Psalm 146:4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 146:1-4

David is supposed to have penned this psalm; and he was himself a prince, a mighty prince; as such, it might be thought, 1. That he should be exempted from the service of praising God, that it was enough for him to see that his priests and people did it, but that he needed not to do it himself in his own person. Michal thought it a disparagement to him to dance before the ark; but he was so far from being of this mind that he would himself be first and foremost in the work, Ps. 146:1, 2. He... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 146:4

His breath goeth forth ,.... That is, the breath of a son of man, of any and everyone of the princes; it goes forth continually, and is drawn in again as long as a man lives; but at death it goes forth, and returns no more till the resurrection: the breath which the Lord breathed into man, and which is in his nostrils while he lives, and is very precarious. And when it is taken away, he dies, and he returneth to his earth ; from whence he was taken, and of which he was made; upon which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 146:4

His breath goeth forth - His existence depends merely, under God, on the air he breathes. When he ceases to respire he ceases to live; his body from that moment begins to claim its affinity to the earth; and all his thoughts, purposes, and projects, whether good or evil, come to nought and perish. He, then, who has no other dependence, must necessarily be miserable. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:1-10

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:1-10

Three fulfillments. There are three ways in which these verses (or most of them) have been or are fulfilled. I. IN DIVINE PROVIDENCE . In God's dealing with his people Israel. 1. Israel found, again and again, that it was not in human alliances, but in the living God, that its true help was found ( Psalms 146:3-5 ). Princes and powers proved to be but broken reeds; but while Jehovah was sought and served, everything was secure. 2. Israel in captivity found its true hope... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:1-10

God alone worthy of trust. "Bears evident traces of belonging to the post-Exile literature; and the words of Psalms 146:7-9 are certainly no inapt expression of the feelings which would naturally be called forth at a time immediately subsequent to the return from the Captivity." I. EVEN THE MIGHTIEST OF MANKIND ARE UNWORTHY OF TRUST . 1. They cannot save in our greatest extremities . "In whom is no help." From want of ability and often from want of wilt. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:4

His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth ; or, "when his breath goes forth"— i.e; when he breathes his last—"he returns to his earth," i . e . to the earth of which he was made ( Genesis 2:7 , Genesis 2:19 ). In that very day his thoughts perish. All his schemes and projects ( 'eshtonoth , a word not occurring elsewhere) come to an end—are nipped in the bud—perish. So weak is he, and not to be depended on. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:4

Thoughts that perish. It has been remarked that whilst in so large a part of the Bible we have the history of the Church, in the Psalms we have the voice of the Church. And a very varied voice it is—varied as are the vicissitudes and manifold experiences of the people of God. But here, at the close, the tremulous tones of sorrow and distress, of fear and anxiety, and of piteous pleading, which we have so often met with, are all hushed, and instead, we have one jubilant note of praise—at... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 146:4

His breath goeth forth - He dies like other people, no matter how exalted he is. See the notes at Isaiah 2:22.He returneth to his earth - See the notes at Psalms 90:3. The earth - the dust - is “his” - (a) It is his, as that from which he was made: he turns back to what he was. Genesis 3:19 : “dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”(b) The earth - the dust - the grave is his, as it is his home - the place where he will abide.(c) It is his, as it is the only property which he has in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 146:3-6

Psalms 146:3-6. Put not your trust in princes However great their wealth or power may be; nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help “Earthly princes, if they have the will, often want the power, even to protect their friends. And should they want neither will nor power to advance them, yet still all depends upon the breath in their nostrils, which perhaps, at the very critical moment, goeth forth; they return to the earth; their thoughts, and all the thoughts of those who hoped to... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 146:1-4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 146:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 146:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 146:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 146:3-6

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