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Psalm 146:7
who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners.
5Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD, his God,
6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever;
7who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners.
8The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD raises up those who are bowed down. The LORD loves the righteous.
9The LORD preserves the foreigners. He upholds the fatherless and widow, but he turns the way of the wicked upside down.
Notice
Food for the hungry makes God's care concrete, while justice for the oppressed can sharpen your longing for wrongs that remain unresolved to be put right.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
Where do you long to see the justice for the oppressed that this psalm praises?
Write on thisHow does naming God as the giver of food shape your view of hunger?
Write on thisWhat makes the declaration that YHWH frees prisoners hard or hopeful for you today?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 107:9For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.Both passages name God as the one who meets hunger with provision.
Psalm 68:6God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.Both psalms describe God freeing prisoners, with Psalm 68 adding singing to their release.
Psalm 103:6The LORD executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed.Both passages declare that the LORD executes justice for people who are oppressed.
Psalm 142:7Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will be good to me.Psalm 146 declares that the LORD frees prisoners, while Psalm 142 pleads for release from prison so the speaker may give thanks.
Acts 12:7And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His …The psalm declares that the LORD frees prisoners; Acts describes an angel of the Lord appearing as Peter's chains fall off.
Isaiah 61:1The Lord GOD’s Spirit is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim …Release from captivity links the LORD's action in the psalm with the liberty proclaimed by the LORD's anointed speaker in Isaiah.
Acts 16:26Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were …Prisoners being freed is the shared thread: the psalm names the LORD, while Acts describes opened doors and loosened bonds.
Genesis 1:29Both texts present God as the giver of food, with Genesis naming seed-bearing plants and fruit trees as his provision.
Zechariah 9:11–12As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I have set free your prisoners from the pit in which is no water.Both passages speak of God freeing prisoners; Zechariah names the blood of the covenant as the reason for release.
Proverbs 22:22–23Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;The psalm praises God's justice for the oppressed, while Proverbs forbids exploiting the poor and crushing the needy in court.
Luke 4:18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to …Both passages speak of release for captives and help for people under oppression.
Leviticus 25:10You shall make the fiftieth year holy, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee to you; and each of you shall …Freedom is their shared concern: the psalm speaks of prisoners released, while Leviticus commands liberty throughout the land at the jubilee.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. job loss or money fear. praise and worship.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The psalm names God as the one who acts for people deprived of freedom and food. Their need matters to him, even when relief has yet to come.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 146:7. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).