Psalms 146

Chapter Overview

What happens in Psalms 146

The first of the five 'Hallelujah' psalms that close the book (146-150). It warns against trusting in human leaders and celebrates God who helps the oppressed, feeds the hungry, and lifts up those who are bowed down.

Scripture

Praise the Lord, My Soul

Study note

The psalmist commits to praising God his whole life. Do not put your trust in human leaders who cannot save. When they die, their plans die with them.

1 Praise the LORD! My soul, praise the LORD with everything you have! Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.

2 I will spend my whole life praising the LORD. As long as I have breath, I will sing to my God. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

3 Do not put your trust in powerful leaders — in any human being. They cannot truly save you. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

4 The moment they take their last breath, they go back to the dirt. On that very day, every plan they ever had disappears. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

The God Who Helps

Study note

Blessed is the person whose help is the God of Jacob. He made heaven and earth. He upholds the cause of the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, sets prisoners free, gives sight to the blind, lifts up those who are bowed down, loves the righteous, watches over foreigners, and cares for orphans and widows. The Lord reigns forever. Praise the Lord!

5 But how fortunate is the person whose helper is the God of Jacob, the one who places all hope in the LORD their God! Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

6 He is the one who made heaven and earth, the ocean and everything living in it. He keeps every promise forever. Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

7 He makes sure people who are treated unfairly get justice. He feeds people who are going hungry. The LORD opens prison doors and sets captives free. Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:

8 The LORD gives sight to people who cannot see. The LORD lifts people up when they are pushed down. The LORD has a special love for those who do what is right. The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

9 The LORD takes care of outsiders and strangers. He holds up those who have lost a father or a husband. But the plans of wicked people? He turns them upside down. The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

10 The LORD will reign as King forever. Your God, Zion, will rule through every generation. Praise the LORD! The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

Key Themes

Themes in Psalms 146

Praise the Lord, o my soulDo not put trust in human leadersGod who upholds the oppressed and healsGod reigns forever

Apply This Today

Living Psalms 146

Do not put your ultimate trust in politicians, leaders, or any human being — when they die, their plans die with them. But God reigns forever. He upholds the oppressed, feeds the hungry, sets prisoners free, and gives sight to the blind. Put your trust where it will never be disappointed: in the eternal God.

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