Chapter commentary
Psalms Chapter 112
서론
Psalm 112 Introduction
繁體中文
English original
The author of this psalm, as of the preceding, is unknown, and equally with that it is impossible now to ascertain the time or the occasion of its composition. It is a psalm of the same structure as that, with the same number of verses; like that, it is alphabetical in its form, and composed in the same manner - the first eight verses with two clauses each, beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet - and the last two verses with "three" clauses, beginning, in like manner, with three letters of the alphabet in succession. This peculiarity of structure makes it highly probable that it was composed by the same author.
It is further to be noticed that this psalm "begins" where the other "ends," with the happiness or blessedness of "fearing God," and is designed to set forth that blessedness, or to show what are the advantages of true religion. This fact makes it further probable that the two psalms were composed by the same author.
This psalm is very simple in its structure. It sets forth the advantages or benefits of the fear of the Lord, or of religion in respect
(a) to the posterity of the man, Psalm 112:2;
(b) in securing wealth, Psalm 112:3;
(c) in the light which springs up in darkness, Psalm 112:4;
(d) in the discretion with which such a man is enabled to manage his affairs, Psalm 112:5;
(e) in the firmness and composure of his mind in times of danger and trouble, Psalm 112:6-8;
(f) in his being so prosperous, and so exalted, that he will become an object of envy to the wicked, Psalm 112:9-10.
1
Psalm 112:1
繁體中文
「你們要讚美耶和華」——欽定本旁註照希伯來文作「哈利路亞」。參見 Psalm 106:1 的註釋。
「這人便為有福」——希伯來文作「這人的福分」。參見 Psalm 1:1 的註釋。意即：這樣的人是有福的、快樂的。
「敬畏耶和華」——在 Psalm 111:10，詩人曾稱「敬畏耶和華」為「智慧的開端」，並「暗指」隨敬畏耶和華——即真敬虔——而來的成功、興盛或福樂。本詩的目的，是要更完全地「闡明」這思想。
「甚喜愛他命令的」——參見 Psalm 1:2 的註釋。在神的誡命中尋得喜樂——在誡命本身，並在順從誡命——乃是真敬虔的特徵。
English original
Praise ye the Lord - Margin, as in Hebrew, "Hallelujah." See the notes at Psalm 106:1.
Blessed is the man - Hebrew, "The blessings of the man." See the notes at Psalm 1:1. That is, Blessed, or happy, is such a one.
That feareth the Lord - In Psalm 111:10, the psalmist had referred to "the fear of the Lord" as "the beginning of wisdom," and had "alluded" to the success, prosperity, or happiness which attends the fear of the Lord, or true religion. This psalm is designed more fully "to illustrate" that thought.
That delighteth greatly in his commandments - See the notes at Psalm 1:2. It is a characteristic of true piety to find pleasure in the commands of God; in the commandments themselves, and in obedience to them.
2
Psalm 112:2
繁體中文
「他的後裔在世必強盛」——即他的兒女、他的後裔。意思是：他們必蒙興盛、得尊榮、在眾人中出類拔萃：以美德、影響力和人生成就而著稱。這在希伯來人看來是極可羨慕的事，也與他們聖經中隨處可見的應許相符。參見 Psalm 25:13 的註釋；Psalm 37:25-26 的註釋。可比較 Genesis 12:2；Genesis 17:6；Exodus 20:6。這也與世事的一般進程相符。兒女美德與成就的最好保障，就是父母的美德與敬虔；就人生的幸福、體面與用處而論，最穩妥的產業，莫過於從敬虔父母的榜樣、禱告與勸勉所承受的。
「正直人的後代必要蒙福」——即他的家庭、他的兒女。這類應許一般而言可期望應驗；按任何正確的解經法則，都不要求它毫無例外、隨時隨地成真。
English original
His seed shall be mighty upon earth - His children; his posterity. That is, they shall be prospered; honored; distinguished among people: distinguished for their virtues, for their influence, for their success in life. This refers to what was regarded among the Hebrews as an object of great desire, and is in accordance with the promises everywhere found in their Scriptures. See Psalm 25:13, note; Psalm 37:25-26, notes. Compare Genesis 12:2; Genesis 17:6; Exodus 20:6. It is in accordance, also, with a general fact in the course of events. The best security for the virtue and success of children is the virtue and the piety of parents; the surest inheritance as pertaining to happiness, respectability, and usefulness in life, is that which is derived from the example, the prayers, the counsel of a pious father and mother.
The generation of the upright shall be blessed - The family; the children. Such promises are to be expected to be fulfilled in general; it is not required by any proper rules of interpreting language that this should be universally and always true.
3
Psalm 112:3
繁體中文
「他家中有貨物，有錢財」——七十士譯本與武加大譯本將此譯作「他家中有榮耀與錢財」。然而這字的本義是財富或財產；這兩個詞並用，顯然是要表達這樣的觀念：「各樣形式」的財富或產業都必在他家中；就是不僅有金銀，更有一切被視為財富的東西——各式的衣著、家具器物等等。這應許與前一節的性質相同，關乎宗教促進興旺這一普遍真理。比較 1 Timothy 4:8 的註釋。
「他的公義存到永遠」——就是說，他的公義所生的果效，要在他後裔的興旺、體面、財富與幸福中，一代一代傳下去。它一代傳一代，福及遙遠的後世。
English original
Wealth and riches shall be in his house - The Septuagint and the Vulgate render this, "glory and riches shall be in his house." The word, however, properly means riches or wealth, and the two terms are used apparently to convey the idea that wealth or property in "varied forms" would be in his house; that is, not merely gold and silver, but all that was understood to constitute wealth - variety of garments, articles of furniture, etc. This promise is of the same nature as that of the previous verse. It pertains to a general truth in regard to the influence of religion in promoting prosperity. Compare the notes at 1 Timothy 4:8.
And his righteousness endureth for ever - That is, The effects of it shall be transmitted from age to age in the prosperity, the respectability, the wealth, the happiness of his descendants. It travels on from age to age, and blesses distant generations.
4
Psalm 112:4
繁體中文
「正直人」——指義人；敬虔人；敬畏神的人。
「在黑暗中，有光向他發現」——這是敬畏耶和華所隨之而來之福的另一種形式，或真宗教所生之益處的另一樣，藉此使敬虔人與別人有所分別。這分別不在於黑暗的日子不會像臨到別人一樣臨到他；因為他也可能像別人一樣患病，可能像別人一樣遭遇喪親之痛，也可能像別人一樣失去財產——在這些事上，有影響全人類的一般法則。神未曾應許要介入使祂的百姓免於這些事，而是應許要在這些事「之中」拯救他們。至於敬畏神的人，其特點在於：這些事不會永遠持續；他們必不被這些事淹沒；幽暗不會接連不斷、毫無緩解；天空不會永遠陰雲密布。參 Psalm 97:11 的註釋；Job 11:17 的註釋。
「他有恩惠，有憐憫，有公義」——這些話是用來描述那「正直」人的，目的是更完全地刻畫他的品格，並說明當他身處黑暗時，光「為何」要向他升起。這是因為他的品格「確實」純潔而聖潔；所以無論一時有甚麼烏雲掩蔽，無論它怎樣暫時隱晦，無論人怎樣誹謗他，或神怎樣一時似乎丟棄他、待他如同惡人，至終他的品格必顯出它的本相。光必照入黑暗之中。雲必消散。對他的偏見必被驅散。人與神都必對他的品格作完全公道的評斷，世人也必看見他是個義人而敬虔的人。見 Psalm 37:5-6 的註釋。每個人至終都必顯出他的本相；每個人都必得着他所「當」有的地位，和他所「當」得的名聲。
English original
Unto the upright - The just; the pious; the man who fears God.
There ariseth light in the darkness - This is a new form of the blessing which follows the fear of the Lord, or another of the benefits which spring from true religion, and by which the pious man is distinguished from other people. The distinction is not that days of darkness will not come upon him as well as upon others, for he may be sick as others are, he may be bereaved as others are, he may lose his property as others do - since there are general laws that affect mankind in these respects. God has not promised that he will interpose to save his people from these things, but that he will save them in them. The peculiarity in regard to those who fear God is, that these things will not always continue; that they shall not be overwhelmed by them; that it will not be uninterrupted and unmitigated gloom; that the sky shall not be always overcast. Compare Psalm 97:11, note; Job 11:17, note.
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous - These words are designed to be applied to the "upright" man, and are intended more fully to designate his character, and to show "why" light shall spring up to him when he is in darkness. It is because his character is "really" pure and holy, so that whatever cloud may come over it for a time, however it may be temporarily obscured, however he may be calumniated by men, or however God may for a time seem to forsake him and to treat him as if he were a bad man, yet ultimately his character will appear as it really is. Light will come in upon the darkness. The clouds will break away. The prejudices against him will be dispersed. Full justice will be done to his character both by man and by God, and the world will see that he is a just and pious man. See the notes at Psalm 37:5-6. Every man will ultimately be seen as he is; every man will attain the position, and have the reputation which he "ought" to have.
5
Psalm 112:5
繁體中文
「施恩與人」——他有向人施恩、助人福祉的資力，也有這樣的心意。向人行善、在今世增進人的福祉、並幫助人尋求來世幸福，是善人——真正敬虔之心——的特徵。
「借貸與人」——這裏的原文字 לוה lâvâh 意為與人聯合、親附於人；繼而指結成債戶與債主、借方與貸方之間的聯合。這裏用的是後一義，意思是：善人願意通融別人——他的鄰舍——把金錢、或暫時使用後須歸還的物件借給他。一味「借入」的人不是理想的鄰舍；但從不借出、從不願意通融的人，也是無人願與之為鄰的——乖僻邪惡的人。真宗教總是使人傾向於以任何可能的方式行善。
「這人事情順利」——這裏所用的字按字面意思是握住、包含；支持、托住；養育、供給生計（Genesis 45:11；Genesis 47:12；Genesis 50:21）。這裏的意思是：他必維持或管理自己的事務。
「以審慎」——邊註作「判斷」；希伯來文亦然。他必謹慎、明理、儉省、有智慧地處理。這是善人的一個特徵，也理應如此。宗教促使人這樣行；宗教幫助人這樣行；宗教也傾向於遏制一切相反的性情。凡疏忽自己「事務」、不留心生意、對成敗漠不關心的人，正是以此顯明自己對真宗教何等陌生。
English original
A good man showeth favor - He has the means to show favor to others, or to promote their welfare, and he is disposed to do this. It is the characteristic of a good man - of a heart that is truly pious - to do good to others; to promote their welfare here, and to assist them in their endeavor to secure happiness in the world to come.
And lendeth - The original word here - לוה lâvâh - means to join oneself to anyone; to cleave to him; then, to form the union which is constituted between debtor and creditor, borrower and lender. Here it is used in the latter sense, and it means that a good man will accommodate another - a neighbor - with money, or with articles to be used temporarily and returned again. A man who always "borrows" is not a desirable neighbor; but a man who never lends - who is never willing to accommodate - is a neighbor that no one would wish to live near - a crooked, perverse, bad man. True religion will always dispose a man to do acts of kindness in any and every way possible.
He will guide his affairs - The word used here means literally to hold, contain; to hold up, or sustain; to nourish, to furnish the means of living. Genesis 45:11; Genesis 47:12; Genesis 50:21. Here it means that he would uphold or manage his business.
With discretion - Margin, "judgment;" so the Hebrew. He would do it prudently, sensibly, economically, wisely. This is, or should be, one of the characteristics of a good man. Religion prompts to this; religion will aid a man in doing this; religion will tend to check everything of a contrary nature. A man who neglects his "affairs," who pays no attention to his business, who is indifferent whether he is successful or fails, is a man who gives "just so evidence" that he is a stranger to true religion.
6
Psalm 112:6
繁體中文
他永不動搖——路德譯作：「因為他必永遠存留。」他必安穩、堅定、牢靠、亨通。他必不致被從一處驅逐到另一處。他必有永久的居所。他必有穩定的名聲。他必有持續的影響力。他必是一個堅定、站穩、亨通的人。當然，這話當按一般意義領會，不應強解為在最字面的意義上、且始終必然如此，因為好人「可能」「在生意上不順」，與他人一同受苦；他可能患病；他可能有理由遷居；他也必定會死。然而，宗教確實「傾向於」產生這種恆定，而且在這一點上，真敬虔的人與不敬虔的人之間有顯著的差異，這仍是真實的。
義人被記念，直到永遠——Proverbs 10:7 說「惡人的名字必朽爛」；這裏的意義是：人死後要在人中間蒙感恩的記念，其途徑乃是作義人——作一些配得記念的事。這不是說義人「永不」被忘記，或他的名與作為永不從人類的記憶中消逝——因為那不是事實；而是說人樂於珍存義人的記憶；樂於在他死後公平對待他的品格；仁愛與正直的人必被記念，而惡人的名字必被遺忘。世界對保存壞人的記憶毫無興趣，並且一有可能，便急忙忘記他們。惡人只有在其作為駭人聽聞時才被記起，而且那時他們的記憶之所以被保存，也只是為了訓誡與警告。世界對保存本尼狄克·阿諾德（Benedict Arnold）、亞歷山大六世（Alexander VI）、該撒·博爾吉亞（Caesar Borgia）的記憶別無興趣，只為警告後世叛逆與放蕩的罪惡與卑鄙；而對霍華德（Howard）、威伯福斯（Wilberforce）、亨利·馬廷（Henry Martyn）的名字，世界卻「有」興趣使之永不消逝，因為這些名字無論在哪裏被人知曉，都激發高貴的情感與高貴的努力。這樣的名字當「永遠被記念」。
English original
Surely he shall not be moved for ever - Luther, "For he shall remain always." He shall be fixed, stable, firm, prosperous. He shall not be driven from place to place. He shall have a permanent home. He shall have a steady reputation. He shall have a constant influence. He shall be a firm, establislied, prosperous man. Of course this is to be taken in the general, and should not be pressed to mean that it will be, in the most literal sense, and always, true, for a good man "may" be "unfortunate in business," and suffer with others; he may be sick; he may see reason to change his residence; he will certainly die. But still it is true that religion "tends" to produce this permanency, and that in this respect there is a marked difference between people who are truly pious, and those who are not.
The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance - In Proverbs 10:7, it is said that "the name of the wicked shall rot;" and the meaning here is, that the way to secure a grateful remembrance among people after we are dead is to be righteous - to do something that shall deserve to be remembered. It cannot mean that a man who is righteous will "never" be forgotten, or that his name and deeds will never pass from the recollection of mankind - for that would not be true; but that people will delight to cherish the memory of the righteous; that they will be disposed to do justice to their character after they are dead; that the benevolent and the upright will be remembered when the names of the wicked shall be forgotten. The world has no interest in keeping up the memory of bad people, and as soon as it can be done hastens to forget them. Wicked people are remembered only when their deeds are enormous, and then their memory is cherished only to admonish and to warn. The world has no interest in keeping up the memory of Benedict Arnold, or Alexander VI, or Caesar Borgia except to warn future generations of the guilt and baseness of treason and profligacy; it "has" an interest in never suffering the names of Howard, of Wilberforce, of Henry Martyn, to die, for those names excite to noble feelings and to noble efforts wherever they are known. Such names are to be had "in everlasting remembrance."
7
Psalm 112:7
繁體中文
「他必不怕凶惡的信息」——即壞消息；挫折與損失；船在海上遇險、財產在陸上受損；洪水、饑荒、戰爭的災禍。他的心必全然信靠神，以致能平靜地把一切交在祂手中。他必確信一切都必美好；除了那宇宙中最智慧、最良善者看為最好的事之外，沒有一件事會發生；並且在確實發生的一切事中，祂能扶持受苦的人。再沒有甚麼比信靠神更能使人心平靜。信靠神的人還有甚麼可怕的呢？比較 Psalm 27:3; Psalm 46:2; Psalm 56:3-4; Hebrews 13:6; Proverbs 1:33。
「他心堅定」——即堅固；得堅立。見 Psalm 57:7 的註釋。
「倚靠耶和華」——這是他的心「堅定」、堅固的「原因」。不是天生的勇氣或決斷；不是自身的剛強；單單因為他信靠神，並確信一切都必美好。
English original
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings - Of bad news; of reverses and losses; of the destruction of his ship at sea, or his property by land; of disaster by flood, by famine, by war. His heart will so fully confide in God that he can commit all calmly into his hands. He will feel assured that all will be well; that nothing occurs but that which the wisest and the best Being in the universe sees it best should occur; and that in all which "does" take place he is able to sustain the sufferer. There is nothing so well suited to make the mind calm as trust in God. What has a man to be afraid of who does trust in him? Compare Psalm 27:3; Psalm 46:2; Psalm 56:3-4; Hebrews 13:6; Proverbs 1:33.
His heart is fixed - Is firm; is established. See the notes at Psalm 57:7.
Trusting in the Lord - This is the reason "why" his heart is "fixed" or firm. It is not any native courage or resolution; it is not any firmness of his own; it is simply because he has confidence in God, and feels assured that all things will be well.
8
Psalm 112:8
繁體中文
「他心確定」——意即得著扶持；得蒙堅立。這是同一個觀念，只是形式上略有變化。這個詞的意思是扶持、支撐；其含義是：有一種支持的根基——某種力量——並非出於他自己。
「總不懼怕」——當他遭受仇敵攻擊的時候。
「直到他敵人受羞辱」——這暗示他實在沒有什麼可懼怕的。他必定勝過他的仇敵；在此期間，他可以平靜地觀看仇敵要除滅他的一切努力，因為那些努力終必徒然。信徒如今也是這樣平靜地觀看他一切屬靈的仇敵。他沒有什麼可懼怕的，因為他必勝過他們全數；他必得勝；他必將他們全都踏在腳下。因此，他大可忍受這些短暫的爭戰，因為結局已定，爭戰不久就要結束。
English original
His heart is established - Sustained; upheld. This is the same idea, though somewhat varied in form. The word means to sustain; to support; and the idea is, that there is some basis of support - some strength - which is not his own.
He shall not be afraid - When he is assailed by enemies.
Until he see his desire upon his enemies - This implies that he had nothing really to fear. He would certainly overcome his foes; and in the meantime he might look calmly on all their efforts to destroy him, for those efforts would be vain. So the believer now looks calmly on all his spiritual foes. He has nothing to fear, for he will overcome them all; he will certainly triumph; he will trample them all under his feet. He may well, therefore, endure these conflicts for a brief period, for the issue is certain, and the conflict will soon come to an end.
9
Psalm 112:9
繁體中文
「他施捨錢財……」——這是義人的另一項特徵，也是他將永受尊榮的另一個理由。其意思是，他為人慷慨；他白白地分散他所有的；他與那些貧困不幸的人分享。世人中有一部分人有餘——超過自己和家人所需——而這有餘的部分，正是為了供給那些「不」足夠之人的需要：不幸的、軟弱的、年老的、心智薄弱的、身體衰殘的。它是神的「寶庫」——「蓄水池」，在其中積存那將要分配出去、供無助者和倚賴者之需用的。義人就是完全進入這安排的人，他深感到這一切有餘的都屬於神，並要照神所指示的來運用。
「他的仁義存到永遠」——他慈善的行動是恆常的。他的敬虔不是間歇的、一時衝動的、反覆無常的；它是不變的原則；它堅固牢靠；它永遠可以倚靠。見Psalm 112:3。
「他的角必被高舉，大有榮耀」——見Psalm 75:10的註釋。
English original
He hath dispersed ... - This is another characteristic of a righteous man, and another reason of the permanent honor which will be rendered to him. The meaning is, that he is liberal; he freely scatters what he has; he divides it with those who are needy and unfortunate. One part of mankind have an overplus - have more than they need for themselves and their families - and that overplus is what is designed to meet the needs of the unfortunate, the weak, the aged, the imbecile, the infirm, who have "not" enough. It is the "treasury" of God - the "reservoir" where that is gathered which is to be distributed for the needs of the helpless and the dependent. The righteous man is one who enters fully into this arrangement, and who feels that all this overplus belongs to God, and is to be appropriated as he shall direct.
His righteousness endureth for ever - His acts of charity are constant. His piety is not fitful, spasmodic, uncertain; it is steady principle; it is firm and solid; it may always be relied on. See Psalm 112:3.
His horn shall be exalted with honor - See the notes at Psalm 75:10.
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Psalm 112:10
繁體中文
「惡人看見便惱恨」——他們必看見義人的興旺，必看見神悅納他的品格與行為的憑據。譯作「grieved」的字，意思更近於發怒或盛怒。或許用「fret」（煩躁氣惱）一詞最能達意。
「必咬牙」——表示仇恨與忿怒。見 Psalm 37:12 註釋。
「而消化」——即消失——如融化的雪；或如蝸牛（見 Psalm 58:8 註釋）；或如流去的水（見 Psalm 58:7 註釋）；或如蠟（見 Psalm 68:2 註釋）。他們的忿怒必毫無效用，因為他們自己不久就要消失。
「他的心願要歸滅絕」——他必不能成就他的心願，不能實行他的計謀。他必失望，他所珍藏的一切計劃都必歸於無有。這與詩中論到義人必遭遇的事恰成強烈的對比：義人必蒙興旺、得福樂；他們必能成就自己的計劃；他們活著必受人敬重，死了也必被人記念；他們在最黑暗的時刻必發現神為他們介入；在危險與患難之日必堅定安靜；他們必倚靠耶和華，一切終必安好。在我們這個世上，作神的朋友確實有益。
English original
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved - They shall see his prosperity; shall see the evidence that God approves his character and his conduct. The word rendered "grieved" means rather to be angry or enraged. Perhaps the word "fret" would best express the sense.
He shall gnash with his teeth - As indicative of hatred and wrath. See the notes at Psalm 37:12.
And melt away - Disappear - as snow does that melts; or as a snail (see the notes at Psalm 58:8); or as waters that run away (see the notes at Psalm 58:7); or as wax (see the notes at Psalm 68:2). Their wrath shall be of no avail, for they themselves shall soon disappear.
The desire of the wicked shall perish - He shall not be able to accomplish his desire, or to carry out his purposes. He shall be disappointed, and all his cherished plans will come to nought. This is in strong contrast with what is said in the psalm would occur to the righteous. They would be prospered and happy; they would be able to carry out their plans; they would be respected while living, and remembered when dead; they would find God interposing in their behalf in the darkest hours; they would be firm and calm in the day of danger and of trouble; they would put their trust in the Lord, and all would be well. Surely there is an advantage in our world in being a friend of God.
本詩與前一篇一樣，作者不詳；也同樣無法查明它寫作的時間或場合。它與前一篇結構相同，節數相同；也一樣按字母次序構成，寫法一致——前八節每節兩個短句，依次以希伯來文的字母開頭——末兩節則有「三個」短句，也照樣依次以三個字母開頭。這種結構上的特點，使它極可能出於同一位作者之手。
還可以進一步注意到：前一篇以「敬畏神」的福樂「結束」，本詩正是從那裏「開始」；它旨在陳明那福樂，或表明真宗教的益處何在。這一事實使我們更有理由相信，這兩篇詩是同一位作者所寫。
本詩結構十分簡單。它陳明敬畏耶和華、即宗教的益處或福分：
(a) 對那人的後裔，Psalm 112:2；
(b) 在獲致財富上，Psalm 112:3；
(c) 在黑暗中興起的光，Psalm 112:4；
(d) 這樣的人蒙恩善於處理自己的事務，Psalm 112:5；
(e) 在危險與患難之時，他心思的堅定與鎮定，Psalm 112:6-8；
(f) 他如此興盛、如此高超，以致成為惡人嫉妒的對象，Psalm 112:9-10。