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Psalm 34
Common English Bible

Psalm 34[a]

Of David, when he pretended to be crazy before Abimelech, who banished him so that he left.

34 I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be in my mouth.
2 I[b] praise the Lord—
    let the suffering listen and rejoice.
3 Magnify the Lord with me!
    Together let us lift his name up high!
4 I sought the Lord and he answered me.
    He delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to God will shine;
    their faces are never ashamed.
6 This suffering person cried out:
    the Lord listened and saved him from every trouble.
7 On every side, the Lord’s messenger protects those who honor God; and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see how good the Lord is!
    The one who takes refuge in him is truly happy!
9 You who are the Lord’s holy ones, honor him,
    because those who honor him don’t lack a thing.
10 Even strong young lions go without and get hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, children, listen to me.
    Let me teach you how to honor the Lord:
12 Do you love life;
    do you relish the chance to enjoy good things?
13     Then you must keep your tongue from evil
        and keep your lips from speaking lies!
14 Turn away from evil! Do good!
    Seek peace and go after it!

15 The Lord’s eyes watch the righteous,
    his ears listen to their cries for help.
16 But the Lord’s face is set against those who do evil,
    to eliminate even the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry out, the Lord listens;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he saves those whose spirits are crushed.

19 The righteous have many problems,
    but the Lord delivers them from every one.
20 He protects all their bones;
    not even one will be broken.
21 But just one problem will kill the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be held responsible.
22 The Lord saves his servants’ lives;
    all those who take refuge in him
    won’t be held responsible for anything.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:1 Ps 34 is an alphabetic acrostic poem; see the note at Pss 9–10.
  2. Psalm 34:2 Or my soul; also in 34:22
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Psalm 34
Lexham English Bible

Thanksgiving for Yahweh’s Deliverance

Of David, when he pretended to be crazy[a] in front of Abimelech[b]

so that he drove him out, and so he departed.[c]

34 I will bless Yahweh at all times;
his praise shall be in my mouth continually.
2 My soul makes its boast in Yahweh;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Magnify Yahweh with me,
and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought Yahweh and he answered me,
and from all my terrors he delivered me.
5 They looked to him and were radiant,
and their faces shall not be ashamed.[d]
6 This poor man called and Yahweh heard,
and saved him from all his troubles.
7 The angel of Yahweh encamps
around those who fear him,
and he rescues them.
8 Taste and see that Yahweh is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear Yahweh, you his saints,[e]
for there is no lack for those who fear him.
10 The young lions are in want and suffer hunger,
but those who seek Yahweh will not lack for any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
who loves many days in order to see good?
13 Keep 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 Yahweh are toward the righteous,
and his ears toward their cry for help.
16 The face of Yahweh is against evildoers,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 They[f] cry out and Yahweh hears
and delivers them from all of their troubles.
18 Yahweh is near to those who are heartbroken
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the distresses of the righteous,
but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
20 He protects all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will incur guilt.
22 Yahweh redeems the life of his servants,
and none who take refuge in him will incur guilt.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:1 Literally “he changed his discernment”
  2. Psalm 34:1 Literally “my father is king” whereas 1 Sam 21:10(9) has “Achish.” “Abimelech” is perhaps an honorific title, since its literal meaning suggests a legitimate right to rule
  3. Psalm 34:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  4. Psalm 34:5 Or “and let not their faces be ashamed”
  5. Psalm 34:9 Or “holy ones”
  6. Psalm 34:17 That is, the righteous
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Psalm 34
New International Version

Psalm 34[a][b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

1 I will extol the Lord at all times;(B)
    his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory(C) in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(D)
3 Glorify the Lord(E) with me;
    let us exalt(F) his name together.

4 I sought the Lord,(G) and he answered me;
    he delivered(H) me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;(I)
    their faces are never covered with shame.(J)
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.(K)
7 The angel of the Lord(L) encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers(M) them.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;(N)
    blessed is the one who takes refuge(O) in him.
9 Fear the Lord,(P) you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.(Q)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(R)
11 Come, my children, listen(S) to me;
    I will teach you(T) the fear of the Lord.(U)
12 Whoever of you loves life(V)
    and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(W) from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.(X)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(Y)
    seek peace(Z) and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord(AA) are on the righteous,(AB)
    and his ears are attentive(AC) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(AD) those who do evil,(AE)
    to blot out their name(AF) from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(AG) them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(AH) to the brokenhearted(AI)
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,(AJ)
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;(AK)
20 he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.(AL)

21 Evil will slay the wicked;(AM)
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue(AN) his servants;
    no one who takes refuge(AO) in him will be condemned.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.
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Psalm 33
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