"
Verses 9 and 10 are in fact an expression of fervent
faith in the power of good over evil--a parallel
thought to " Magna est Veritas et prevalebit.
Verses 9 and 10 are in fact an expression of fervent
faith in the power of good over evil--a parallel
thought to " Magna est Veritas et prevalebit.
Childrens - Psalm-Book
& dnonM ikd >><<.
era.
at- >>*T'" l ? : - t : v; A:
and a chorus verse which is repeated after each of the mote on
first four stanzas: "O that men would praise the IPs. CVII.
Lord for His mercy, and His wonderful works to the
children of men. " The chorus verse is the answering
refrain to the opening verse, and emphasizes the con-
nection of that verse with each successive stanza.
The English version, beautiful as it is, does not quite
convey the echoing effect of the Hebrew.
Opening verse:
Chorus verse:
TT ? ? : ? t :: . : :- T
The first two words of each are the same, the
differing first letters of the first word merely being
the difference between the second and third person of
it : f T :1 :\'\ t : ? : t ti i>> t ~
Vron obiy1? *3 " nica <<3 rtirvb rrin
: - t 2? t -
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
flote on the verb. In the opening verse, " Give ye thanks to
t>s. CVU. the Lord" (nVl? rrtn); in the chorus verse, (8,
15, 21, 31,) " O that they (i. e. , mankind) would give
thanks to the Lord" (HW HV).
A prelude to the refrain is introduced just before
the last verse of each stanza (verses 6, 13, 19, 28),
"Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble,
PSALM CXI.
Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with
my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and
in the congregation. 2 The works of the Lord
are great, sought out of all them that delight
therein. 3 His work is honourable and glorious:
and His righteousness endureth for ever. 4 He
hath made His wonderful works to be remembered:
the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. 5 He
hath given meat unto them that fear Him: He will
ever be mindful of His covenant. 6 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 com-
mandments 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
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
and He saveth them out of their distresses. " When flore on
we are happy and prosperous, we are apt to forget to IP8, CVII.
offer to God our tribute of thanks in word and deed.
But when trouble overtakes us we all cry to God in
our anguish to save us out of our distresses, and
then we learn to "understand the lovingkindness of
God. "
cxi. vrp
oyfi itea aa^aa nirv n-rix 1 tfohn
iv ? ? : v t: ? : at: - ;i it":
nar 4 :nyS rnay injV]$ iSys Trn-nin 3
Tan vtwa na 6 nnna oSiyS nan vntS
j. . t -j i *: jt: i :? at
nax vt 7 :trta nSm onS' nnn iayn
ivv; tt. j" |- --:i- vt /"t ac:
dW? nuS ooffiD8 :vmps-na doom tDsetei
at : j- t : It I ? t ? t v:(v at: ?
nw iay1? nS$ 1 run? 9 naxa dm
1 nsan n wi 10 :ito^ xnin tfhp inna rh)vh
t ; t <? ? ? I: jt: 1 Jt a ? : jt:
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
CXI. is His name. 10 Fear of the Lord is the begin-
ning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they
that do so: His praise endureth for ever.
PSALM CXII.
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
Good is the man who is gracious, and lendeth: he
will guide his affairs justly. 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, even when he looks upon his enemies. 9 He
hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righte-
ousness 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.
188
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
may irtann onw^aS nica Sab nirv n<<T>><<. wu
cxii.
t : ? ; at: v j"t n ? ? - - t -; \--
one* nn nvr pxa -riaj 2 ysn
njjb rna'y ihjrpj irvna TVrp1? 3
Mfnj pan Dn^? 1? nix ^na rn] 4
:tfeetoa man W? y ni^i nin aiD 5
it: ? : jtt: ? ? : -: av: - U? ? n I
:p<<re rrrr natS DWr*a 6
I i ? - *v: ? t' w: ? i . it i ?
*rrirra n&a ia1? nt* run pwy#fe 7
|t f "St ? I j t at ? . >> tti jt ;?
:rwa nK*v-itrK ny k"v* nS iaS wod 8
i tt: jv :* v ~: \- at ? j -i I j t
phni qpaj 1 nsrv yen 10 :-rtaaa
I" j- t: --; |- >>tt;
189
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
>>te on The 111th and 112th Psalms are evidently
an& composed by the same author. They are alike in
CXII. form, both Psalms being alphabetical. * They are
also alike in subject, for both are poems in praise of
wisdom, but the 111th is an ode to the wisdom and
power of God; the 112th extols the wisdom and
uprightness of a virtuous man.
Comparing the two Psalms verse by verse, we find
the thought, and sometimes the very words in the
one echoed, as it were, in the other. Thus, the
third and fourth verses of both Psalms contain
identical phrases, referring in cxi. to God, and in cxii.
to man. "His righteousness endureth for ever"
(verse 3 in both), "He is gracious and full of
compassion" (verse 4 in both). Still more remark-
able is the response of verses 5 and 9 in cxii. to
verses 5 and 9 in cxi. --suggesting the thought that
the perception of the mercifulness and bounteous-
ness of God inspires generosity in man, and that
charity is the highest form of human gratitude for
the Divine mercy towards mankind.
The sixth, seventh, and eighth verses of cxii. tell of
the serene courage that comes to all who realize the
eternal goodness and wisdom of God proclaimed
in the corresponding verses of cxi. For it is the
thought of the infinite wisdom and infinite power of
God that brings with it the thought of His infinite
justice and mercy.
To understand how to conduct our lives so as to
justify our existence and to make the best of our
powers, we must first understand the Infinite Good-
ness and the Infinite Greatness of God. Realizing
this, the Psalmist says :--*" The fearf of the Lord is
* The initial letters of each half verse are in alphabetical order.
+ The word " fear " in Hebrew means also awe and reverence,
(compare Ps. xix. , verse 6. ) The word "reverend" in verse 9
also means full of awe.
190
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding have mote on
all they that do so. His praise" (i. e. the silent praise CXI.
of His wonderful works) "endureth for ever," because pgi cxil.
His works do not perish or decay like the works of
men, but endure for ever and ever by reason of the
immutable Divine laws by which God "reneweth
the face of the earth. "
"The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom,"
the conclusion of Psalm cxi. , is closely linked with
the opening verse of Ps. cxii. , "Happy is the man
who feareth the Lord. " Fear of God (not cowardly
fear, but awe and reverence) is not only the fountain
head of wisdom, but also the foundation of happiness.
That is the theme of the 112th Psalm.
Man must stand in awe of God in order to get
wisdom. He who has wisdom will also get hap-
piness, the sort of happiness that is associated with
goodness and that will keep him uncorrupted by
the temptations of wealth and power, and un-
daunted by visitations of adversity--a happiness
that fills his heart with gracious and practical
sympathy for the difficulties and troubles of his
fellow-creatures. Happiness of mind is based on
the wisdom that leads to goodness; "The light that
dawneth out of darkness for the upright," as the
Psalmist puts it.
The spirit of verses 7 and 8 of Ps. cxii. is difficult
to render in exact translation. The word "desire"
in verse 8, used in the English Bible version,
is misleading, and does not occur in the Hebrew.
It seems to make the verse out of harmony with the
rest of the Psalm, and suggests a special meaning
as contrasted with the " desire of the wicked" in
the tenth verse.
But the real contrast to verse 10 of Ps. cxii. ," the
desire of the wicked perisheth," is to be found in the
191
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
Dote on preceding verse. "Righteousness" (the mirror of
ps. CXI. the goodness of God in the soul of man) "endureth. "
pS. CXII. For the work of God and His laws are everlasting,
whereas the "desire of the wicked" (the work of
mortal man) " perisheth.
"
Verses 9 and 10 are in fact an expression of fervent
faith in the power of good over evil--a parallel
thought to " Magna est Veritas et prevalebit. "
PSALM CXIII.
Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the
Lord, praise the name of the Lord. 2 Blessed be
the name of the Lord from this time forth and for
evermore. 3 From the rising of the sun unto the
going down of the same the Lord's name is to be
praised. 4 The Lord is high above all nations, and
His glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like unto
the Lord our God, Who dwelleth on high, 6 Who
humbleth himself to behold the things that are in
heaven, and in the earth! 7 He raiseth up the poor
out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dung-
hill; 8 That He may set him with princes, even
with the princes of his people. 9 He maketh the
barren woman to keep bouse, and to be a joyful
mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.
? IRote on The series of Psalms of Praise, beginning with
ps. CXIII. the 113th and ending with the 118th Psalm, are used
in the Jewish Ritual as a special service of praise
192
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
One might paraphrase the picture of a good man's Hote on
courage in verses 7 and 8, thus :-- Ps? CXI.
"Evil tidings he may hear, (C)8. CXII.
Yet he feeleth nought of fear.
His heart is firm, his heart is fast,
Through trust in God all fear is cast.
No timid doubts perturb his calm,
Lest fate or fault may bring him harm. "
CXIII.
: niir Dtrnx $hn nirp nay hbn I nhhbn
it: >** v ~s ~ at: j**; = -i t --: i-
:naSiy--nn nm? 6 Tijaa rrtn* dt f *rv 2
it ^ -; t -1" |at: jt: j" <? ;
it: j" t *. ; a ; - v /v ? ?
niiaa Dwn bs rti? 1 D^ir^a-Sy Dn 4
l: 'Ft - $ at; t c it
h*BVfon e :nae'S wsuan wrbs nirva 5
* : -- v it t '? ? :-- a- v: . t :- -i
niBetab bi nsyo *aw 7 :pxai Dw'a nitnS
; at jttI" j? )*: I Vit t ? r- t - a
i ioy *anj Dy tranrw winS 8 ? max Dn*
:nnSSn niw Doan-ax rvan mpu 1 9
for the Holydays, and are called the Hallel (from mote on
bbn, "to praise *'). p8- CXUL
On the seventh day of Passover, the anniversary
193 o
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? the children's psalm-book
t\ote on of the drowning of the Egyptian warriors in the Red
ps. CXIII. sea, this service of rejoicing is curtailed. In the
spirit of the proverb which says, " Rejoice not when
thine enemy falleth," the joy of safety and liberty
was tempered with the sorrow that so many human
beings had met with a violent death.
The Hallel is also omitted from the service for
New Year's Day and the Day of Atonement, as the
leading thought on those days is one rather of solem-
PSALM CXIV.
When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of
Jacob from a people of strange language; 2 Judah
was His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion. 3 The
sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little
hills like lambs. 5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that
thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven
back? 6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams;
and ye little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, thou
earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence
of the God of Jacob; 8 Which turned the rock
into a pool of water, the flint into a fountain of
waters.
? Mote on Note for Older Children. --The 114th Psalm pro-
's. CXIV. ciaims the might of God as shown in marvels
such as the Israelites witnessed at the Red Sea
and on the banks of the Jordan; but which, as
some of the later verses of the Psalm imply, were
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
nity than of rejoicing. They are days of preparation mote on
to bear bravely and trustfully whatever trials and CXIII.
troubles the year may bring forth for us, and days of
high resolve--to break away from whatever we see
to be wrong in our ways, and to try hard to attain
to goodness in all our thoughts and acts.
The 113th Psalm pictures the eternal goodness
and lovingkindness of God to all human beings, high
and low alike.
but a few among the wonderful events in Nature, mote on
such as earthquakes and volcanic upheavals, causing CXIV.
massive mountains to quiver, and rocks to crack,
and springs of water to come and to vanish.
The Psalmist's vivid conception of the Infinite
CXIV. Tp
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on power and majesty of God leads him to realize in
J5s. CXIV. some measure the great world history of the globe.
At epoch-making moments in the history of Israel
he is comforted by the thought of the immeasurable
power of God as shewn in His control of the great
forces of Nature, and he pours out a series of glowing
word-pictures of the marvels of the Natural world.
To most of us the sight of Nature only suggests
the thought of the world as we see it now. But
those who have studied its various materials have
learnt to read the great silent history of creation.
Mountain peaks, ice-scarred rocks, fire-wrought
granite crags, waving hills taking the shape of the
PSALM CXV.
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy
name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's
sake. 2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where
is now their God? 3 But our God is in the
heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's
hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not:
eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears,
but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell
not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not:
feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they
through their throat. 8 They that make them are
like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
(Chorus)
9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: He is their
help and their shield.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
great ocean billows that once rolled over them, each mote on
tell their tale of the epochs of the process of creation.
When this history was first discovered, by infinitely
patient observation, "miracles" became better
understood. Scientific study gradually revealed the
marvellous processes through which the world has
passed, and is always passing, in obedience to the
great laws of Nature. These are so wonderful that
those who study them are constantly reminded of
the Infinite Wisdom of the Creator and---by realizing
the fallacies to which human reasoning has so often
led--of the limited wisdom of mankind.
CXV. 1I2P
-ht "fqa jfj ii ^ nP! 1 ^ ^
xi-rvK Dnan rpk\ rush 2 ? sjnaK-^ ^pn
Vti ;. * |tt j";" attI |viV V
:ona npin-n^x ^ ayjpy vrv oniaa 8
rva 10 :xn D3:ai cnty nirva ntoa f? xne>* 9
j? ? t -V -it it: V at |- j-; *? t; *
197
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IPs. CXV. io O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: He is
their help and their shield.
ii Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord:
He is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord hath been mindful of us: He will
bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will
bless the house of Aaron. 13 He will bless them
that fear the Lord, both small and great. 14 The
Lord shall increase you more and more, you and
your children. 15 Ye are blessed of the Lord which
made heaven and earth. 16 The heaven, even the
heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he
given to the children of men. 17 The dead praise
not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth
and for evermore. Praise ye the Lord.
mote on The first three verses of the 115th Psalm utter
IPs. CXV. the thought so often expressed in all the Psalms
of praise--that when the children of men are
blessed, the glory is not the glory of man, but the
glory of the goodness and mercy of God, and that
the marvels of God's creation are ever praising Him
by their wondrousness.
The Psalmist then contrasts the work of God and
the work of Man.
The 9th, 10th, and nth verses are an exhortation,
not only to Israel and her priests, but to all human
beings to trust in the Lord. The refrain at the
end of each of these verses was evidently written
to be sung by an answering chorus. Hence the use
of the third person plural.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
11 :wn tnra rrtrva intDS nnxj>s. cxv.
j" :? I t 'It it: v at i- j ; ? I -;ai
rrirv 12 win taaw diw rtrva ^ntpa rrirv
t: I jtmt it;v at i- :* t ;t
jvrnx w rva-nx to to wnjr
/? ? v I "t: *? t; ? v I **t ;t p**t: *tt;
^nan-N^ 17 :d-ix-^ rn3 pxni rrirv1?
? **-i j itt -*: ? |/-t I vtt: at i-
Bearing in mind that the expression, "they that mote on
fear the Lord," conveys the thought not of cowardly Ps. CXV
fear but of awe and reverence, we realize the broad
spirit that breathes through the Psalm, invoking and
declaring trustfulness in the Divine lovingkindness
of God towards all the children of men.
The last six verses teem with the characteristic
spirit of Judaism. No mystic theory is woven to
guide mankind to a trust in the goodness of God and
to make that goodness an ever-present and ever-
guiding thought to the living children of man, to
whom God has given the earth for a dwelling-place.
But the Psalmist exhorts all mankind to be constantly
giving thanks and praise to God by ever striving to
live in the image of His goodness.
: prion t&ty-nn nnyo rv
It t w -; /tCi" T
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM CXVI.
I love the Lord, because He hath heard my
voice and my supplications. 2 Because He hath
inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon
Him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death com-
passed me, and the pains of the grave gat hold upon
me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I
upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech
thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the Lord, and
righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord
preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and He
helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for
the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For
Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes
from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk
before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I
believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly
afflicted: 11 I said in my haste', All men are
liars.
12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all His
benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of
salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.
14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the
presence of all His people. 15 Precious in the sight
of the Lord is the death of His saints. 16 O Lord,
truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, and the
son of Thine handmaid : Thou hast loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and will call upon the name of the Lord. 18 I will
200
?
at- >>*T'" l ? : - t : v; A:
and a chorus verse which is repeated after each of the mote on
first four stanzas: "O that men would praise the IPs. CVII.
Lord for His mercy, and His wonderful works to the
children of men. " The chorus verse is the answering
refrain to the opening verse, and emphasizes the con-
nection of that verse with each successive stanza.
The English version, beautiful as it is, does not quite
convey the echoing effect of the Hebrew.
Opening verse:
Chorus verse:
TT ? ? : ? t :: . : :- T
The first two words of each are the same, the
differing first letters of the first word merely being
the difference between the second and third person of
it : f T :1 :\'\ t : ? : t ti i>> t ~
Vron obiy1? *3 " nica <<3 rtirvb rrin
: - t 2? t -
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
flote on the verb. In the opening verse, " Give ye thanks to
t>s. CVU. the Lord" (nVl? rrtn); in the chorus verse, (8,
15, 21, 31,) " O that they (i. e. , mankind) would give
thanks to the Lord" (HW HV).
A prelude to the refrain is introduced just before
the last verse of each stanza (verses 6, 13, 19, 28),
"Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble,
PSALM CXI.
Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with
my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and
in the congregation. 2 The works of the Lord
are great, sought out of all them that delight
therein. 3 His work is honourable and glorious:
and His righteousness endureth for ever. 4 He
hath made His wonderful works to be remembered:
the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. 5 He
hath given meat unto them that fear Him: He will
ever be mindful of His covenant. 6 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 com-
mandments 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
186
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
and He saveth them out of their distresses. " When flore on
we are happy and prosperous, we are apt to forget to IP8, CVII.
offer to God our tribute of thanks in word and deed.
But when trouble overtakes us we all cry to God in
our anguish to save us out of our distresses, and
then we learn to "understand the lovingkindness of
God. "
cxi. vrp
oyfi itea aa^aa nirv n-rix 1 tfohn
iv ? ? : v t: ? : at: - ;i it":
nar 4 :nyS rnay injV]$ iSys Trn-nin 3
Tan vtwa na 6 nnna oSiyS nan vntS
j. . t -j i *: jt: i :? at
nax vt 7 :trta nSm onS' nnn iayn
ivv; tt. j" |- --:i- vt /"t ac:
dW? nuS ooffiD8 :vmps-na doom tDsetei
at : j- t : It I ? t ? t v:(v at: ?
nw iay1? nS$ 1 run? 9 naxa dm
1 nsan n wi 10 :ito^ xnin tfhp inna rh)vh
t ; t <? ? ? I: jt: 1 Jt a ? : jt:
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
CXI. is His name. 10 Fear of the Lord is the begin-
ning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they
that do so: His praise endureth for ever.
PSALM CXII.
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
Good is the man who is gracious, and lendeth: he
will guide his affairs justly. 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, even when he looks upon his enemies. 9 He
hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righte-
ousness 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.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
may irtann onw^aS nica Sab nirv n<<T>><<. wu
cxii.
t : ? ; at: v j"t n ? ? - - t -; \--
one* nn nvr pxa -riaj 2 ysn
njjb rna'y ihjrpj irvna TVrp1? 3
Mfnj pan Dn^? 1? nix ^na rn] 4
:tfeetoa man W? y ni^i nin aiD 5
it: ? : jtt: ? ? : -: av: - U? ? n I
:p<<re rrrr natS DWr*a 6
I i ? - *v: ? t' w: ? i . it i ?
*rrirra n&a ia1? nt* run pwy#fe 7
|t f "St ? I j t at ? . >> tti jt ;?
:rwa nK*v-itrK ny k"v* nS iaS wod 8
i tt: jv :* v ~: \- at ? j -i I j t
phni qpaj 1 nsrv yen 10 :-rtaaa
I" j- t: --; |- >>tt;
189
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
>>te on The 111th and 112th Psalms are evidently
an& composed by the same author. They are alike in
CXII. form, both Psalms being alphabetical. * They are
also alike in subject, for both are poems in praise of
wisdom, but the 111th is an ode to the wisdom and
power of God; the 112th extols the wisdom and
uprightness of a virtuous man.
Comparing the two Psalms verse by verse, we find
the thought, and sometimes the very words in the
one echoed, as it were, in the other. Thus, the
third and fourth verses of both Psalms contain
identical phrases, referring in cxi. to God, and in cxii.
to man. "His righteousness endureth for ever"
(verse 3 in both), "He is gracious and full of
compassion" (verse 4 in both). Still more remark-
able is the response of verses 5 and 9 in cxii. to
verses 5 and 9 in cxi. --suggesting the thought that
the perception of the mercifulness and bounteous-
ness of God inspires generosity in man, and that
charity is the highest form of human gratitude for
the Divine mercy towards mankind.
The sixth, seventh, and eighth verses of cxii. tell of
the serene courage that comes to all who realize the
eternal goodness and wisdom of God proclaimed
in the corresponding verses of cxi. For it is the
thought of the infinite wisdom and infinite power of
God that brings with it the thought of His infinite
justice and mercy.
To understand how to conduct our lives so as to
justify our existence and to make the best of our
powers, we must first understand the Infinite Good-
ness and the Infinite Greatness of God. Realizing
this, the Psalmist says :--*" The fearf of the Lord is
* The initial letters of each half verse are in alphabetical order.
+ The word " fear " in Hebrew means also awe and reverence,
(compare Ps. xix. , verse 6. ) The word "reverend" in verse 9
also means full of awe.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding have mote on
all they that do so. His praise" (i. e. the silent praise CXI.
of His wonderful works) "endureth for ever," because pgi cxil.
His works do not perish or decay like the works of
men, but endure for ever and ever by reason of the
immutable Divine laws by which God "reneweth
the face of the earth. "
"The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom,"
the conclusion of Psalm cxi. , is closely linked with
the opening verse of Ps. cxii. , "Happy is the man
who feareth the Lord. " Fear of God (not cowardly
fear, but awe and reverence) is not only the fountain
head of wisdom, but also the foundation of happiness.
That is the theme of the 112th Psalm.
Man must stand in awe of God in order to get
wisdom. He who has wisdom will also get hap-
piness, the sort of happiness that is associated with
goodness and that will keep him uncorrupted by
the temptations of wealth and power, and un-
daunted by visitations of adversity--a happiness
that fills his heart with gracious and practical
sympathy for the difficulties and troubles of his
fellow-creatures. Happiness of mind is based on
the wisdom that leads to goodness; "The light that
dawneth out of darkness for the upright," as the
Psalmist puts it.
The spirit of verses 7 and 8 of Ps. cxii. is difficult
to render in exact translation. The word "desire"
in verse 8, used in the English Bible version,
is misleading, and does not occur in the Hebrew.
It seems to make the verse out of harmony with the
rest of the Psalm, and suggests a special meaning
as contrasted with the " desire of the wicked" in
the tenth verse.
But the real contrast to verse 10 of Ps. cxii. ," the
desire of the wicked perisheth," is to be found in the
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
Dote on preceding verse. "Righteousness" (the mirror of
ps. CXI. the goodness of God in the soul of man) "endureth. "
pS. CXII. For the work of God and His laws are everlasting,
whereas the "desire of the wicked" (the work of
mortal man) " perisheth.
"
Verses 9 and 10 are in fact an expression of fervent
faith in the power of good over evil--a parallel
thought to " Magna est Veritas et prevalebit. "
PSALM CXIII.
Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the
Lord, praise the name of the Lord. 2 Blessed be
the name of the Lord from this time forth and for
evermore. 3 From the rising of the sun unto the
going down of the same the Lord's name is to be
praised. 4 The Lord is high above all nations, and
His glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like unto
the Lord our God, Who dwelleth on high, 6 Who
humbleth himself to behold the things that are in
heaven, and in the earth! 7 He raiseth up the poor
out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dung-
hill; 8 That He may set him with princes, even
with the princes of his people. 9 He maketh the
barren woman to keep bouse, and to be a joyful
mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.
? IRote on The series of Psalms of Praise, beginning with
ps. CXIII. the 113th and ending with the 118th Psalm, are used
in the Jewish Ritual as a special service of praise
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
One might paraphrase the picture of a good man's Hote on
courage in verses 7 and 8, thus :-- Ps? CXI.
"Evil tidings he may hear, (C)8. CXII.
Yet he feeleth nought of fear.
His heart is firm, his heart is fast,
Through trust in God all fear is cast.
No timid doubts perturb his calm,
Lest fate or fault may bring him harm. "
CXIII.
: niir Dtrnx $hn nirp nay hbn I nhhbn
it: >** v ~s ~ at: j**; = -i t --: i-
:naSiy--nn nm? 6 Tijaa rrtn* dt f *rv 2
it ^ -; t -1" |at: jt: j" <? ;
it: j" t *. ; a ; - v /v ? ?
niiaa Dwn bs rti? 1 D^ir^a-Sy Dn 4
l: 'Ft - $ at; t c it
h*BVfon e :nae'S wsuan wrbs nirva 5
* : -- v it t '? ? :-- a- v: . t :- -i
niBetab bi nsyo *aw 7 :pxai Dw'a nitnS
; at jttI" j? )*: I Vit t ? r- t - a
i ioy *anj Dy tranrw winS 8 ? max Dn*
:nnSSn niw Doan-ax rvan mpu 1 9
for the Holydays, and are called the Hallel (from mote on
bbn, "to praise *'). p8- CXUL
On the seventh day of Passover, the anniversary
193 o
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? the children's psalm-book
t\ote on of the drowning of the Egyptian warriors in the Red
ps. CXIII. sea, this service of rejoicing is curtailed. In the
spirit of the proverb which says, " Rejoice not when
thine enemy falleth," the joy of safety and liberty
was tempered with the sorrow that so many human
beings had met with a violent death.
The Hallel is also omitted from the service for
New Year's Day and the Day of Atonement, as the
leading thought on those days is one rather of solem-
PSALM CXIV.
When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of
Jacob from a people of strange language; 2 Judah
was His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion. 3 The
sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little
hills like lambs. 5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that
thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven
back? 6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams;
and ye little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, thou
earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence
of the God of Jacob; 8 Which turned the rock
into a pool of water, the flint into a fountain of
waters.
? Mote on Note for Older Children. --The 114th Psalm pro-
's. CXIV. ciaims the might of God as shown in marvels
such as the Israelites witnessed at the Red Sea
and on the banks of the Jordan; but which, as
some of the later verses of the Psalm imply, were
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
nity than of rejoicing. They are days of preparation mote on
to bear bravely and trustfully whatever trials and CXIII.
troubles the year may bring forth for us, and days of
high resolve--to break away from whatever we see
to be wrong in our ways, and to try hard to attain
to goodness in all our thoughts and acts.
The 113th Psalm pictures the eternal goodness
and lovingkindness of God to all human beings, high
and low alike.
but a few among the wonderful events in Nature, mote on
such as earthquakes and volcanic upheavals, causing CXIV.
massive mountains to quiver, and rocks to crack,
and springs of water to come and to vanish.
The Psalmist's vivid conception of the Infinite
CXIV. Tp
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on power and majesty of God leads him to realize in
J5s. CXIV. some measure the great world history of the globe.
At epoch-making moments in the history of Israel
he is comforted by the thought of the immeasurable
power of God as shewn in His control of the great
forces of Nature, and he pours out a series of glowing
word-pictures of the marvels of the Natural world.
To most of us the sight of Nature only suggests
the thought of the world as we see it now. But
those who have studied its various materials have
learnt to read the great silent history of creation.
Mountain peaks, ice-scarred rocks, fire-wrought
granite crags, waving hills taking the shape of the
PSALM CXV.
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy
name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's
sake. 2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where
is now their God? 3 But our God is in the
heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's
hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not:
eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears,
but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell
not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not:
feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they
through their throat. 8 They that make them are
like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
(Chorus)
9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: He is their
help and their shield.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
great ocean billows that once rolled over them, each mote on
tell their tale of the epochs of the process of creation.
When this history was first discovered, by infinitely
patient observation, "miracles" became better
understood. Scientific study gradually revealed the
marvellous processes through which the world has
passed, and is always passing, in obedience to the
great laws of Nature. These are so wonderful that
those who study them are constantly reminded of
the Infinite Wisdom of the Creator and---by realizing
the fallacies to which human reasoning has so often
led--of the limited wisdom of mankind.
CXV. 1I2P
-ht "fqa jfj ii ^ nP! 1 ^ ^
xi-rvK Dnan rpk\ rush 2 ? sjnaK-^ ^pn
Vti ;. * |tt j";" attI |viV V
:ona npin-n^x ^ ayjpy vrv oniaa 8
rva 10 :xn D3:ai cnty nirva ntoa f? xne>* 9
j? ? t -V -it it: V at |- j-; *? t; *
197
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IPs. CXV. io O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: He is
their help and their shield.
ii Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord:
He is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord hath been mindful of us: He will
bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will
bless the house of Aaron. 13 He will bless them
that fear the Lord, both small and great. 14 The
Lord shall increase you more and more, you and
your children. 15 Ye are blessed of the Lord which
made heaven and earth. 16 The heaven, even the
heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he
given to the children of men. 17 The dead praise
not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth
and for evermore. Praise ye the Lord.
mote on The first three verses of the 115th Psalm utter
IPs. CXV. the thought so often expressed in all the Psalms
of praise--that when the children of men are
blessed, the glory is not the glory of man, but the
glory of the goodness and mercy of God, and that
the marvels of God's creation are ever praising Him
by their wondrousness.
The Psalmist then contrasts the work of God and
the work of Man.
The 9th, 10th, and nth verses are an exhortation,
not only to Israel and her priests, but to all human
beings to trust in the Lord. The refrain at the
end of each of these verses was evidently written
to be sung by an answering chorus. Hence the use
of the third person plural.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
11 :wn tnra rrtrva intDS nnxj>s. cxv.
j" :? I t 'It it: v at i- j ; ? I -;ai
rrirv 12 win taaw diw rtrva ^ntpa rrirv
t: I jtmt it;v at i- :* t ;t
jvrnx w rva-nx to to wnjr
/? ? v I "t: *? t; ? v I **t ;t p**t: *tt;
^nan-N^ 17 :d-ix-^ rn3 pxni rrirv1?
? **-i j itt -*: ? |/-t I vtt: at i-
Bearing in mind that the expression, "they that mote on
fear the Lord," conveys the thought not of cowardly Ps. CXV
fear but of awe and reverence, we realize the broad
spirit that breathes through the Psalm, invoking and
declaring trustfulness in the Divine lovingkindness
of God towards all the children of men.
The last six verses teem with the characteristic
spirit of Judaism. No mystic theory is woven to
guide mankind to a trust in the goodness of God and
to make that goodness an ever-present and ever-
guiding thought to the living children of man, to
whom God has given the earth for a dwelling-place.
But the Psalmist exhorts all mankind to be constantly
giving thanks and praise to God by ever striving to
live in the image of His goodness.
: prion t&ty-nn nnyo rv
It t w -; /tCi" T
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM CXVI.
I love the Lord, because He hath heard my
voice and my supplications. 2 Because He hath
inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon
Him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death com-
passed me, and the pains of the grave gat hold upon
me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I
upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech
thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the Lord, and
righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord
preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and He
helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for
the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For
Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes
from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk
before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I
believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly
afflicted: 11 I said in my haste', All men are
liars.
12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all His
benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of
salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.
14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the
presence of all His people. 15 Precious in the sight
of the Lord is the death of His saints. 16 O Lord,
truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, and the
son of Thine handmaid : Thou hast loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and will call upon the name of the Lord. 18 I will
200
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