上帝的美善

大卫在亚比米勒面前装疯,被赶出去后,作了此诗。

34 我要常常称颂耶和华,
时刻赞美祂。
我要夸耀祂的作为,
困苦人听见必欢欣。
让我们一同颂赞祂的伟大,
尊崇祂的名!
我向祂祷告,祂便应允我,
救我脱离一切恐惧。
凡仰望祂的必有荣光,
不致蒙羞。
我这可怜的人向祂呼求,
祂就垂听,
救我脱离一切困境。
祂的天使必四面保护敬畏祂的人,拯救他们。
你们要亲身体验,
就知道耶和华的美善;
投靠祂的人有福了!
耶和华的圣民啊,
你们要敬畏祂,
因为敬畏祂的人一无所缺。
10 壮狮也会忍饥挨饿,
但寻求耶和华的人什么福分都不缺。

11 孩子们啊,听我说,
我要教导你们敬畏耶和华。
12 若有人热爱生命,
渴望长寿和幸福,
13 就要舌头不出恶言,
嘴唇不说诡诈的话。
14 要弃恶行善,
竭力追求和睦。
15 耶和华的眼睛看顾义人,
祂的耳朵垂听他们的呼求。
16 耶和华严惩作恶之人,
从世上铲除他们。
17 义人向耶和华呼救,祂就垂听,
拯救他们脱离一切患难。
18 祂安慰悲痛欲绝的人,
拯救心灵破碎的人。
19 义人也会遭遇许多患难,
但耶和华必拯救他,
20 保全他一身的骨头,
连一根也不折断。
21 恶人必遭恶报,
与义人为敌的必被定罪。
22 耶和华必救赎祂的仆人,
投靠祂的人必不被定罪。

34 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Psalm 34

Blessed Is the Person Who Takes Refuge in God

Heading

By David. When he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelek, who drove him away, and David left.[a]

David’s Thanks for Deliverance

I will bless the Lord at all times.
His praise will always be in my mouth.
In the Lord my soul will boast.
The humble will hear and rejoice.

An Invitation to Join David in Praise

Proclaim the greatness of the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together.

The Story of David’s Deliverance

I sought the Lord, and he answered me.
From all my terrors he delivered me.
His people look to him and are radiant,
and their faces will never blush.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard.
From all his distress the Lord saved him.
The Angel of the Lord[b] camps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

The Application of This Truth to All Believers

Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed is everyone who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his saints,
since those who fear him lack nothing.
10 Young lions may lack food and be hungry,
but those who seek the Lord do not lack any good thing.

11 Come, children, listen to me.
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 Who wants to find pleasure in life?
Who would love to experience many good days?
13 Guard your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn from evil and do good.
Seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord watch over the righteous.
His ears listen to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is set against those who do evil,
    to cut off memory of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears.
From all their distress he delivers them.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.
19 Many are the troubles of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him from them all.
20 He watches over all his bones;
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked.
Those who hate the righteous will be found guilty.
22 The Lord redeems the soul[c] of his servants.
Anyone who takes refuge in him will not be found guilty.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:1 See 1 Samuel 21.
  2. Psalm 34:7 This seems to allude to the Angel of the Lord, who led Israel through the wilderness.
  3. Psalm 34:22 Or life