The Pulpit Commentary
Praise ye the Lord (comp. on Psa_111:1). Praise the Lord, O my soul (see Psa_103:1, Psa_103:2; Psa_104:1, which only differ in the verb used—"bless" for "praise").

The Pulpit Commentary
While I live will I praise the Lord. Nearly identical with Psa_104:35. It is our duty towards God to be always praising him, if not with the lips, at any rate with the heart. I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Identical with Psa_104:33.

The Pulpit Commentary
Put not your trust in princes (comp. Psa_118:10). Israel was always apt to trust in bureau rather than Divine help. Now it was Egypt (Isa_30:2; Isa_36:6), now Assyria (2Ki_16:7), now their own kings or nobles. At the time of the return from the Captivity, too much was expected from Zerubbabel and the other "princes." Nor in the son of man. The Prayer-book paraphrase, "nor in any child of man," brings out the sense. Confidence in human aid of whatever kind is forbidden. In whom there is no help; or, "that hath no saving power" (שׁוּעה).

The Pulpit Commentary
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 (Gen_2:7, Gen_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.

The Pulpit Commentary
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his Help. "God of Jacob" is a favorite expression in the later psalms, where it almost supersedes the phrase, "God of Israel" (see Psa_76:6; Psa_81:1, Psa_81:4; Psa_84:8; Psa_94:7; Psa_114:7; Psa_132:2, Psa_132:5; and the present passage). It is rare in the historical books and in the prophets. Whose hope is in the Lord his God (comp. Psa_22:9; Psa_39:7; Psa_62:5; Psa_71:5, etc.).

The Pulpit Commentary
Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is. Who is, therefore, an omnipotent Help, the very opposite of "the son of man, in whom is no help" at all (Psa_146:3) Which keepeth truth for ever; i.e. who keeps all his promises, and has promised his help to all such as call upon him faithfully (Psa_145:18).

The Pulpit Commentary
Which executeth judgment for the oppressed (comp. Psa_103:6, "The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed"). Israel's history was an ample comment on this text. Which giveth food to the hungry (comp. Psa_145:15, Psa_145:16, and the comment ad loc.). The Lord looseth the prisoners. Either captive nations, as Israel; or individuals, as Jeremiah from his dungeon (Jer_37:16, Jer_37:17), Daniel from the lions' den (Dan_6:23), Peter from his prison-house (Act_12:7-10), and the like. Deliverance from the bands of sin may also be intended.

The Pulpit Commentary
The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind (comp. Isa_35:5). The spiritually blind would seem to be meant, rather than the physically blind, since there is no record of any restoration of physical sight in the Old Testament. The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down (see Psa_145:14). "Bowed down," i.e; under the hand of oppressors. The Lord loveth the righteous. This lies at the root of all, and shows that the various deliverances spoken of in Psa_146:7-9 are to be understood as deliverances of the righteous out of their troubles.

The Pulpit Commentary
The Lord preserveth the strangers. God's goodness leads him not only to protect the righteous, but also to lend his special help to the weak and afflicted classes. "The stranger, the fatherless, and the widow" are constantly mentioned in the Old Testament as peculiar objects of the Divine care (Exo_22:21, Exo_22:22; Le 19:33, 34; Deu_10:18; Job_29:12; Psa_82:3; Isa_1:28; Jer_7:6, etc.). He relieveth the fatherless and widow; or, "upholdeth" (see the Revised Version). But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down (comp. Psa_145:20). His merciful protection of his saints leads him to overthrow the goings of the wicked, who are their enemies.

The Pulpit Commentary
The Lord shall reign forever (comp. Psa_10:16; Psa_145:13). Even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. On the restoration of Israel to its own land, Jehovah becomes emphatically once more "the God of Zion" (see Zec_2:10; Zec_8:3). And this he remains "to all generations," since the Church of Christ is now the true Zion (Heb_12:22). Praise ye the Lord (see Psa_146:1).