Psalms 146:9
What does Psalms 146:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Psalms 146:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Psalms 146:9 means
This verse reveals God's compassionate character and providential care for the vulnerable and marginalized. Yahweh actively protects those who are most susceptible to harm and injustice, specifically mentioning foreigners, orphans, and widows. These groups, often lacking social standing or familial support in ancient societies, are specifically highlighted as recipients of divine protection and upholding. In stark contrast, the verse asserts that God actively thwarts or frustrates the plans and endeavors of the wicked. This shows a divine commitment to justice, where God not only cares for the weak but also opposes those who would exploit or harm them, ensuring their ultimate defeat.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jehovah preserveth the sojourners; He upholdeth the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jehovah preserveth the sojourners; He upholdeth the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The Lord takes care of those who are in a strange land; he gives help to the widow and to the child who has no father; but he sends destruction on the way of sinners.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jehovah is preserving the strangers, The fatherless and widow He causeth to stand, And the way of the wicked He turneth upside down.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who giveth to beasts their food: and to the young ravens that call upon him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jehovah preserveth the strangers; he lifteth up the fatherless and the widow; but the way of the wicked doth he subvert.
Context
Psalm 146 is a hymn of praise, beginning and ending with "Hallelujah" (Praise the Lord). Immediately preceding verse 9, the psalm extols God’s faithfulness, justice, and power, contrasting it with the unreliability of human rulers (verses 3-8). Verse 8 describes God as opening the eyes of the blind, lifting up those who are bowed down, and loving the righteous. Therefore, verse 9 flows directly from this description of God's just and benevolent character. It elaborates on how God manifests this goodness by providing for the helpless and actively opposing evil, reinforcing the psalm's overarching theme of trusting in God alone.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
- Psalms 147:6
Jehovah upholdeth the meek: He bringeth the wicked down to the ground.
- Psalms 83:13
O my God, make them like the whirling dust; As stubble before the wind.
- Malachi 3:5
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner from his right, and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts.
- Exodus 22:21
And a sojourner shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him: for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
- Proverbs 4:19
The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.
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