Psalm 146
Hallelujah! Do not trust princes
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Psalm 146 opens and closes with Hallelujah, and in between it says: do not put your trust in princes — when they die, their plans die with them. Trust the God of Jacob, who made everything and remains faithful forever. He executes justice for the oppressed, feeds the hungry, frees prisoners, opens blind eyes, lifts those who are bowed down, and protects foreigners, orphans, and widows. Princes die; the LORD reigns forever.
Where it is in the Bible: Psalm 146
Before You Read
What it is. One of the five "Hallelujah Psalms" that close the book of Psalms (146-150). Each begins and ends with Hallelujah — "Praise the LORD."
What it's about. Do not put your trust in princes. Instead, trust the God of Jacob — the one who made everything, keeps faith forever, feeds the hungry, frees prisoners, and loves the righteous.
When the church sings it. On Sundays in Ordinary Time, especially when the readings touch on what God's kingdom looks like or what leaders are for.
How to read it. Notice what God does. The list is specific: justice for the oppressed, food for the hungry, sight for the blind, support for the widow. These are not abstract — they are what God is known for.
Map of the Psalm
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hallelujah | 146:1-2 | I will praise the LORD all my life |
| 2. Not Princes | 146:3-4 | Do not trust in mortal man |
| 3. The God of Jacob | 146:5-10 | What He does: justice, food, freedom, sight |
Section by Section
Section 1 of 3Hallelujah
"Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, O my soul" (146:1).
"I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being" (146:2).
All my life. While I have breath. Praise is not occasional — it is what the whole life is for.
Section 2 of 3Not Princes
"Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save" (146:3).
"When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish" (146:4).
Every human leader, however great, dies. And when they die, their plans die with them.
This is not cynicism. It is clarity about where real help comes from.
Section 3 of 3The God of Jacob
"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God," (146:5) "the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He remains faithful forever" (146:6).
God made everything and does not run out of faithfulness.
"He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free," (146:7) "the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous" (146:8).
"The LORD protects foreigners; He sustains the fatherless and the widow, but the ways of the wicked He frustrates" (146:9).
Each line names someone vulnerable — the oppressed, the hungry, the prisoner, the blind, the bowed down, the foreigner, the orphan, the widow. The LORD is for them.
"The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Hallelujah!" (146:10).
Princes die. The LORD reigns forever.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Put not your trust in princes" (146:3) | Human power is real but limited. |
| "On that very day his plans perish" (146:4) | No human plan outlasts death. |
| "The God of Jacob" (146:5) | Jacob was a struggling, ordinary man — God is his God. |
| "He remains faithful forever" (146:6) | God's commitment does not expire. |
| "The LORD sets the prisoners free" (146:7) | God is on the side of those who cannot free themselves. |
| "The LORD reigns forever" (146:10) | Every human reign ends; His does not. |
Back Then
"Foreigners, fatherless and widow" — these three groups were the most vulnerable in ancient society, with no land or tribe to protect them. The law of Israel repeatedly required care for them (Deuteronomy 10:18).
"Princes" (146:3) meant kings, rulers, nobles — the powerful. The psalm is saying: even the most powerful human being cannot save you the way God can.
Literal Reader Alert
Is this saying we should never vote, trust leaders, or obey governments? No. It is saying not to trust in them as your ultimate hope. Leaders are limited and mortal. God is not.
Does the LORD always free prisoners and feed the hungry right now? The psalm is describing what God is known for — the pattern of his character. In Jesus, this list becomes a mission statement (Luke 4:18-19).
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The singer | Resolved | I will praise the LORD all my life (146:2) |
| The vulnerable | Seen | God defends the oppressed, blind, bowed down (146:7-8) |
| The blessed | Hopeful | Blessed is the one whose hope is in the LORD (146:5) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What does this psalm speak into? Tap one.
I've been let down by a leader
His plans perished with him. The LORD reigns forever.
I feel weighed down
The LORD lifts those who are weighed down.
I'm a foreigner or feel like one
The LORD protects foreigners.
I want to praise all my life
Start now: Hallelujah!
You Might Have Heard
"Put your hope in the right leaders — they can fix everything."
What's true: Leaders matter; their decisions affect lives.
What the passage is mainly about: "Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save" (146:3). Only God saves. Leaders are stewards, not saviors. The LORD is the one who reigns forever.
Where Jesus is: When John's disciples asked if Jesus was the one to come, he answered by listing what he was doing: blind see, lame walk, lepers cleansed, deaf hear, dead raised, poor hear good news (Matthew 11:4-5). He was quoting the work of Psalm 146's God. He is that God.
Good News
The LORD lifts those who are weighed down.
"He remains faithful forever" (146:6).
Princes die and their plans perish. The LORD reigns — for all generations, including yours.
Psalm 146 begins and ends with Hallelujah. In between: do not trust princes — they die. Trust the God who made everything, remains faithful forever, and lifts the weighed down. The LORD reigns forever.
Big Idea
Hallelujah! Do not trust princes — they die. Trust the God of Jacob, who made everything, remains faithful forever, feeds the hungry, frees prisoners, and lifts the weighed down. The LORD reigns forever.
If this passage brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther said the First Commandment — "You shall have no other gods before me" — means no person, power, or thing should take the place of God as our ultimate trust and hope.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It sings Psalm 146 on the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time in Year C, the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time in Year B, and on other Sundays throughout the year.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Hallelujah!
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Lectionary 10 Year CPsalm, Psalm 146
- Lectionary 23 Year BPsalm, Psalm 146
- Lectionary 26 Year CPsalm, Psalm 146
- Lectionary 31 Year BPsalm, Psalm 146
- Lectionary 32 Year BPsalm, Psalm 146
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Psalm 146, explained in plain words. One of the closing Hallelujah psalms: do not put your trust in mortal leaders — they die and their plans die with them. Trust the God who made everything, feeds the hungry, and reigns forever. About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/psalm-146/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church