Add parallel Print Page Options

By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

34 [a] I will bless Yahweh at all times.
    His praise will always be in my mouth.
My soul shall boast in Yahweh.
    The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh magnify Yahweh with me.
    Let’s exalt his name together.
I sought Yahweh, and he answered me,
    and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to him, and were radiant.
    Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him,
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him,
    and delivers them.
Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good.
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints,
    for there is no lack with those who fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger,
    but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me.
    I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
12 Who is someone who desires life,
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
    and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Depart from evil, and do good.
    Seek peace, and pursue it.
15 Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous.
    His ears listen to their cry.
16 Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil,
    to cut off their memory from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears,
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart,
    and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
20 He protects all of his bones.
    Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall kill the wicked.
    Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants.
    None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.

Footnotes

  1. 34:1 Psalm 34 is an acrostic poem, with each verse starting with a letter of the alphabet (ordered from Alef to Tav).

The Lord, a Provider and the One Who Rescues Me.

A Psalm of David, when he pretended to be insane before [a]Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

34 I will (A)bless the Lord at all times;
His (B)praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul will (C)make its boast in the Lord;
The (D)humble will hear it and rejoice.
(E)Exalt the Lord with me,
And let’s (F)exalt His name together.

I (G)sought the Lord and He answered me,
And (H)rescued me from all my fears.
They (I)looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will (J)never be ashamed.
This wretched man cried out, and (K)the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The (L)angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.

(M)Taste and see that the Lord is good;
How (N)blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Fear the Lord, you (O)His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is (P)no lack of anything.
10 The young lions do without and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the Lord will (Q)not lack any good thing.
11 (R)Come, you children, listen to me;
(S)I will teach you (T)the fear of the Lord.
12 (U)Who is the person who desires life
And loves length of days, that he may (V)see good?
13 Keep (W)your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking (X)deceit.
14 (Y)Turn from evil and do good;
Seek peace and (Z)pursue it.

15 The (AA)eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears are toward their cry for help.
16 The (AB)face of the Lord is against evildoers,
To (AC)eliminate the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous (AD)cry out, and the Lord hears
And rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord (AE)is near to the (AF)brokenhearted
And saves those who are [b](AG)crushed in spirit.

19 (AH)The (AI)afflictions of the righteous are many,
But the Lord (AJ)rescues him from them all.
20 He protects all his bones,
(AK)Not one of them is broken.
21 (AL)Evil will bring death to the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will suffer for their guilt.
22 The Lord (AM)redeems the souls of His servants,
And none of those who (AN)take refuge in Him will suffer for their guilt.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34 Title Possibly a title of King Achish of Gath, see 1 Sam 21:10-15
  2. Psalm 34:18 Or contrite

10 David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 The servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David the king of the land? Didn’t they sing to one another about him in dances, saying,

‘Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands?’”

12 David laid up these words in his heart, and was very afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 He changed his behavior before them, and pretended to be insane in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why then have you brought him to me? 15 Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Should this fellow come into my house?”

Read full chapter

10 Then David set out and fled that day from Saul, and went to (A)Achish king of Gath. 11 But the (B)servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? (C)Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying,

‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”

12 David (D)took these words [a]to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath. 13 So he (E)disguised his sanity while in their sight and acted insanely in their [b]custody, and he scribbled on the doors of the gate, and drooled on his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is behaving like an insane person. Why do you bring him to me? 15 Do I lack insane people, that you have brought this one to behave like an insane person in my presence? Shall this one come into my house?”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 21:12 Lit in his
  2. 1 Samuel 21:13 Lit hand