Old Testament
Psalms 146
Overview
The first of the five closing Hallelujah psalms, a vow to praise the LORD as long as life lasts. It warns against trusting in princes — mere mortals whose plans perish with their last breath — and contrasts them with the God of Jacob who made heaven and earth and keeps faith forever. He executes justice for the oppressed, feeds the hungry, frees prisoners, opens blind eyes, lifts the bowed down, and watches over the stranger, the orphan, and the widow.
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.