Psalm 112

Psalm 112 is the 112th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 111. In Latin, it is known as Beatus vir qui timet Dominum. It is a psalm "in praise of the virtuous". This psalm, along with Psalm 111, is acrostic by phrase, that is, each 7-9 syllable phrase begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order.

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. Musical settings abound, as the psalm was a common part of Vespers, such as Monteverdi's 1610 Vespro della Beata Vergine and Mozart's Vesperae de Dominica and Vesperae solennes de confessore (K. 339). Górecki composed Beatus Vir as an extended work for baritone, choir and orchestra in 1979.

Hebrew
The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

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

 * 1) Beatus vir, qui timet Dominum, in mandatis ejus volet nimis.
 * 2) Potens in terra erit semen ejus, generatio rectorum benedicetur.
 * 3) Gloria et divitiae in domo ejus, et iustitia ejus manet in saeculum saeculi.
 * 4) Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis, misericors et miserator et iustus.
 * 5) Iucundus homo, qui miseretur et commodat, disponet res suas in judicio,
 * 6) quia in aeternum non commovebitur. In memoria aeterna erit iustus,
 * 7) ab auditione mala non timebit. Paratum cor ejus, sperare in Domino,
 * 8) confirmatum est cor eius, non commovebitur, donec despiciat inimicos suos.
 * 9) Dispersit dedit pauperibus; justitia ejus manet in saeculum saeculi, cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria.
 * 10) Peccator videbit et irascetur, dentibus suis fremet et tabescet. Desiderium peccatorum peribit.

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

New Testament
In the New Testament, verse 9 is quoted in 2 Corinthians 9:9.

Catholic Church
Saint Benedict of Nursia attributed the psalms from the Psalm 110 at the services of Vespers, in its Rule of St. Benedict set to 530 AD. 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
Heinrich Schütz composed a metred paraphrase of Psalm 112 in German, "Der ist fürwahr ein selig Mann", SWV 210, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628.

The Latin text was set to music by many composers of different nationalities, such as the French Michel-Richard Delalande and André Campra. Marc-Antoine Charpentier composed five different "Beatus vir qui timet Dominum", H.154, H.199-H.199a, H.208, H.221, H.224 between 1670 and 1695, François Giroust, one setting (1777) and many other composers also set these words. Beatus vir is the title of many musical settings for Vespers, such as in Monteverdi's 1610 Vespro della Beata Vergine and 1640 Selva morale e spirituale, Vivaldi's Beatus Vir, and the third movement of Mozart's Vesperae de Dominica (K. 321) and Vesperae solennes de confessore (K. 339).

Górecki composed Beatus Vir, Op. 38, for baritone, large mixed chorus and grand orchestra in 1979.