Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 118:9
[It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
It is better … than to put confidence in princes – Even in the most mighty of the human race; in those who of all people may be supposed to have the most ability to aid us; in those whose favor is often sought more than the favor of God. Princes are only men; often as faithless and deceitful as other men; often less reliable in their character than those in more humble life. and in the great matters where we most need aid – in sickness, in danger, in death, in the eternal world – as absolutely powerless as men in the lowest condition of poverty, or in the most humble rank.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. In princes.] Men of high estate are generally proud, vain-glorious, self-confident, and rash: it is better to trust in God than in them. Often they cannot deliver, and often they will not when they can. However, in the concerns of our salvation, and in matters which belong to Providence, they can do nothing.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
[It is] better to trust in the Lord,…. The Targum is,
“in the Word of the Lord.”
This is repeated for the sake of what follows:
than to put confidence in princes; who have greater ability to help, and whose honour should engage them to keep their word; and yet it is better to trust in the Lord than in them; see Ps 146:3. Two different words being used in this verse and Ps 118:8; for trust and confidence, Jarchi has observed, that the one signifies a lesser, the other a stronger confidence; as if the sense was this, “It is better lightly to trust in the Lord than to put the strongest confidence in men and princes.” But the observation is scarcely solid enough.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) Trust.The word constantly used of the security the Israelite found in his relation to Jehovah. The meaning here is apparently, Fidelity to the covenant is better than alliance with foreign princes, though, of course, the larger sense, in which the words are applicable to all men, may be read into the words.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Princes The representatives of earthly power. This is an advance in the thought from “man,” in the preceding line. God alone can be trusted, who overrules men and “princes.” The faithlessness of “princes” was felt by the returned exiles in all their attempts at reconstruction. See, as to the temple building, Ezra 4, 5, , 6. But God triumphed through his prophets.
Ezr 5:1
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 118:9 [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
Ver. 9. Than to put confidence in princes ] In ingenuis. Great men’s words, saith one, are like dead men’s shoes; he may go barefoot that waiteth for them. “Surely men of high degree are a lie,” Psa 52:9 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
trust
(See Scofield “Psa 2:12”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
than to put: Psa 146:3-5, Isa 30:2, Isa 30:3, Isa 30:15-17, Isa 31:1, Isa 31:8, Isa 36:6, Isa 36:7, Eze 29:7
Reciprocal: 1Sa 16:21 – loved him 2Ki 6:27 – whence Est 6:3 – There is nothing Psa 40:4 – Blessed Psa 60:10 – Wilt Psa 62:9 – of high Psa 112:7 – trusting Psa 125:1 – that trust Isa 30:7 – Their Jer 17:5 – Cursed Dan 6:9 – signed Dan 6:16 – Thy God Dan 6:23 – because Mic 1:14 – houses Mic 7:5 – ye not in 1Ti 6:17 – but