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Psalm 146

Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise the Lord,(A) my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life;(B)
    I will sing praise(C) to my God as long as I live.(D)
Do not put your trust in princes,(E)
    in human beings,(F) who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;(G)
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.(H)
Blessed are those(I) whose help(J) is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He is the Maker of heaven(K) and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful(L) forever.
He upholds(M) the cause of the oppressed(N)
    and gives food to the hungry.(O)
The Lord sets prisoners free,(P)
    the Lord gives sight(Q) to the blind,(R)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,(S)
    the Lord loves the righteous.(T)
The Lord watches over the foreigner(U)
    and sustains the fatherless(V) and the widow,(W)
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns(X) forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 146:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 10

146 1-2 Hallelujah!
    O my soul, praise God!
All my life long I’ll praise God,
    singing songs to my God as long as I live.

3-9 Don’t put your life in the hands of experts
    who know nothing of life, of salvation life.
Mere humans don’t have what it takes;
    when they die, their projects die with them.
Instead, get help from the God of Jacob,
    put your hope in God and know real blessing!
God made sky and soil,
    sea and all the fish in it.
He always does what he says—
    he defends the wronged,
    he feeds the hungry.
God frees prisoners—
    he gives sight to the blind,
    he lifts up the fallen.
God loves good people, protects strangers,
    takes the side of orphans and widows,
    but makes short work of the wicked.

10 God’s in charge—always.
    Zion’s God is God for good!
    Hallelujah!

Praise God Who Helps the Weak

146 Praise the Lord!

My whole being, praise the Lord.
I will praise the Lord all my life;
    I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.

Do not put your trust in princes
    or other people, who cannot save you.
When people die, they are buried.
    Then all of their plans come to an end.
Happy are those who are helped by the God of Jacob.
    Their hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth,
    the sea and everything in it.
    He remains loyal forever.
He does what is fair for those who have been wronged.
    He gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free.
The Lord gives sight to the blind.
The Lord lifts up people who are in trouble.
    The Lord loves those who do right.
The Lord protects the foreigners.
    He defends the orphans and widows,
    but he blocks the way of the wicked.

10 The Lord will be King forever.
    Jerusalem, your God is everlasting.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 146

Praise for God’s Help

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!(A)
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God all my life long.(B)

Do not put your trust in princes,
    in mortals, in whom there is no help.(C)
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
    on that very day their plans perish.(D)

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God,(E)
who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;(F)
    who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;(G)
    the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.(H)
The Lord watches over the strangers;
    he upholds the orphan and the widow,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.(I)

10 The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!(J)

In Praise of God the Savior

146 Praise the Lord!
    Praise the Lord, my soul!
I will praise him as long as I live;
    I will sing to my God all my life.

Don't put your trust in human leaders;
    no human being can save you.
When they die, they return to the dust;
    on that day all their plans come to an end.

Happy are those who have the God of Jacob to help them
    and who depend on the Lord their God,
(A)the Creator of heaven, earth, and sea,
    and all that is in them.
He always keeps his promises;
    he judges in favor of the oppressed
    and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free
    and gives sight to the blind.
He lifts those who have fallen;
    he loves his righteous people.
He protects the strangers who live in our land;
    he helps widows and orphans,
    but takes the wicked to their ruin.

10 The Lord is king forever.
    Your God, O Zion, will reign for all time.

Praise the Lord!