Passage
It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in princes.
Psalms 118:9 (ASV)
Nearby Context
Psalms 118:7 Jehovah is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see [my desire] upon them that hate me.
Psalms 118:8 It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in man.
Psalms 118:9 It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in princes.
Psalms 118:10 All nations compassed me about: In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.
Psalms 118:11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.
Study Lenses
The verse centers on "better", "take", "refuge", "jehovah", "than", "confidence", and "princes". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "better" and "take", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.
The nearby context moves from verse 8's "It is better to take refuge in..." into verse 10's "All nations compassed me about In the...", so "better" and "take" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.
A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "better" and "take" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.