Psalm 146 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.
2 While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:
8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:
9 The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 146:5
Verse: אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר-עֶזְרָתוֹ בַיהוָה
Transliteration: Ashrei ha-gever asher ezrato b’Adonai
English: “Blessed is he whose help is in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”
Focus Word: עֵזֶר (Ezer)
- Root: ע-ז-ר (Ayin-Zayin-Resh)
- Meaning: “Help,” “support,” “aid.”
- Deeper Insight: Ezer emphasizes reliance and support, highlighting God as the ultimate source of assistance.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| הַלְלוּ־יָהּ — hallelu-Yah | Verse 1 — “Praise the LORD!” | “Praise Yah,” exalt. | Hallelu-Yah (“praise Yah”) opens the Psalm with direct doxology. It calls for joyful and public exaltation of God. The term sets a celebratory tone. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon of the Old Testament |
| אָשִׁירָה — ashirah | Verse 2 — “I will sing praises…” | “To sing,” make melody. | Ashirah (“to sing”) expresses musical devotion offered continually. It reflects enduring commitment to worship. The verb reinforces lifelong praise. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms |
| תִּבְטָחוּ — tivtachu | Verse 3 — “Do not put your trust in princes…” | “To trust,” rely. | Tivtachu (“to trust”) contrasts human frailty with divine sufficiency. It warns against misplaced dependence. The word guides toward covenant trust. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament |
| תּוֹעֶשׁ — to’esh | Verse 4 — “…his thoughts perish.” | “Plan,” thought, intention. | To’esh (“plan/thought”) underscores the temporality of human schemes. It reflects the fragility of earthly power. The term deepens the contrast with divine permanence. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| עֹשֶׂה — oseh | Verse 6 — “Who made heaven and earth…” | “To make,” create. | Oseh (“to make”) affirms God’s role as Creator. It grounds trust in His sovereign craftsmanship. The verb reveals unwavering cosmic authority. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| אֱמֶת — emet | Verse 6 — “…who keeps truth forever.” | “Truth,” faithfulness. | Emet (“truth/faithfulness”) emphasizes divine reliability. It assures believers of enduring stability. The word anchors confidence in God’s character. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| עֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפָּט — oseh mishpat | Verse 7 — “Who executes justice…” | “To do justice,” vindicate. | Oseh Mishpat (“to do justice”) highlights God’s active defense of the oppressed. It portrays Him as righteous judge. The phrase reinforces His moral governance. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| שָׁבַר — shavar | Verse 7 — “…gives food to the hungry.” | “To break,” supply. | Shavar (“to supply”) depicts provision through breaking or distributing. It underscores divine generosity. The term expresses compassionate care. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| פָּקַח — paqach | Verse 8 — “The LORD opens the eyes…” | “To open,” unseal. | Paqach (“to open”) signifies restorative action. It emphasizes divine ability to remove blindness—physical or spiritual. The word conveys renewal. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| יָמְלֹךְ — yimlokh | Verse 10 — “The LORD shall reign forever…” | “To reign,” rule. | Yimlokh (“to reign”) affirms universal and eternal kingship. It concludes the Psalm triumphantly. The term proclaims divine sovereignty. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 146 |
|---|---|---|
| John Lightfoot (University of Cambridge, 1602–1675) | Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae | Lightfoot emphasizes that reliance on God alone provides stability and hope, contrasting human authority with divine faithfulness. |
| Richard Baxter (University of Cambridge, 1615–1691) | Paraphrase of the Psalms | Baxter highlights the Psalm’s call to practical trust in God’s justice and providence over worldly powers. |
| Matthew Henry (Chester / Various, 1662–1714) | Commentary on the Whole Bible | Henry interprets the Psalm as illustrating the futility of relying on mere human strength, urging steadfast devotion. |
| Edmund Calamy (University of Cambridge, 1600–1666) | An Exposition of the Psalms | Calamy portrays the Psalm as inspiring hope through remembrance of God’s past acts of deliverance. |
| Thomas Boston (University of Edinburgh, 1676–1732) | Human Nature in Its Fourfold State | Boston notes that trusting God fosters spiritual courage in facing life’s uncertainties. |
Prayer: May The Lord show you how awesome He is and give you the joy of your salvation. Father, we ask Lord that according to John 14, you will reveal Yourself to us as we commit our ways to you keeping your commandments, doing what You say. We thank you for your awesome goodness in giving us healing, granting us prosperity and delivering us as we put our trust in You. Show us your glory and glorify Yourself in us, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
