Verse 4 of Psalm 111 reads:
Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis :
misericors, et miserator, et justus.
To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is
merciful, and compassionate and just.
Looking at the words
Exórtum est (it has risen) in ténebris (in the darkness)
lumen (the/a light) rectis (to the upright)
=a light to the righteous has risen in the darkness
exorior
ortus sum iri - to rise, spring up,
appear
tenebrae,
arum, f. darkness; ignorancey; Sheol;
misfortune. danger; horror, shuddering.
lumen, inis, n. light
rectus, a, um, part. adj. just, right, righteous, upright;
the just, just men, the good; steadfast, stable, steady
miséricors, et miserátor, et justus = [he is] abounding in
mercy and merciful and just
misericors, cordis merciful,
abounding in mercy.
miserator, oris, m. merciful, one who shows mercy.
justus, a,
um Of God: just; Of men: as a subst., a
just man, the just.
Penetrating the
meaning of the verse
The double meaning of the psalm as appplicable both to
Christ, as the perfecxt model of the just man, and to those called to imitate him is perhaps most evident in this verse.
The Gospels contain numerous references to
Christ as the light in the darkness, a guide to us in times of trouble; the
Gospels give numerous examples of his mercy, compassion and justness.
Yet we too are called to be the light of the
world, and show out our good works.
The Psalm as a whole
The Psalm as a whole
1 Beatus vir qui timet Dominum : in mandatis ejus
volet nimis
2 Potens in terra erit semen ejus; generatio rectorum
benedicetur.
3 Gloria et divitiæ in domo ejus, et justitia ejus
manet in sæculum sæculi.
4 Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis :
misericors, et miserator, et justus.
5 Jucundus homo qui miseretur et commodat; disponet
sermones suos in judicio: quia in æternum non commovebitur.
6 In memoria æterna erit justus; ab auditione mala non
timebit.
7 Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino, confirmatum est cor
ejus; non commovebitur donec despiciat inimicos suos.
8 Dispersit, dedit pauperibus; justitia ejus manet in
sæculum sæculi : cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria.
9 Peccator videbit, et irascetur; dentibus suis fremet et
tabescet : desiderium peccatorum peribit.
And for notes on verse 5, continue on here.
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