Psalms 111:8
in Psalms 111They are upheld forever and ever, enacted in truth and uprightness.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
They are established for ever and ever; They are done in truth and uprightness.
KJV
They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
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This verse in Psalms 111
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThey stand fast for ever and ever,.... Not only the covenant and its promises do, but both law and Gospel, the commandments of the one and the doctrines of the other; the law is an eternal law, as to the matter of it, and is not made void by faith, but established; and the Gospel is an everlasting Gospel, which lives and abides for ever, being established upon the word of God, which cannot be broken; and is continued in the church, the pillar and ground of truth, from whence it can never be removed.
This site's exposition
truth and justice
on Psalms 111:7-9
What God's hands make is true and just, and His precepts can be trusted. Redemption already sent to His people stands behind the covenant He has ordained, and the psalm calls His name holy and awesome. Verse 8 gives the term: upheld forever and ever.
This site's exposition
They are upheld forever and ever
Upheld describes something propped up and supported, and Psalm 112:8 uses the same Hebrew word for the heart of the man who fears the LORD. Spurgeon read what is upheld as the LORD's works and precepts, ruled by principles that endure forever. The man is upheld as the precepts are.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
But "they stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and equity" [Psalm 111:8]. It is equitable and just that we should labour here and repose there.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
They stand fast for ever and ever. That is to say, his purposes, commands, and courses of action. The Lord is not swayed by transient motives, or moved by the circumstances of the hour; immutable principles rule in the courts of Jehovah, and he pursues his eternal purposes without the shadow of a turning. Our works are too often as wood, hay, and stubble, but his doings are as gold, silver, and precious stones.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
His power was shown especially in giving them the promised land, and His faithfulness and justice thus displayed are, like His precepts, reliable and of permanent obligation.
They stand fast for ever and ever. That is to say, his purposes, commands, and courses of action. The Lord is not swayed by transient motives, or moved by the circumstances of the hour; immutable principles rule in the courts of Jehovah, and he pursues his eternal purposes without the shadow of a turning. Our works are too often as wood, hay, and stubble, but his doings are as gold, silver, and precious stones. We take up a purpose for a while and then exchange it for another, but he is of one mind, and none can turn him: he acts in eternity and for eternity, and hence what he works abides for ever. Much of this lasting character arises out of the fact which is next mentioned, namely, that they are done in truth and uprightness. Nothing stands but that which is upright. Falsehood soon vanishes, for it is a mere show, but truth has salt in it which preserves it from decay. God always acts according to the glorious principles of truth and integrity, and hence there is no need of alteration or revocation; his works will endure till the end of time.
They stand fast for ever - סמוכים semuchim, they are propped up, buttressed, for ever. They can never fail; for God’s power supports his works, and his providence preserves the record of what he has done.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
They stand fast forever and ever - Margin, “established.” The Hebrew word means “sustained, supported.” They will not fail or fall. Whatever else may be shaken, his law, his word, and the principles of his administration, will not fail. See the notes at Mat 5:18. Compare Luk 16:17; Mat 24:35. The great principles of truth and righteousness will stand, and whatever is founded on those principles will endure forever. And are done in truth and uprightness - Are based on truth, or on a just view of things; they are done in such a way that truth will be maintained and promoted. The word “uprightness” here means that all this is done on the principles of equity - of what “ought” to be done, or what is “best” to be done. Compare Psa 19:9.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| סְמוּכִ֣ים | semukhim | [they are] sustained | H5564 → | 48 times |
| לָעַ֣ד | laad | for ever | H5703 → | 49 times |
| לְעוֹלָ֑ם | leolam | for ever | H5769 → | 438 times |
| עֲ֝שׂוּיִ֗ם | ʾasuyim | [they are] done | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| בֶּאֱמֶ֥ת | beemet | in faithfulness | H571 → | 127 times |
| וְיָשָֽׁר׃ | veyashar | and upright[ness] | H3477 → | 119 times |
סְמוּכִ֣ים[they are] sustained
semukhimH5564 →48 times
לָעַ֣דfor ever
laadH5703 →49 times
לְעוֹלָ֑םfor ever
leolamH5769 →438 times
עֲ֝שׂוּיִ֗ם[they are] done
ʾasuyimH6213 →2628 times
בֶּאֱמֶ֥תin faithfulness
beemetH571 →127 times
וְיָשָֽׁר׃and upright[ness]
veyasharH3477 →119 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 40:8The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
it leads to
- 1 Peter 1:25
but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
- Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
- Psalms 119:89–91
Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.
- Matthew 5:18
For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
- 1 Peter 1:25
Through
Matthew 5:18For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
it leads to
- Luke 16:17
But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
- Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
- Luke 16:17
Through
Revelation 15:3and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
it leads to
- Psalms 111:2
Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.
- Psalms 111:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 111; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 5; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament.