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Psalm 34[a]

Thanksgiving to God Who Delivers the Just

Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech,[b] who drove him out and he went away.

I

I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall be always in my mouth.(A)
My soul will glory in the Lord;
    let the poor hear and be glad.
Magnify the Lord with me;
    and let us exalt his name together.

II

I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
    delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him and be radiant,
    and your faces may not blush for shame.
This poor one cried out and the Lord heard,
    and from all his distress he saved him.
The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and he saves them.(B)
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the stalwart one who takes refuge in him.(C)
10 Fear the Lord, you his holy ones;
    nothing is lacking to those who fear him.(D)
11 The rich grow poor and go hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

III

12 Come, children,[c] listen to me;(E)
    I will teach you fear of the Lord.
13 Who is the man who delights in life,(F)
    who loves to see the good days?
14 Keep your tongue from evil,
    your lips from speaking lies.
15 Turn from evil and do good;(G)
    seek peace and pursue it.
16 The eyes of the Lord are directed toward the righteous(H)
    and his ears toward their cry.
17 The Lord’s face is against evildoers
    to wipe out their memory from the earth.
18 The righteous cry out, the Lord hears
    and he rescues them from all their afflictions.
19 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,
    saves those whose spirit is crushed.
20 Many are the troubles of the righteous,
    but the Lord delivers him from them all.
21 He watches over all his bones;
    not one of them shall be broken.(I)
22 Evil will slay the wicked;
    those who hate the righteous are condemned.
23 The Lord is the redeemer of the souls of his servants;
    and none are condemned who take refuge in him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34 A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22).
  2. 34:1 Abimelech: a scribal error for Achish. In 1 Sm 21:13–16, David feigned madness before Achish, not Abimelech.
  3. 34:12 Children: the customary term for students in wisdom literature.

Psalm 34

Praise for Deliverance from Trouble

Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
    and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him, and be radiant;
    so your[a] faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
    and was saved from every trouble.
The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
    happy are those who take refuge in him.
O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,
    for those who fear him have no want.
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Which of you desires life,
    and covets many days to enjoy good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil, and do good;
    seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
    to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears,
    and rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the Lord rescues them from them all.
20 He keeps all their bones;
    not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil brings death to the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:5 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb their

(A)In Praise of God's Goodness[a]

34 I will always thank the Lord;
    I will never stop praising him.
I will praise him for what he has done;
    may all who are oppressed listen and be glad!
Proclaim with me the Lord's greatness;
    let us praise his name together!

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me;
    he freed me from all my fears.
The oppressed look to him and are glad;
    they will never be disappointed.
The helpless call to him, and he answers;
    he saves them from all their troubles.
His angel guards those who honor the Lord
    and rescues them from danger.

(B)Find out for yourself how good the Lord is.
    Happy are those who find safety with him.
Honor the Lord, all his people;
    those who obey him have all they need.
10 Even lions go hungry for lack of food,
    but those who obey the Lord lack nothing good.

11 Come, my young friends, and listen to me,
    and I will teach you to honor the Lord.
12 (C)Would you like to enjoy life?
    Do you want long life and happiness?
13 Then keep from speaking evil
    and from telling lies.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
    strive for peace with all your heart.

15 The Lord watches over the righteous
    and listens to their cries;
16 but he opposes those who do evil,
    so that when they die, they are soon forgotten.
17 The righteous call to the Lord, and he listens;
    he rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to those who are discouraged;
    he saves those who have lost all hope.

19 Good people suffer many troubles,
    but the Lord saves them from them all;
20 (D)the Lord preserves them completely;
    not one of their bones is broken.
21 Evil will kill the wicked;
    those who hate the righteous will be punished.

22 The Lord will save his people;
    those who go to him for protection will be spared.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:1 HEBREW TITLE: By David, who left the presence of Abimelech after pretending to be crazy and being sent away by him.

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

Psalm 34[a][b]

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

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

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

Taste and see that the Lord is good;(N)
    blessed is the one who takes refuge(O) in him.
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.