Psalms 146:3-4
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse warns against trusting "princes" and the "son of man," but the key is that it's not just their powerful positions that are untrustworthy, but their very humanity—their limited lifespan and the perishing thoughts that accompany it. This emphasizes that any reliance on human might, no matter how grand, is ultimately fragile and temporary compared to God's enduring nature.
The psalm begins with a call to praise God, but quickly pivots to a warning against misplaced trust. Before this verse, the psalmist urges readers to praise God, and immediately after, he'll extol the virtues of trusting in the Lord. This verse serves as a crucial bridge, cautioning against relying on human leaders or any mortal, as they are ultimately incapable of providing true salvation.
Ever felt let down by someone in authority? This psalm speaks directly to that feeling, warning against placing ultimate trust in those who seem powerful.
The psalm warns against trusting in 'princes' and 'sons of man.' This isn't just about kings or presidents, but any human leader or influential figure.
Why the Warning?
If human leaders are ultimately unreliable, where should we turn for help and security? This psalm points us to an unshakeable source.
The warning against trusting in humans is not a counsel of despair. Instead, it clears the ground for understanding where true help resides.
God's Unfailing Nature
Understand the original words
nadib · Hebrew Noun
A person of noble status, a leader, or a ruler. The term emphasizes the limitations and mortality of human authority compared to divine sovereignty.
ben adam · Hebrew Noun phrase
The standard Hebrew expression for a human being, emphasizing mortality, frailty, and earthliness, especially in contrast to the eternal and sovereign God.
teshuah · Hebrew Noun
Deliverance, victory, or rescue. In a biblical context, it refers primarily to God's act of saving His people from their enemies, sin, or death, acknowledging that true rescue cannot come from human effort.
ruach · Hebrew Noun
The vital spirit or breath of life given by God. When it departs, biological life ceases, signaling the dependence of all living creatures on God's sustaining power.
This psalm was likely written during or shortly after the Babylonian exile. The return to Jerusalem under Persian rule, while a divine deliverance, still presented the temptation to place trust in powerful human rulers like Cyrus, rather than solely in God.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its people. This event served as a stark warning to the southern Kingdom of Judah about the dangers of foreign alliances and misplaced trust.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon conquers Judah and deports a portion of the population, including young nobles like Daniel. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a period of profound national crisis.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another wave of exiles, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, are taken to Babylon. This further diminished Judah's strength and highlighted the vulnerability of its leadership.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population. This was the nadir of Israel's national and religious life, emphasizing the ultimate failure of human leadership.
This passage directly echoes the sentiment of Psalm 146:3, warning against trusting in man and making flesh one's arm, highlighting the futility of such reliance.
Psalms 118:8This verse shares the same core message, stating that 'It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man,' reinforcing the folly of placing confidence in human leaders.
Isaiah 2:22This verse provides a stark parallel, urging readers to 'stop trusting in man, in whom there is only breath in his nostrils,' emphasizing the transient and ultimately powerless nature of humanity.
Proverbs 3:5While Psalm 146:3 warns against misplaced trust, Proverbs 3:5 offers the positive counterpoint, instructing believers to 'Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding,' directing that trust to its proper object.
ellicottPsalms 146:3: "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help."
(3, 4) Princes— The thought of Psalm 118:8-9 is here elaborated, with distinct allusion to Genesis 2:7 ; Genesis 3:19 (Comp. 1 Maccabees 2:63 .) The verse, no doubt, was in Shakespeare’s mind when he made Wolsey say: “Oh, how wretched Is that poor man that hangs on princes’ favours!” as it was quoted by Strafford when the news reached him that Charles I. had given the royal assent to the bill of atta…
clarkePsalms 146:3: "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help."
Put not your trust in princes - This may refer, as has been stated above, to Cyrus, who had revoked his edict for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Perhaps they had begun to suppose that they were about to owe their deliverance to the Persian king. God permitted this change in the disposition of the king, to teach them the vanity of confidence in men, and the necessity of trusting in himself.
The verse warns against trusting "princes" and the "son of man," but the key is that it's not just their powerful positions that are untrustworthy, but their very humanity—their limited lifespan and the perishing thoughts that accompany it. This emphasizes that any reliance on human might, no matter how grand, is ultimately fragile and temporary compared to God's enduring nature.
The psalm begins with a call to praise God, but quickly pivots to a warning against misplaced trust. Before this verse, the psalmist urges readers to praise God, and immediately after, he'll extol the virtues of trusting in the Lord. This verse serves as a crucial bridge, cautioning against relying on human leaders or any mortal, as they are ultimately incapable of providing true salvation.
The psalm begins with a call to praise God, but quickly pivots to a warning against misplaced trust. Before this verse, the psalmist urges readers to praise God, and immediately after, he'll extol the virtues of trusting in the Lord. This verse serves as a crucial bridge, cautioning against relying on human leaders or any mortal, as they are ultimately incapable of providing true salvation.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Psalms 146:3-4 is available in the Sola app.
The ultimate message is that our hope and salvation are found not in the ephemeral power of men, but in the steadfast, eternal character and power of God.
c. 538 BC— this verse
Edict of Cyrus and Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. While a moment of hope, this period also saw challenges and a renewed temptation to rely on Persian rulers for security.
c. 516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
The Temple in Jerusalem is completed, a significant step in the restoration of Jewish life. However, the political reality remained precarious, with ongoing dependence on foreign powers.
"Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish." — The verse warns against trusting "princes" and the "son of man," but the key is that it's not just their powerful positions that are untrustworthy, but their very humanity—their limited lifespan and…
