Psalm 111 Emotional
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Psalm 111/Emotional
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YHWH's deeds
Psalm 111
Emotional Analysis
This layer explores the emotional dimension of the biblical text and seeks to uncover the clues within the text itself that are part of the communicative intent of its author. The goal of this analysis is to chart the basic emotional tone and/or progression of the psalm.
For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Emotional Analysis Creator Guidelines.
Emotional Analysis Chart
If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
| Emendations/Revocalizations legend | |
|---|---|
| *Emended text* | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation. |
| *Revocalized text* | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization. |
| Verse | Text (Hebrew) | Text (CBC) The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is designed to be "close" to the Hebrew, while still being "clear." Specifically, the CBC encapsulates and reflects the following layers of analysis: grammar, lexical semantics, phrase-level semantics, and verbal semantics. It does not reflect our analysis of the discourse or of poetics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources. | The Psalmist Feels | Emotional Analysis Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ | Praise Yah! | ||
| אוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה בְּכָל־לֵבָ֑ב | I will praise YHWH whole-heartedly | • Sincere wholehearted determination that he will praise YHWH. | • Praise implies admiration, respect, and gratitude • PP: לבב (see notes on phrase-level semantics; cf. Pss. 9:1; 86:12; 138:2; Deut. 6:5; etc. collocated with באמת in 1 Kgs. 2:4; often collocated with בכל נפש)
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| בְּס֖וֹד יְשָׁרִ֣ים וְעֵדָֽה׃ | in the council of upright people, in the congregation. | |||
| 2 | גְּ֭דֹלִים מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יְהוָ֑ה | YHWH’s deeds are great, | • Delight in YHWH's deeds. | • The term חָפֵץ refers to a "state in which humans feel emotionally attached to a particular event" (SDBH). |
| דְּ֝רוּשִׁ֗ים לְכָל־חֶפְצֵיהֶֽם׃ | studied by all who delight in them. | |||
| 3 | הוֹד־וְהָדָ֥ר פָּֽעֳל֑וֹ | His work is glorious and majestic, | ||
| וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃ | and his righteousness stands forever. | |||
| 4 | זֵ֣כֶר עָ֭שָׂה לְנִפְלְאֹתָ֑יו | He has caused his wonderful acts to be remembered. | • Awe over YHWH's wonderful acts. | • The term פלא refers to a "state in which an event is out of the ordinary and inspiring amazement" (SDBH). |
| חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם יְהוָֽה׃ | YHWH is merciful and compassionate. | |||
| 5 | טֶ֭רֶף נָתַ֣ן לִֽירֵאָ֑יו | He gave food to those who feared him. | ||
| יִזְכֹּ֖ר לְעוֹלָ֣ם בְּרִיתֽוֹ׃ | He will remember his covenant forever. | • Hope that YHWH will again remember his covenant and perform great deeds. | ||
| 6 | כֹּ֣חַ מַ֭עֲשָׂיו הִגִּ֣יד לְעַמּ֑וֹ | He showed his people the power of his deeds | ||
| לָתֵ֥ת לָ֝הֶ֗ם נַחֲלַ֥ת גּוֹיִֽם׃ | by giving them nations as an inheritance. | |||
| 7 | מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יָ֭דָיו אֱמֶ֣ת וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט | The deeds of his hands are faithful and just. | ||
| נֶ֝אֱמָנִ֗ים כָּל־פִּקּוּדָֽיו׃ | All his commandments are enduring, | • Sincerely devoted to YHWH's commands | • The phrase באמת וישר reflects the psalmist's own attitude (cf. בכל לבב in v. 1). | |
| 8 | סְמוּכִ֣ים לָעַ֣ד לְעוֹלָ֑ם | established forever and ever, | ||
| עֲ֝שׂוּיִ֗ם בֶּאֱמֶ֥ת וְיָשָֽׁר׃ | practiced in faithfulness and uprightness. | |||
| 9 | פְּד֤וּת ׀ שָׁ֘לַ֤ח לְעַמּ֗וֹ | He sent redemption to his people. | • Devotion to YHWH as master/owner. | |
| לְעַמּ֗וֹ צִוָּֽה־לְעוֹלָ֥ם בְּרִית֑וֹ | He commanded his covenant forever. | |||
| קָד֖וֹשׁ וְנוֹרָ֣א שְׁמֽוֹ׃ | His name is holy and awesome. | • Awe at YHWH's holy and awesome character (name). | • The term ירא refers to a "state in which humans, deities, places and activities have qualities that inspire fear in others" (SDBH). | |
| 10 | רֵ֘אשִׁ֤ית חָכְמָ֨ה ׀ יִרְאַ֬ת יְהוָ֗ה | Fearing YHWH is the beginning of wisdom; | • Awe/fear of YHWH. | • The term יִרְאָה refers to a "state in which humans experience fear" (SDBH). |
| שֵׂ֣כֶל ט֭וֹב לְכָל־עֹשֵׂיהֶ֑ם | all who practice them have good insight. | |||
| תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃ | His praiseworthiness stands forever. | • The term תְּהִלָּה refers to a "state in which humans or deities are considered worthy of praise" (SDBH). |
Summary Visual
(Click visual to enlarge).
