34:11 - I will Psalms 53:2 - any that Psalms 112:1 - Blessed Psalms 112:3 - and his Psalms 119:34 - Give me Psalms 119:73 - Thy hands Psalms 119:100 - because Proverbs 14:8 - wisdom Proverbs 15:21 - a man Proverbs 15:33 - fear Proverbs 23:17 - be thou Isaiah 50:10 - is among Malachi 3:16 - that feared Matthew 7:24 - a wise Luke 1:17 - to make Acts 9:31 - and walking Acts 10:35 - feareth Ephesians 5:17 - understanding 1 Peter 2:17 - Fear

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,.... The fear of the Lord, whose name is revered, is not a fear of his judgments here or hereafter, but of his goodness and grace; it is a reverential affection for him, a fiducial fear of him, a fear of offending so good a Being as he is; and it includes all religious worship of him, inward and outward, private and public; and at this true wisdom begins; a man begins to be wise when he fears the Lord, and not till then; this is his highest wisdom, and this is, as it may be rendered, "the chief of wisdom" i, the principal part of it; see Proverbs 9:10.

A good understanding have all they that do his commandments; or "that do them" k; the fear of the Lord and wisdom; that exercise them, that do as they oblige and direct to; so R. Moses in Aben Ezra connects the words; such have a good understanding of the Lord, know him as the object of their fear and reverence, and of their duty to him, and of their own interest, it being their wisdom to fear him; since by attending to their duty, to the word and ordinances of God, such arrive to a greater degree of knowledge and understanding of divine things. Some render it "good success l" or "prosperity", as Kimchi; such usually have prosperity in soul and body, in things temporal and spiritual; see Joshua 1:8.

His praise endureth for ever; or "its praise" m; the praise of the fear of the Lord, of divine wisdom, and of a good understanding; just as of circumcision in the heart, Romans 2:29 or the praise of him that does the above things, that does the commandments of God, or acts under the fear of God, and as a wise man, 1 Corinthians 4:5 or rather the praise of God, which shall be given him by angels and men now and for evermore, as it ought to be; and to stir up to which is the design of the psalm throughout; and which men are encouraged to from the works and word of God, from his name, nature, and covenant, and from his blessings and acts of grace and goodness.

i ראשית חכמה "caput sapientiae", Junius Tremellius "vel praecipuum", Cocceius; "summa", Michaelis. k עשיהם "facientibus ea", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius Tremelilius, c. l שכל טוב "successus optimus", Junius & Tremellius so Ainsworth. m תהלתו "quorum laus", Tigurine version i.e. "uniuscujusque facientium", Gejerus, Michaelis.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The fear of the Lord - Reverence for God; respect for his law, his will, his government, himself; the fear of offending him, which will lead us to do right. This fear is not that of a slave; it is not mere dread; it is not terror. It is consistent with love, and springs from it. It is consistent with calmness of mind, and promotes it. It does not produce terror, but rather delivers from it, and preserves the mind from alarms. The word here rendered “fear” is a noun of the same origin as the word rendered “reverend” in the previous verse. The suggestion to the mind of the psalmist that the “name of the Lord” was “reverend,” or was to be venerated, introduced this thought that such reverence is the very foundation of wisdom.

Is the beginning of wisdom - The foundation, the origin, the commencement of being truly wise. It is so. There is no true wisdom which does not recognize the being, the perfections, and the claims of God. The highest wisdom - the most lofty endowment of man - is that he “may” know and honor God. This, in capability, makes him wise above the brute creation; this, in exercise, makes one man more wise than another; this, when it springs up in the soul, makes a man more wise than he was before - or, is the “beginning” of true wisdom in the soul. Compare Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10; Deuteronomy 4:6; Job 28:28; Ecclesiastes 12:13.

A good understanding ... - Margin, “good success.” The original word - שׂכל śêkel - is rendered “understanding” (as here) in 1 Samuel 25:3; Ezra 8:18; Job 17:4; Proverbs 3:4; Proverbs 13:15; Proverbs 16:22; “wisdom” in 1 Chronicles 22:12; Proverbs 12:8; Proverbs 23:9; “prudence,” 2 Chronicles 2:12; Proverbs 19:11 (margin); “sense,” in Nehemiah 8:8; “knowledge,” 2 Chronicles 30:22; and “policy” in Daniel 8:25. It “may” denote, therefore, understanding, wisdom, knowledge, success, prudence; and it is true in regard to “all” of these - for the fear of the Lord, or true religion, produces them “all.” It is not necessary, therefore, to endeavor to ascertain precisely which of these is the meaning here.

That do his commandments - Margin, as in the Hebrew, “do them.” That do the things connected with the fear of the Lord; that is, who obey God.

His praise endureth for ever - That is, the foundation for his praise endures to all eternity; or, is unchangeable. As God is always the same, so there is, as derived from his being and perfections, always the same foundation for praise. As there will always be created beings who can and will appreciate this, so it will be literally true, as it should be, that his praise “will” be celebrated forever.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 111:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom — The original stands thus: ראשית חכמה יראת יהוה reshith chokmah, yirath Yehovah, The beginning of wisdom is the fear of Jehovah. Wisdom itself begins with this fear; true wisdom has this for its commencement. It is the first ingredient in it, and is an essential part of it. In vain does any man pretend to be wise who does not fear the Lord; and he who fears the Lord departs from evil: he who lives in sin neither fears God, nor is wise.

A good understanding have all they that do his commandments] These last words we add as necessary to make up the sense; but there is no need of this expedient, as the words of the original literally read thus: "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of Jehovah; good discernment to the doers." That is, They who act according to the dictates of wisdom, the commencement of which is the fear of Jehovah, have a sound understanding, discern their duty and their interest, and live to secure their own peace, their neighbour's good, and God's glory.

ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND ELEVENTH PSALM

It is supposed that this hymn was set by the author to be sung at the passover; and that it might be the more readily learned and remembered, the colons are in number as many as, and arranged in the order of, the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. It is an exhortation to praise God for his wonderful benefits bestowed on the world at large, and especially on Israel and the Church.

There are three parts in this Psalm: -

I. A resolution of the psalmist to praise God; the manner in which he would do so; and the company with whom he would do it, Psalms 111:1.

II. An expression of the reasons which moved him to praise God, viz., his admirable benefits, special and general, Psalms 111:2-9.

III. An inference from the premises by way of sentiment in which he commends the fear of God, Psalms 111:10.

I. The title of this Psalm is, "Hallelujah, praise ye the Lord;" and he adds, -

1. "I will praise the Lord." And shows how it should be done.

2. Not hypocritically; not with the lips only, but "with the heart."

3. "With the whole heart."

4. Not only secretly, but also "in the assembly of the upright," c. 1. Both in the assembly, where these good and upright men are. 2. And also in a mixed multitude, and secretly among good men.

II. And, having made a pious confession of his readiness to practise the duty, he next sets down the ground and matter of his praise.

First. His works of power, in the creation and conservation of the world, or the favours shown to the Church: "And these works of the Lord are great." 1. Great, not only for variety and beauty, but also in base creatures his wisdom is admirable, and to be admired. 2. Great for it was great to take to himself a people out of another people, to make a covenant with them, and to reveal his promises, and give them a law, to settle among them a policy for Church and state. 3. Fools and impious men, indeed, but little consider these works; they think not of their Author: but in the eyes of all wise men "they are sought out," c.

Secondly. His works of wisdom, in governing the creatures he has created, and in guiding and collecting his Church. 1. It is honourable and much more so its Author. 2. And glorious; far above the works of princes. 3. And righteous: "He is a righteous God, and his righteousness endureth for ever." For he never departs from the exact rule of justice.

Which record must be kept: -

"He hath made his wonderful works," c. As in the Jewish hosts.

Thirdly. His works of mercy. They proceed from mere mercy: "For the Lord is gracious," c. 1. "Gracious," in doing these works. 2. "Full of compassion," as a father towards his children.

Of these the prophet gives several instances: -

1. "He hath given meat," &c. He nourished his people for forty years in the wilderness, giving them meat from heaven.

2. "He will ever be mindful," &c. Notwithstanding their provocations.

3. "He hath showed his people," &c. As in the turning of Jordan backwards, overthrowing Jericho, staying the sun and moon, &c.

4. "That he might give them," &c. By the expulsion of the Canaanites: "The works of the Lord are great," &c.

He now uses an acclamation: "The works of his hands are," -

1. Verity. Making good his promise to Abraham.

2. Judgment. Executed on idolaters and profane persons.

And shows unto all the world that, -

1. "All his commandments are sure." That his laws, especially his moral laws, are of everlasting obligation on all.

2. That these commands "stand fast for ever" for they are established in truth, equity, justice, and reason.

The prophet next speaks of a mercy far exceeding all the rest, the work of human redemption by Christ. This may be thus expounded, and better than in reference to the redemption of Israel out of Egypt.

1. "He sent redemption," c. A Redeemer so long promised.

2. "He hath commanded his covenant," &c. Which is still extant.

III. The prophet, having enumerated many of God's works of power, wisdom, and mercy, concludes the Psalm with three acclamations.

"Holy and reverend," &c. Either in his service, or whenever he is signified.

1. Holy - unpolluted by hypocrisy. The command is, "Be ye holy, for I am holy."

2. Reverend - not rashly or negligently performed. Or, as some read it, terrible and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The second acclamation follows upon the preceding: -

1. This fear "is the beginning of wisdom." For these men begin to be wise "to eschew evil, and do good."

2. This fear, if it be right, will be practical: "For a good understanding," c.

The third acclamation is, "His praise endureth for ever." Which some refer to God, others to man but both are true. For the praise must continue for ever: "His power, mercy," c.

If referred to man then the sense will be, -

1. "His praise." For "they that dwell in thy house," &c., Psalms 84:4.

2. Or "His praise." The commendation of a good man "will be had in everlasting remembrance," Psalms 112:6. "The name of the wicked shall rot," &c. Proverbs 10:7. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant," c. Matthew 25:21. His praise is in this world lasting, but in the world to come everlasting.


 
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