Psalm 146

Authorship

This Psalm is anonymous.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. In praise of hope. (1-2)

A. Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.

B. While I live will I praise the Lord.

C. I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

II. Misplaced hope. (3-4)

A. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

B. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

III. Properly placed hope. (5)

A. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help.

B. Happy is he whose hope is in the Lord his God.

IV. We have hope because of our God. (6-9)

A. Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is.

B. Which keepeth truth for ever:

C. Which executeth judgment for the oppressed.

D. Which giveth food to the hungry.

E. The Lord looseth the prisoners.

F. The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind.

G. The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down.

H. The Lord loveth the righteous.

I. The Lord preserveth the strangers.

J. He relieveth the fatherless and widow.

K. The way of the wicked He turneth upside down.

V. The eternal nature of our hope. (10)

A. The Lord shall reign for ever unto all generations.

B. Because of this, we should praise the Lord!

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 146,6 לְעוֹלָם {A}

Ps 146,10 הַלְלוּ־יָהּ {B}