Psalm 112/Macrosyntax/Notes

There are no notes on divisions for this psalm.

• v. 1b. The PP בְּ֝מִצְוֺתָ֗יו is probably fronted to fit the acrostic structure (ב line). The fronting of בְּ֝מִצְוֺתָ֗יו also creates an ABB'A' chiasm with v. 1a. In addition to these poetic effects, the fronting might also have a pragmatic effect, marking the topic of the clause. Whereas the preceding clause comments on YHWH, the present clause shifts the topic to that of his commandments.
• v. 2. The predicate complement גִּבּ֣וֹר בָּ֭אָרֶץ is probably fronted to fit the acrostic structure (ג line) (but see Lunn 2006:327 "MKD").
• v. 4. The post verbal fronting of בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ might be normal (cf. Isa. 58:10—וְזָרַ֤ח בַּחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙ אוֹרֶ֔ךָ). In any case, it is normal for the heavier constituent אוֹר לַיְשָׁרִים to be placed at the end of the clause.
• v. 5. The predicate complement טוֹב is fronted to fit the acrostic structure (ט line), to strengthen the correspondence between v. 5 and v. 1 (see poetic structure), and probably also to focus the description of the man as טוֹב (cf. BHRG 47.3.2), a description which is singled out for comment in the following כי clause (v. 6, see note on כי below)
• v. 6a. The normal word order would be לֹא יִמּוֹט לְעוֹלָם (Ps. 15:5). The PP לְעוֹלָם is probably fronted for marked focus, as often elsewhere (cf. Pss. 5:12; 9:8; 30:13; 33:11; 37:18, 28; 44:9; 55:23; 89:37; 100:5; 102:13; 103:9; 125:1; cf. esp. Ps. 55:23 — לֹא־יִתֵּ֖ן לְעוֹלָ֥ם מ֗וֹט לַצַּדִּֽיק) (cf. Lunn 2006:357 "MKD").
• v. 6b. The predicate complement לְזֵ֥כֶר ע֝וֹלָ֗ם is probably fronted to fit the acrostic structure (but see Lunn 2006:327 "MKD")
• v. 7a. The PP מִשְּׁמוּעָ֣ה רָ֭עָה is probably fronted to fit the acrostic structure (מ line). It could also be read as topical.
• v. 7b. The participle נָכ֥וֹן is fronted to fit the acrostic structure (נ line) and probably also for marked focus. If the man does not respond to bad news with fear (v. 7a), then how does he respond; what is his emotional state? Verse 7b answers this question: "his heart is confident..."
• v. 8a. The participle סָמ֣וּךְ is fronted to fit the acrostic structure (ס line) and probably also for marked focus (see note on v. 7b).
• v. 9c. The S קַ֝רְנ֗וֹ is probably fronted to fit the acrostic structure (ק line). It could also be topical. Whereas v. 9b is about the man's 'righteousness', v. 9c is about his strength (i.e., 'his horn').
• v. 10a. The fronted subject רָ֘שָׁ֤ע is probably a marked topic: 'But as for the wicked...' (cf. Lunn 2006:327 "MKD").
• v. 10b. The DO שִׁנָּ֣יו is probably fronted to fit the acrostic structure (ש line) (but see Lunn 2006:327 "MKD").
• v. 10c. The placement of תֹּאבֵד ("come to an end") as the last word in the psalm is probably a poetic device used to bring closure (cf. Ps. 1:6) (but see Lunn 2006:327 "MKD").

There are no notes on vocatives for this psalm.

There are no notes on discourse markers for this psalm.

• The כִּי in v. 6 grounds the description of the man as טוב (Baethgen 1904). Why use the word fortunate to describe the man who lends generously? "Because [such a man] will never waver..." (cf. Locatell on metalinguistic causal כי—"Metalinguistic causal כי may provide the grounds for a more concrete linguistic element, like the use of a particular word" (2017:89). The semantics of v. 6b ('the righteous one will be remembered forever') suggest that it is included within the scope of כִּי (v. 6a), as an additional reason why the person is described as 'fortunate.'