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Psalm 146[a]

Trust in God the Creator and Redeemer

Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord, my soul;
    I will praise the Lord all my life,
    sing praise to my God while I live.(A)

I

Put no trust in princes,
    in children of Adam powerless to save.(B)
    Who breathing his last, returns to the earth;
    that day all his planning comes to nothing.(C)

II

Blessed the one whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord, his God,
The maker of heaven and earth,
    the seas and all that is in them,(D)
Who keeps faith forever,
    secures justice for the oppressed,(E)
    who gives bread to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free;(F)
    the Lord gives sight to the blind.
The Lord raises up those who are bowed down;(G)
    the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord protects the resident alien,
    comes to the aid of the orphan and the widow,(H)
    but thwarts the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord shall reign forever,
    your God, Zion, through all generations!(I)
Hallelujah!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 146 A hymn of someone who has learned there is no other source of strength except the merciful God. Only God, not mortal human beings (Ps 146:3–4), can help vulnerable and oppressed people (Ps 146:5–9). The first of the five hymns that conclude the Psalter.

Psalm 146

Praise for God’s Help

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

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

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

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

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

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!

The Lord, an Abundant Helper.

146 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!
(A)Praise the Lord, my soul!
I will praise the Lord (B)while I live;
I will (C)sing praises to my God while I [c]have my being.
(D)Do not trust in noblemen,
In [d]mortal (E)man, in whom there is (F)no salvation.
His (G)spirit departs, he (H)returns to [e]the earth;
On that very day his (I)plans perish.
(J)Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose (K)hope is in the Lord his God,
Who (L)made heaven and earth,
The (M)sea and everything that is in them;
Who (N)keeps [f]faith forever;
Who (O)executes justice for the oppressed;
Who (P)gives food to the hungry.
The Lord (Q)frees the prisoners.

The Lord (R)opens the eyes of those who are blind;
The Lord (S)raises up those who are bowed down;
The Lord (T)loves the righteous.
The Lord (U)watches over strangers;
He [g](V)supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He [h]thwarts (W)the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord will (X)reign forever,
Your God, Zion, to all generations.
[i]Praise [j]the Lord!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 146:1 Or Hallelujah!
  2. Psalm 146:1 Heb Yah
  3. Psalm 146:2 Lit still am
  4. Psalm 146:3 Lit a son of man
  5. Psalm 146:4 Lit his earth
  6. Psalm 146:6 Or truth
  7. Psalm 146:9 Or relieves
  8. Psalm 146:9 Lit bends
  9. Psalm 146:10 Or Hallelujah!
  10. Psalm 146:10 Heb Yah

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