The Blessed Fear of the LORD
The chapter opens with hallelujah and blesses the person who fears the LORD and delights deeply in his commandments. That reverence bears visible fruit: strength in the next generation, an upright house marked by lasting righteousness, and light that rises even in darkness because the upright person reflects graciousness, compassion, and justice.
H1allelujah! 2His descendants will be mighty in the land; 3Wealth and riches are in his house, 4Light dawns in the darkness for the upright —
The psalm then describes the righteous as generous and prudent, lending freely and managing affairs with justice. Because such a person is grounded in trust rather than appearances, he is not shaken, not afraid of bad news, and not ruled by fear while he gives freely to the poor and sees his honor endure.
5It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, 6Surely he will never be shaken; 7He does not fear bad news; 8His heart is assured; he does not fear, 9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
The closing contrast is sharp: the wicked see this kind of life and are grieved, gnashing their teeth as their desires waste away. The blessedness of the upright therefore stands not only as personal peace, but as a rebuke to the envy and futility of the wicked.
10The wicked man will see and be grieved;