Antiphona 4

Psalm 111:1 (Vulgate: 111:1) begins the 'Beatus vir' psalm, an alphabetic acrostic on the righteous man's blessedness. 'Timor Domini' (fear of the Lord) is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), not servile fear but reverential awe. The phrase 'in mandatis eius cupit nimis' (he delighteth exceedingly in his commandments) describes not grudging obedience but passionate love of God's law. At Vespers, as the day's obedience is reviewed, this antiphon presents the confessor as one whose delight was in God's will - his blessedness flowed from loving what God commanded.