Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 97:11

"Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart." — Psalms 97:11 (ASV)

Light is sown for the righteous - That is, there is light for the righteous; or, they will be brought into light, though they may be for a time in darkness. The word rendered “sown” - זרע zâra‛ - is from a verb that properly denotes to scatter, to disperse - as seed is scattered or dispersed when sown in a field. It is thus used with reference to moral subjects, as to sow righteousness (Proverbs 11:18); to sow iniquity (Proverbs 22:8); to sow mischief (Job 4:8); that is, these things are scattered or sown, as seed is in a field, and produce a corresponding harvest.

Thus light is scattered abroad, and will produce an appropriate harvest - a harvest of joy. It will spring up around the righteous, and he will reap what light tends to produce - happiness, intelligence, and peace. The figure of sowing light is an unusual one, but the meaning is plain. It is, that the righteous will not always be in darkness; that there is in preparation for him a harvest of joy; that it will as certainly be produced as a harvest will from grain that is sown; that though there may be present calamities, there will be ultimate peace and triumph.

And gladness for the upright in heart - The word gladness here - joy, or rejoicing - is parallel to the word light. Joy or gladness is sown for the righteous; that is, arrangements are made for producing joy, as preparations are made by sowing seed for a harvest. The world is full of arrangements for conferring happiness on the righteous.