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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Psalms 34: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 34
34
In Praise of God's Goodness#Ps 34 Hebrew title: By David, who left the presence of Abimelech after pretending to be mad and being sent away by him.#1 Sam 21.13–15
1I will always thank the LORD;
I will never stop praising him.
2I will praise him for what he has done;
may all who are oppressed listen and be glad!
3Proclaim with me the LORD's greatness;
let us praise his name together!
4I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me;
he freed me from all my fears.
5The oppressed look to him and are glad;
they will never be disappointed.
6The helpless call to him, and he answers;
he saves them from all their troubles.
7His angel guards those who honour the LORD
and rescues them from danger.
8 #
1 Pet 2.3
Find out for yourself how good the LORD is.
Happy are those who find safety with him.
9Honour the LORD, all his people;
those who obey him have all they need.
10Even lions go hungry for lack of food,
but those who obey the LORD lack nothing good.
11Come, my young friends, and listen to me,
and I will teach you to honour the LORD.
12 #
1 Pet 3.10–12
Would you like to enjoy life?
Do you want long life and happiness?
13Then hold back from speaking evil
and from telling lies.
14Turn away from evil and do good;
strive for peace with all your heart.
15The LORD watches over the righteous
and listens to their cries;
16but he opposes those who do evil,
so that when they die, they are soon forgotten.
17The righteous call to the LORD, and he listens;
he rescues them from all their troubles.
18The LORD is near to those who are discouraged;
he saves those who have lost all hope.
19Good people suffer many troubles,
but the LORD saves them from them all;
20 #
Jn 19.36
the LORD preserves them completely;
not one of their bones is broken.
21Evil will kill the wicked;
those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22The LORD will save his people;
those who go to him for protection will be spared.
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Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.