Anything illustrative of Scripture is most precious to the Christian: it is the chart he sails by. I desire to add a mite; and will not be deterred by the feeling of either its littleness or my want of competency to present the subject in a way worthy of itself.
In Hebrew, the 111th and 112th Psalms are acrostic; and there is this singularity about them, that each of them has twenty-two clauses in ten verses, and each of these clauses begins with a letter of the alphabet. I have sought to translate them as verbally as possible, and thus, so far as possible, according to my power, to present to the eye of the mere English reader the appearance they have in Hebrew -retaining the acrostic memorial. I am not aware of having forced the sense at all. That they are remarkably connected together cannot be doubted. They correspond in subject, or are responsive: and to the eye they are the one like to the other, as are a pair of wings in a bird, though the coloring may differ [Perhaps the fanciful pairs of wings of George Herbert's day were borrowed hence;-shape being added by the poet.] All I seek is to present to the mere English reader the sense of the Hebrew in such form as that his eye may have the same benefit as has the eye which peruses them in Hebrew.
Observe and compare verses 3 in both; also verses 4. Are the character of Jehovah in a certain aspect, and the character of His servant, the two subjects?
The Reader is advised to turn back to Volume One, pages fifty and three hundred and twenty. There he will find reference to the two Psalms, now under consideration, in the observations made concerning
First:-The Titles of the Psalms.
Secondly:-The Acrostics.
And Thirdly:-The Orphans.
Psalm 111. Hallelu-Yah.
Ver.
Aleph
א
A
(Aye), I will praise Jehovah whole-heartedly:
1
Beth
ב
B
Before the counsel of the upright and the congregation.
Gimel
ג
G
Great (are) the works of Jehovah:
2
Daleth
ד
D
Diligently sought of all that delight therein.
Heh
ה
H
Honorable and glorious His work:
3
Vau
ו
V
Verily* His righteousness stands forever.
Zain
ז
Z
Zealous remembrance made He for His wonders:
4
Cheth
ח
Ch
Charitable and compassionate (is) Jehovah.
Teth
ט
T
To his fearers he gave the prey:
5
Yod
י
Y
(Yet) He remembers forever His covenant.
Caph
כ
C
Caused He to declare to His people the might of His deeds:
6
Lamed
ל
L
(Looking) to give them the heritage of the Gentiles.
Mem
מ
M
Made things of His hands truth and judgment:
7
Nun
נ
N
Nourished [or nursed up] all His appointments.
Samech
ס
S
Standing fast forever and ever:
8
Ayin
ע
'
Acted in truth and uprightness.
Peh**
פ
Ph
Freedom he sent to His people;
9
Tzadee
צ
Tz
'Tis He commanded forever His covenant:
Cooph
ק
C
Consecrated and fearful His name.
Ersh
ר
R
Ruling in wisdom is the fear of Jehovah;
10
Sin
ש
S
Success [or sense or skilfulness] have all that do them:
Tav
ת
T
The praise of Him stands forever.
(* "Verily," lit. "and.")
(** Or Pheh.)
Psalm 112. Hallelu-Yah.
Ver.
Aleph
א
A
A man that fears Jehovah is blest:
1
Beth
ב
B
By his commandments greatly delighting.
Gimel
ג
G
Grand in the earth shall be his seed:
2
Daleth
ד
D
Descendants of the upright shall be blest.
Heh
ה
H
(He has) riches and wealth in his house:
3
Vau
ו
V
Verily his righteousness (is) standing forever.
Zain
ז
Z
(Zest)* to the upright, light rises in darkness:
4
Cheth
ח
Ch
Charitable (is he), merciful, and righteous.
Teth
ט
T
The good man is charitable and lends:
5
Yod
י
Y
In judgment he will accomplish his matters.
Caph
כ
C
Certainly forever not shall he be moved:
6
Lamed
ל
L
Lasting shall be the remembrance of the righteous.**
Mem
מ
M
Malicious [lit. evil] report not shall he fear:
7
Nun
נ
N
(Now) established his heart, trusting in the Lord.
Samech
ס
S
Stablished his heart, not shall he fear:
8
Ayin
ע
'
'Until he look (down) on his enemies.
Peh
פ
Ph
Portioning out, he gave to the needy;
9
Tzadee
צ
Tz
('Tis) his righteousness (is) standing forever:
Cooph
ק
C
(Known) his horn is exalted in honor.
Ersh
ר
R
Rages the wicked when he sees it;
10
Sin
ש
S
Surely with his teeth he will gnash and melt away.
Tav
ת
T
The desire of the wicked shall perish.
(* I have put in Zest.)
(** Lit. For a remembrance of eternity shall be the righteous.)
I give now the Hebrew of these Psalms, with the translations.
1 Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly
2 of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great, sought
3 out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honorable and glorious:
4 and his righteousness endureth forever. He bath made his wonderful works to be
5 remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat
6 unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. He hath showed 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 9 They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and
10 reverend is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.
1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth
2 greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the genera-
3 tion of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and
4 his righteousness endureth forever. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the
5 darkness: he is gracious and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man
6 showeth favor, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he shall not be removed forever: 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 sees his desire upon his
9 enemies. He hath dispersed; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth
10 forever: his horn shall be exalted with honor. The wicked shall see it, and be grieved: he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.