The Bible — World English Bible
Psalm 146
In brief
Psalm 146 opens the final series of five psalms of praise in the book. It begins with the impulse of a soul that wants to praise the Lord as long as it lives. It then warns against putting trust in princes and mortals, who die and whose plans perish. Happy, it says, is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, the faithful creator, who executes justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, frees prisoners, lifts up those who are bowed down and upholds the fatherless and the widow. He reigns forever.
The chapter in 4 parts
1Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh, my soul.
2While I live, I will praise Yahweh. I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist.
3Don’t put your trust in princes, in a son of man in whom there is no help.
4His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish.
5Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Yahweh, his God:
6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever;
7who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. Yahweh frees the prisoners.
8Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind. Yahweh raises up those who are bowed down. Yahweh loves the righteous.
9Yahweh preserves the foreigners. He upholds the fatherless and widow, but he turns the way of the wicked upside down.
10Yahweh will reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise Yah!
Key verses
While I live, I will praise Yahweh. I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist.
The psalmist makes a commitment that lasts his whole life: to praise God as long as he exists. Praise is not tied to a mood, it is a decision.
Don’t put your trust in princes, in a son of man in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish.
The psalm does not condemn authority, it reminds us that people, even powerful ones, cannot save. Their breath departs, and their plans with it.
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Yahweh, his God:
Happiness is promised to the one whose help is the God of Jacob and whose hope is in the Lord. Trust moves from people to the Creator.
who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. Yahweh frees the prisoners. Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind. Yahweh raises up those who are bowed down. Yahweh loves the righteous. Yahweh preserves the foreigners. He upholds the fatherless and widow, but he turns the way of the wicked upside down.
A list of God's actions: justice for the oppressed, food for the hungry, freedom for prisoners, sight for the blind, care for foreigners, orphans and widows. This God cares about the most vulnerable.
Yahweh will reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise Yah!
The psalm concludes on the eternal reign of the Lord, from generation to generation. Human powers pass, his remains.
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Frequently asked questions about Psalm 146
What does Psalm 146 mean?
It is a psalm of praise and trust. The psalmist promises to praise God all his life, warns against trusting people who cannot save, and describes the God of Jacob as a faithful creator, defender of the oppressed and eternal king. It opens the series of the last five psalms, all of them praise.
What does do not trust in princes mean?
Verses 3 and 4 remind us that the powerful are mortal and that their plans disappear with them. The text does not forbid respecting or working with authorities. It only says that we cannot entrust our salvation or ultimate hope to them, which must rest on God.
How can I pray with Psalm 146?
Start with verses 1 and 2 by asking yourself what holds your trust right now. Hand over to God what you expected from people, with verses 3 to 5. Then pray for those described in verses 7 to 9: the oppressed, the hungry, foreigners, orphans, widows. Finish with the praise of verse 10.
Articles quoting Psalm 146
World English Bible translation — public domain.