A common misinterpretation is viewing this verse as a blanket condemnation of all human authority or government, promoting anarchism or total distrust of leaders, whereas the psalm contextually contrasts unreliable human princes—who die and whose thoughts perish—with God's enduring faithfulness, allowing for human roles under divine sovereignty without ultimate dependence on them; another error is isolating 'son of man' to refer specifically to Jesus, ignoring its generic use for humanity here.
Psalms 146:3
King James Version (1769)
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
Psalms 146:3 warns against placing ultimate trust in human leaders or princes because they are mortal and their ability to help is limited, as they cannot provide eternal or unfailing support; instead, it directs reliance on the everlasting God who alone remains faithful forever, highlighting the psalm's theme of praising the Lord as the true source of help and justice.