“Yahweh within her
Is righteous.
He does no wrong.
Every morning,
He renders
His judgment,
Each dawn
Without fail.
But the unjust ones
Know no shame.”
Yahweh alone in the city of Jerusalem was righteous. He did not do anything wrong. Every morning, at dawn without fail, He rendered his judgment. However, the unjust ones did not know any shame, even when they were called out.
“If a man is righteous,
He does what is lawful.
He does what is right.
He does not eat
Upon the mountains,
He does not lift up his eyes
To the idols
Of the house of Israel.
He does not defile
His neighbor’s wife.
He does not approach a woman
During her menstrual cycle.
He does not oppress anyone.
But he restores
To the debtor
His pledge.
He commits no robbery.
He gives his bread
To the hungry.
He covers the naked
With a garment.
He does not take advantage.
He does not accrue interest.
He withholds his hand
From iniquity.
He executes true justice
Between contending parties.
He follows my statutes.
He is careful to observe
My ordinances.
He acts faithfully.
Such a one is righteous.
He will surely live.’
Says Yahweh God.”
Ezekiel outlined how the righteous man acts. First, he does what is lawful and right. He does not eat upon the mountains, the places of idol worship. He does not lift up his eyes to these Israelite idols. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife. He also does not approach a woman during her menstrual cycle. He does not oppress anyone. However, he pays off his loans. He does not rob people. He gives his bread to the hungry people. He clothes the naked. He does not take advantage of anyone. He does not accrue interest. He stays away from iniquity. He executes true justice. He judges between contending parties. He follows the statutes and ordinances faithfully. This righteous one will surely live.
“If you walk righteously,
If you speak uprightly,
If you despise the gain of oppression,
If you wave away a bribe
Instead of accepting it,
If you stop your ears
From hearing of bloodshed,
If you shut your eyes
From looking on evil,
You will live on the heights.
Your refuge will be
The fortresses of rocks.
Your food will be supplied.
Your water will be assured.”
This is somewhat like Psalm 15 with its description about the righteous ones who can be admitted to the Temple. The righteous ones walk righteously, speak upright, and despise the gains from oppression. They do not accept bribes nor hear of bloodshed. They close their eyes to evil. These are the people who will live on the heights of Zion. They will not have to worry about refuge, food, or water, since Yahweh will take care of them.
“Praise Yahweh!
Aleph
Happy are those who fear Yahweh!
Bet
Happy are those who greatly delight in his commandments!
Gimel
Their descendants will be mighty in the land.
Dalet
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
He
Wealth and riches are in their houses.
Vav
Their righteousness endures forever.
Zain
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright.
Het
They are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
Tet
It is well with those who deal generously and lend.
Yod
They conduct their affairs with justice.
Kaph
The righteous will never be moved.
Lamed
They will be remembered forever.”
Psalm 112 is a companion psalm to Psalm 111. Even though it is fairly short, it is another line by line acrostic or Hebrew alphabet psalm without any title. Just like the preceding psalm, it also starts with the refrain “Praise Yahweh” or the Alleluia cry, the Hebrew word “Hallelujah.” Although there is a comparison between the righteous and the wicked, the emphasis is mostly on the righteous. The righteous are happy because they fear God. They delight in his commandments. Their descendants will be mighty. The generations of the upright are blessed and happy since their righteousness endures forever. They will have wealth and riches in their houses. They will be the light in the darkness. They are gracious, merciful, and righteous, just like Yahweh. They will be generous and just. They will be remembered because of their righteousness.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 