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
(Written by David when he pretended to be crazy in front of Abimelech, so that Abimelech would send him away, and David could leave.)
Honor the Lord
1 #
1 S 21.13-15. I will always praise the Lord.
2With all my heart,
I will praise the Lord.
Let all who are helpless,
listen and be glad.
3Honor the Lord with me!
Celebrate his great name.
4I asked the Lord for help,
and he saved me
from all my fears.
5Keep your eyes on the Lord!
You will shine like the sun
and never blush with shame.
6I was a nobody, but I prayed,
and the Lord saved me
from all my troubles.
7If you honor the Lord,
his angel will protect you.
8 #
1 P 2.3. Discover for yourself
that the Lord is kind.
Come to him for protection,
and you will be glad.
9Honor the Lord!
You are his special people.
No one who honors the Lord
will ever be in need.
10Young lions#34.10 Young lions: In the Psalms wild animals often stand for God's enemies. may go hungry
or even starve,
but if you trust the Lord,
you will never miss out
on anything good.
11Come, my children, listen
as I teach you
to respect the Lord.
12 #
1 P 3.10-12. Do you want to live
and enjoy a long life?
13Then don't say cruel things
and don't tell lies.
14Do good instead of evil
and try to live at peace.
15If you obey the Lord,
he will watch over you
and answer your prayers.
16But God despises evil people,
and he will wipe them all
from the earth,
till they are forgotten.
17When his people pray for help,
he listens and rescues them
from their troubles.
18The Lord is there to rescue
all
who are discouraged
and have given up hope.
19The Lord's people
may suffer a lot,
but he will always
bring them safely through.
20 #
Jn 19.36. Not one of their bones
will ever be broken.
21Wicked people are killed
by their own evil deeds,
and if you hate God's people
you will be punished.
22The Lord saves the lives
of his servants.
Run to him for protection,
and you won't be punished.
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