Today we have three mercifully brief psalms, but they manage to be confusing. Psalm 110 is actually very important to Christians because it is taken as a prophecy of the Messiah, although looking at it literally that is difficult to see. The idea is that "The Lord says to my lord" refers to God talking to the Son, or something like that -- it foresees the plural godhead in Christian theology. However, it is much more likely that this is supposed to be God talking to a secular king, presumably David. The prophecy is for the military success of the warrior king, which, as usual, includes genocide.
Psalm 111 is an anodyne song of praise. Psalm 112 promises earthly riches to the devout, and ill fortune to the wicked -- which as we know does not describe reality.
A psalm of David
110 The Lord says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
till I make your enemies your footstool.”2 The Lord sends forth from Zion
your mighty scepter.
Rule in the midst of your foes!
3 Your people will offer themselves freely
on the day you lead your host
upon the holy mountains.[a]
From the womb of the morning
like dew your youth[b] will come to you.
4 The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest for ever
after the order of Melchiz′edek.”5 The Lord is at your right hand;
he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will execute judgment among the nations,
filling them with corpses;
he will shatter chiefs[c]
over the wide earth.
7 He will drink from the brook by the way;
therefore he will lift up his head.Footnotes
- Psalm 110:3 Another reading is in holy array
- Psalm 110:3 Cn: Heb the dew of your youth
- Psalm 110:6 Or the head
111 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who have pleasure in them.
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy,
8 they are established for ever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant for ever.
Holy and terrible is his name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
a good understanding have all those who practice it.
His praise endures for ever!112 Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
2 His descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house;
and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 Light rises in the darkness for the upright;
the Lord[a] is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered for ever.
7 He is not afraid of evil tidings;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is steady, he will not be afraid,
until he sees his desire on his adversaries.
9 He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures for ever;
his horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked man sees it and is angry;
he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
the desire of the wicked man comes to nought.Footnotes
- Psalm 112:4 Gk: Heb lacks the Lord
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