Psalms — Chapter 146

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1Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.

2While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

3Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

4His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

5Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

6Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

7Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:

8The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

9The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

10The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

1Praise ye Jehovah. Praise Jehovah, O my soul.

2While I live will I praise Jehovah: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

3Put not your trust in princes, Nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

4His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish.

5Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God:

6Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that in them is; Who keepeth truth for ever;

7Who executeth justice for the oppressed; Who giveth food to the hungry. Jehovah looseth the prisoners;

8Jehovah openeth [the eyes of] the blind; Jehovah raiseth up them that are bowed down; Jehovah loveth the righteous;

9Jehovah preserveth the sojourners; He upholdeth the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

10Jehovah will reign for ever, Thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 147

1Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.

2I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist.

3Do not trust in princes, or in human beings, who cannot deliver.

4Their life’s breath departs, they return to the ground. On that day their plans die.

5How blessed is the one whose helper is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.

6The one who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who remains forever faithful,

7vindicates the oppressed, and gives food to the hungry. The Lord releases the imprisoned.

8The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord lifts up all who are bent over. The Lord loves the godly.

9The Lord protects the resident foreigner. He lifts up the fatherless and the widow, but he opposes the wicked.

10The Lord rules forever, your God, O Zion, throughout the generations to come. Praise the Lord!

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, each 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 the way of the wicked he turns upside down.

10Yahweh will reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise Yah!

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

A Hallel psalm opening the final five — 'Praise ye the LORD; praise the LORD, O my soul'; trust not in princes who perish; happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob who executes justice, feeds the hungry, and lifts up the fallen.

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Hallelujah Psalm (begins the Final Five) Attributed Author: Anonymous Key Themes: Lifelong praise, trusting God over princes, God as helper of the helpless, God who executes justice for the oppressed, the Creator who cares for the marginalized
Historical Context: Psalm 146 begins the final five "Hallelujah Psalms" (146-150) that close the Psalter. Each begins and ends with "Praise the LORD" (Hallelujah). These five psalms form a crescendo of praise that builds to the universal climax of Psalm 150. Psalm 146 focuses on WHY God should be praised: He is the reliable helper (unlike human princes who die), the Creator who keeps faith forever, the champion of the oppressed, hungry, prisoners, blind, bowed down, strangers, widows, and fatherless. This psalm heavily influenced Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).
Structure:
  • Personal Commitment to Lifelong Praise (vv.1-2)
  • Warning Against Trusting Humans (vv.3-4)
  • The Blessed Trust in God (v.5)
  • God's Character: Creator and Keeper (v.6)
  • God's Actions: Justice and Mercy (vv.7-9)
  • God's Eternal Reign (v.10)

Map & Geography

  • Zion (v.10): The hill on which Jerusalem/the Temple stood; often used poetically for God's dwelling.

Videos

The Bible Project — Psalms Overview

Reflection

  • 1. Don't put ultimate trust in leaders (vv.3-4). Vote, engage, participate — but don't TRUST princes with your ultimate hope. They are mortal. Their plans perish. Only God's plans endure.
  • 2. God champions the marginalized (vv.7-9). If you want to be like God, care for who He cares for: the oppressed, hungry, imprisoned, blind, bowed down, strangers, orphans, widows. This is God's heart.
  • 3. Praise for a lifetime (v.2). "While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being." Praise is not seasonal — it's lifelong. As long as you have being, you have reason to praise.
  • 4. God reigns forever (v.10). "The LORD shall reign for ever." Every other ruler perishes. This King endures. Anchor yourself to the eternal throne.