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
A Psalm of David; when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
1I will bless Jehovah at all times:
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul shall make her boast in Jehovah:
The meek shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3Oh magnify Jehovah with me,
And let us exalt his name together.
4I sought Jehovah, and he answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were radiant;
And their faces shall never be confounded.
6This poor man cried, and Jehovah heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him,
And delivereth them.
8Oh taste and see that Jehovah is good:
Blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him.
9Oh fear Jehovah, ye his saints;
For there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger;
But they that seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing.
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me:
I will teach you the fear of Jehovah.
12What man is he that desireth life,
And loveth many days, that he may see good?
13Keep thy tongue from evil,
And thy lips from speaking guile.
14Depart from evil, and do good;
Seek peace, and pursue it.
15The eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous,
And his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cried, and Jehovah heard,
And delivered them out of all their troubles.
18Jehovah is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart,
And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous;
But Jehovah delivereth him out of them all.
20He keepeth all his bones:
Not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked;
And they that hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants;
And none of them that take refuge in him shall be condemned.
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