Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 146

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

In men of greatest wealth and power, in whose favour men are very prone to trust.

Who are utterly unable frequently to give you that help which they promise, and you expect.

Marginal references: Psal. 118. 8. 9.; Or, salvation.

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

In his body, Eccles. 12. 7.

To that earth from which all mankind, Princes not excepted, had their original.

As soon as ever he is dead.

All his designs and endeavours either for himself or for others.

Marginal references: Psal. 104. 29. Eccl. 12. 7.; Heb. spirit. So Gr.

6 Which made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever :

Both because he liveth for ever to fulfil his promises, and because he is eternally and unchangeably faithful.

Marginal references: Gen. 1. 1.

8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind , the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down, the LORD loveth the righteous .

Either, 1. the eyes of their mind, which he enlightens and directs in doubtful and difficult cases: or, 2. their bodily eyes; which he did abundantly by his Son Jesus Christ.

Even when he doth afflict them, which also he doth out of love, Heb. 12. 6.

Marginal references: Mat. 9. 30. John 9. 7▪ 32.; Psal. 145. 14. Luke 13. 13.

9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down .

He overthroweth their goings, as the phrase is Psal. 140. 4. He maketh them to lose their way; he not onely frustrateth their plots and enterprises, but turneth them against themselves. This and all the foregoing sentences are so many arguments to encourage all good men to trust in God in all their straits and afflictions.

Marginal references: Deut. 10. 18. Psal. 68. 5.