Psalm 112, a radiant wisdom psalm from the Hebrew Bible, extols the virtues and blessings of the righteous individual who fears the Lord. Composed as an alphabetic acrostic, each of its lines begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, a structure it shares with its companion, Psalm 111. The psalm portrays the upright person as generous, merciful, and just, whose light rises in darkness, undeterred by adversity, and whose legacy endures in glory. The provided responsorial version draws from verses 4–9, repeating the refrain "A light rises in the darkness for the upright" or "Alleluia," emphasising divine illumination amid trials.

Historically, Psalm 112 likely emerged in the post-exilic period, during the late redaction of the Psalter, influenced by the Torah-wisdom tradition. It reflects a time when Israelite communities, returning from Babylonian exile around the 5th–4th centuries BCE, sought to reaffirm ethical living amid cultural pressures. Attributed to the broader Davidic collection but not directly to David, it embodies sapiential themes from Proverbs and Job, teaching that fearing God—marked by awe, obedience, and justice—leads to prosperity and security. This acrostic form may have aided memorisation in liturgical or educational settings, underscoring its role in shaping moral instruction.

In the liturgy, Psalm 112 holds profound significance as the responsorial psalm for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. Paired with readings from Isaiah 58:7–10, which calls for acts of justice to summon divine light, and Matthew 5:13–16, where Jesus urges disciples to be salt and light, the psalm reinforces themes of righteousness illuminating the world. It portrays the just as beacons of hope, generous to the poor and steadfast in faith, mirroring Isaiah's vision of light breaking through gloom and Matthew's metaphor of hidden lamps. This integration invites worshippers to embody mercy, transforming personal piety into communal witness, especially resonant in Year A's focus on Matthew's Gospel. Thus, Psalm 112 not only celebrates ethical living but inspires believers to radiate God's justice in a darkened world.