Psalms 34
34
PSALM 34
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.
1God will I bless all times; his praise
my mouth shall still express.
2My soul shall boast in God: the meek
shall hear with joyfulness.
3Extol the Lord with me, let us
exalt his name together.
4I sought the Lord, he heard, and did
me from all fears deliver.
5They look'd to him, and lighten'd were:
not shamed were their faces.
6This poor man cry'd, God heard, and sav'd
him from all his distresses.
7The angel of the Lord encamps,
and round encompasseth
All those about that do him fear,
and them delivereth.
8O taste and see that God is good:
who trusts in him is bless'd.
9Fear God his saints: none that him fear
shall be with want oppress'd.
10The lions young may hungry be,
and they may lack their food:
But they that truly seek the Lord
shall not lack any good.
11O children, hither do ye come,
and unto me give ear;
I shall you teach to understand
how ye the Lord should fear.
12What man is he that life desires,
to see good would live long?
13Thy lips refrain from speaking guile,
and from ill words thy tongue.
14Depart from ill, do good, seek peace,
pursue it earnestly.
15God's eyes are on the just; his ears
are open to their cry.
16The face of God is set against
those that do wickedly,
That he may quite out from the earth
cut off their memory.
17The righteous cry unto the Lord,
he unto them gives ear;
And they out of their troubles all
by him deliver'd are.
18The Lord is ever nigh to them
that be of broken sp'rit;
To them he safety doth afford
that are in heart contrite.
19The troubles that afflict the just
in number many be;
But yet at length out of them all
the Lord doth set him free.
20He carefully his bones doth keep,
whatever can befall;
That not so much as one of them
can broken be at all.
21Ill shall the wicked slay; laid waste
shall be who hate the just.
22The Lord redeems his servants' souls;
none perish that him trust.
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 34
34
God’s Goodness
A song by King David composed after his escape from the king when he pretended to be insane
1Lord! I’m bursting with joy over what you’ve done for me!
My lips are full of perpetual praise.
2I’m boasting of you and all your works,
so let all who are discouraged take heart.
3Join me, everyone! Let’s praise the Lord together.
Let’s make him famous!
Let’s make his name glorious to all.
4Listen to my testimony: I cried to God in my distress
and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears!
5Gaze upon him, join your life with his, and joy will come.
Your faces will glisten with glory.
You’ll never wear that shame-face again.
6When I had nothing, desperate and defeated,
I cried out to the Lord and he heard me,
bringing his miracle-deliverance when I needed it most. # 34:6 David wrote this psalm at perhaps the lowest point in his life. He was alone. He had to part from Jonathan, his dearest friend. He was being chased by Saul and his paid assassins. He had run to hide in the cave of Adullam (meaning “their prey”). Yet the beautiful sounds of praise were heard echoing in his cavern. This is a lesson for all of us: we praise our way out of our difficulties into his light.
7The angel of Yahweh stooped down to listen as I prayed,
encircling me, empowering me, and showing me how to escape.
He will do this for everyone who fears God.
8Drink deeply # 34:8 Many translations read “Taste and see.” The Hebrew root word for “see” is taken from a word that means “to drink deeply.” of the pleasures of this God.
Experience for yourself the joyous mercies he gives
to all who turn to hide themselves in him.
9Worship in awe and wonder, all you who’ve been made holy!
For all who fear him will feast with plenty.
10Even the strong and the wealthy # 34:10 Following the ancient versions (Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate), this phrase is translated “rich ones.” Modern translations read “young lions.” grow weak and hungry,
but those who passionately pursue the Lord
will never lack any good thing.
11Come, children of God, and listen to me.
I’ll share the lesson I’ve learned of fearing the Lord:
12-13Do you want to live a long, good life,
enjoying the beauty that fills each day?
Then never speak a lie or allow wicked words
to come from your mouth.
14Keep turning your back on every sin,
and make “peace” your life motto.
Practice being at peace with everyone. # 34:14 Twice in this verse David used the Hebrew word shalom. This word means much more than “peace.” It means wholeness, wellness, well-being, safe, happy, friendly, favor, completeness, to make peace, peace offering, secure, to prosper, to be victorious, to be content, tranquil, quiet, and restful. So shalom is used to describe those of us who have been provided all that is needed to be whole and complete and break off all authority that would attempt to bind us to chaos.
15The Lord sees all we do;
he watches over his friends day and night.
His godly ones receive the answers they seek
whenever they cry out to him.
16But the Lord has made up his mind to oppose evildoers
and to wipe out even the memory of them
from the face of the earth. # 34:16 See 1 Peter 3:10–12.
17Yet when holy lovers of God cry out
to him with all their hearts,
the Lord will hear them and come to rescue them
from all their troubles.
18The Lord is close to all whose hearts are crushed by pain,
and he is always ready to restore the repentant one.
19Even when bad things happen to the good and godly ones,
the Lord will save them and not let them be defeated
by what they face.
20God will be your bodyguard to protect you
when trouble is near.
Not one bone will be broken.
21Evil will cause the death of the wicked,
for they hate and persecute the devoted lovers of God.
Make no mistake about it:
God will hold them guilty and punish them;
they will pay the penalty!
22But the Lord has paid for the freedom of his servants,
and he will freely pardon those who love him.
He will declare them free and innocent
when they turn to hide themselves in him.
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