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
PSALM 34.
1For David himself. Judge thou, O Lord, them that wrong me: overthrow them that fight against me.
2Take hold of arms and shield: and rise up to help me.
3Bring out the sword, and shut up the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul: I am thy salvation.
4Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek after my soul. Let them be turned back and be confounded that devise against me.
5Let them become as dust before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord straiten them.
6Let their way become dark and slippery; and let the angel of the Lord pursue them.
7For without cause they have hidden their net for me unto destruction: without cause they have upbraided my soul.
8Let the snare which he knoweth not come upon him: and let the net which he hath hidden catch him: and let the net which he hath hidden catch him: and into that very snare let them fall.
9But my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; and shall be delighted in his salvation.
10All my bones shall say: Lord, who is like to thee? Who deliverest the poor from the hand of them that are stronger than he; the needy and the poor from them that strip him.
11Unjust witnesses rising up have asked me things I knew not.
12They repaid me evil for good: to the depriving me of my soul.
13But as for me, when they were troublesome to me, I was clothed with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer shall be turned into my bosom.
14As a neighbour and as an own brother, so did I please: as one mourning and sorrowful so was I humbled.
15But they rejoiced against me, and came together: scourges were gathered together upon me, and I knew not.
16They were separated, and repented not: they tempted me, they scoffed at me with scorn: they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
17Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? rescue thou soul from their malice: my only one from the lions.
18I will give thanks to thee in a great church; I will praise thee in a strong people.
19Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: who have hated me without cause, and wink with the eyes.
20For they spoke indeed peaceably to me; and speaking in the anger of the earth they devised guile.
21And they opened their mouth wide against me; they said: Well done, well done, our eyes have seen it.
22Thou hast seen, O Lord, be not thou silent: O Lord, depart not from me.
23Arise, and be attentive to my judgment: to my cause, my God, and my Lord.
24Judge me, O Lord my God according to thy justice, and let them not rejoice over me.
25Let them not say in their hearts: It is well, it is well, to our mind: neither let them say: We have swallowed him up.
26Let them blush: and be ashamed together, who rejoice at my evils. Let them be clothed with confusion and shame, who speak great things against me.
27Let them rejoice and be glad, who are well pleased with my justice, and let them say always: The Lord be magnified, who delights in the peace of his servant.
28Any my tongue shall meditate thy justice, thy praise all the day long.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.