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Psalm 34

By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.

Psalm 34:1 WEB

My soul shall boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Psalm 34:2 WEB

Oh magnify the LORD with me. Let’s exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3 WEB

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

Psalm 34:4 WEB

They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.

Psalm 34:5 WEB

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

Psalm 34:6 WEB

The LORD’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Psalm 34:7 WEB

Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8 WEB

Oh fear the LORD, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.

Psalm 34:9 WEB

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

Psalm 34:10 WEB

Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Psalm 34:11 WEB

Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

Psalm 34:12 WEB

Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.

Psalm 34:13 WEB

Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14 WEB

The LORD’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.

Psalm 34:15 WEB

The LORD’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.

Psalm 34:16 WEB

The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 34:17 WEB

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.

Psalm 34:18 WEB

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 34:19 WEB

He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.

Psalm 34:20 WEB

Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

Psalm 34:21 WEB

The LORD redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.

Psalm 34:22 WEB

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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