Here then is Psalm 111, one of a doublet of Acrostics (111-112). An acrostic celebrates the Psalm that precedes it. To have two acrostics following a Psalm is celebration indeed. In Psalms 111 and 112 we have a unique celebration of Psalm 110. (The link is to my translation from 2010. At the bottom of the linked page I have appended the current version of the Psalm.)
From my post in 2010
The most delightful rendition of this acrostic is here. In my earlier translation I did not begin to attempt an acrostic since Mary Herbert Countess of Pembroke had done such a lovely job. I can't help thinking that following the astonishing Psalm 110, these next two acrostics are simply play - the same that played before the foundation of the world.
Psalms 111 | Fn | Min | Max | Syll | ||
הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ אוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה בְּכָל־לֵבָ֑ב בְּס֖וֹד יְשָׁרִ֣ים וְעֵדָֽה | 1 | f | Hallelu Yah. I will thank Yahweh with a whole heart, Before the council of the upright, and assembly. | 3e | 4B | 11 8 |
גְּ֭דֹלִים מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יְהוָ֑ה דְּ֝רוּשִׁ֗ים לְכָל־חֶפְצֵיהֶֽם | 2 | g | Great are the deeds of Yahweh, Delight of all who search them out. | 3e | 4B | 8 8 |
הוֹד־וְהָדָ֥ר פָּֽעֳל֑וֹ וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד | 3 | Honour and splendour his work, Verily his righteousness stands for ever. | 3e | 4A | 7 9 | |
זֵ֣כֶר עָ֭שָׂה לְנִפְלְאֹתָ֑יו חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם יְהוָֽה | 4 | B | Zoomed in to memory makes he his wonderful works, How gracious and compassionate is Yahweh. | 3e | 4B | 9 7 |
טֶ֭רֶף נָתַ֣ן לִֽירֵאָ֑יו יִזְכֹּ֖ר לְעוֹלָ֣ם בְּרִיתֽוֹ | 5 | g | To those who fear him he gives prey, Yea, he remembers forever his covenant. | 3e | 4B | 7 8 |
כֹּ֣חַ מַ֭עֲשָׂיו הִגִּ֣יד לְעַמּ֑וֹ לָתֵ֥ת לָ֝הֶ֗ם נַחֲלַ֥ת גּוֹיִֽם | 6 | B | Known to his people is the power of his deeds, Letting them have the heritage of the nations. | 3e | 4B | 10 9 |
מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יָ֭דָיו אֱמֶ֣ת וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נֶ֝אֱמָנִ֗ים כָּל־פִּקּוּדָֽיו | 7 | Mark the deeds of his hands: truth and judgment, Near and faithful are all his precepts, | 3e | 4B | 10 8 | |
סְמוּכִ֣ים לָעַ֣ד לְעוֹלָ֑ם עֲ֝שׂוּיִ֗ם בֶּאֱמֶ֥ת וְיָשָֽׁר | 8 | Supported for ever, forever, All done in truth and upright. | 3e | 4B | 8 9 | |
פְּד֤וּת ׀ שָׁ֘לַ֤ח לְעַמּ֗וֹ צִוָּֽה־לְעוֹלָ֥ם בְּרִית֑וֹ קָד֖וֹשׁ וְנוֹרָ֣א שְׁמֽוֹ | 9 | Purchase price he has sent to his people, So he commands his covenant forever, Quite holy and fearful his name. | 3e | 4C | 15 7 | |
רֵ֘אשִׁ֤ית חָכְמָ֨ה ׀ יִרְאַ֬ת יְהוָ֗ה שֵׂ֣כֶל ט֭וֹב לְכָל־עֹשֵׂיהֶ֑ם תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד | 10 | ~ | Right at the beginning of wisdom is the fear of Yahweh, Surely a good insight for all doing them, To stand his praise for ever. | 3e | 4C | 16 9 |
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