Psalm 34

A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 34:1 KJV

My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

Psalm 34:2 KJV

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3 KJV

I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4 KJV

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

Psalm 34:5 KJV

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalm 34:6 KJV

The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Psalm 34:7 KJV

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalm 34:8 KJV

O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Psalm 34:9 KJV

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Psalm 34:10 KJV

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Psalm 34:11 KJV

What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

Psalm 34:12 KJV

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Psalm 34:13 KJV

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14 KJV

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Psalm 34:15 KJV

The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Psalm 34:16 KJV

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 34:17 KJV

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalm 34:18 KJV

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psalm 34:19 KJV

He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Psalm 34:20 KJV

Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

Psalm 34:21 KJV

The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Psalm 34:22 KJV

End of Psalm 34

Continue reading Psalm 35

What is Psalm 34 about?

Psalm 34 is David's thanksgiving after escaping danger, when he pretended to be mad before a Philistine king (1 Samuel 21). In Hebrew it is an acrostic. David begins, "I will bless the LORD at all times," and invites others to join him: "O taste and see that the LORD is good" (verse 8). He says the angel of the LORD camps around those who fear him, and that "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart" (verse 18). The psalm also teaches practical wisdom: keep your tongue from evil, depart from evil and seek peace. Its central message is that God hears and delivers.

What does Psalm 34 mean?

Psalm 34:18

David wrote Psalm 34 after escaping a dangerous situation, and it is full of thanks for God's rescue. This verse offers some of the Bible's deepest comfort for people who are hurting. "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart" means God draws especially close to people crushed by grief, disappointment, or loss. He does not stand at a distance waiting for them to recover. "Saveth such as be of a contrite spirit" speaks of those whose spirit is crushed or humbled, and promises that God rescues them. The verse does not promise that pain will disappear, but that God is near in it.

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