Psalms 118:9

9 It is better to trust the Lord than to trust princes.

Psalms 118:9 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 118:9

[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 ( Psalms 146:3 ) . Two different words being used in this verse and ( Psalms 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.

Psalms 118:9 In-Context

7 The Lord is with me to help me, so I will see my enemies defeated.
8 It is better to trust the Lord than to trust people.
9 It is better to trust the Lord than to trust princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me, but I defeated them in the name of the Lord.
11 They surrounded me on every side, but with the Lord's power I defeated them.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.