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Psalms 34

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

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

12

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

13

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

14

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

15

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

16

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

17

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

1
18

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

19

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

20

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

21

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

22

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

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Psalms 34

Psalm 34 is a wisdom combining thanksgiving with instruction on the benefits of seeking God and living righteously, exemplifying the theological concerns of Book 2. The psalmist employs vivid imagery and direct address to God, establishing the intimate dialogue between worshiper and the divine that characterizes the psalmic tradition. The theological assertions center on God's character as both judge and redeemer, creating a comprehensive vision of divine justice and mercy integrated with human experience. The psalm reflects on both personal circumstance and communal identity, suggesting that individual faith finds validation through shared experience with the covenant community. The liturgical context indicates this psalm's function in worship where personal piety integrates with communal celebration of God's acts and attributes. The concluding movement typically affirms confidence in God's faithfulness, exemplifying the psalmic pattern of transformation through prayer and remembrance of divine acts throughout history.

Psalms 34:1

The psalmist opens with a declaration that he will bless the LORD at all times and that the praise of God will always be in his mouth. The phrase "I will bless the LORD" suggests continuous, habitual, and resolute commitment to express gratitude. The adverb "always" emphasizes the comprehensiveness: not merely in certain circumstances but perpetually and without exception. The assertion that praise will be "always" in his mouth suggests the psalmist has committed to making thanksgiving the default stance. The opening establishes the fundamental posture: unceasing gratitude and praise regardless of circumstance.

Psalms 34:2

The psalmist declares that his soul will glory in the LORD and the humble will hear and be glad. The verb "glory" suggests taking pride and delight in something external to oneself. The reference to the humble suggests that this proclamation addresses particularly those who lack earthly power and status. The promise that the humble "will hear and be glad" suggests that the psalmist's testimony becomes occasion for joy and encouragement. The verse demonstrates that personal praise overflows into blessing for others.

Psalms 34:3

The psalmist exhorts the assembly to "Magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together." The imperative to magnify God suggests treating God as great and glorious. The phrase "with me" suggests that the psalmist invites the assembly to join in praise. The exhortation to "exalt his name together" emphasizes unanimity and collective action. The verb "exalt" suggests lifting up and elevating, making prominent and glorious. The verse demonstrates that praise naturally seeks to expand and include others.

Psalms 34:4

The psalmist describes how he sought the LORD and God answered him and delivered him from all his fears. The verb "sought" suggests intentional pursuit and inquiry, the reaching out to God with need. The simple affirmation "he answered me" demonstrates that God was responsive. The promise of deliverance "from all his fears" suggests comprehensive freedom from anxiety and dread. The verb "delivered" emphasizes the active intervention and rescue. The verse establishes the fundamental pattern: when humans seek God, God responds and delivers.

Psalms 34:5

The psalmist describes how those who look to God are radiant with light and their faces are never covered with shame. The verb "look" suggests directed attention and hopeful expectation. The image of faces radiant with light suggests not merely external beauty but manifestation of inner joy and blessing. The promise that faces will never be "covered with shame" emphasizes the reversal of social disgrace. The verse suggests that faith produces visible effects. The verse invites the assembly to recognize that faith in God is visible in its effects.

Psalms 34:6

The psalmist invokes a poor man who cried to the LORD and God heard him and saved him from all his troubles. The reference to "this poor man" suggests that the psalmist identifies himself with those who lack earthly resources and power. The verb "cried" suggests a desperate cry, the urgent appeal of one in extremity. The affirmation that God "heard" confirms that the cry reached God and was responded to. The promise of being saved "from all his troubles" emphasizes the comprehensiveness of God's deliverance. The testimony transforms vulnerability into occasion for experiencing God's saving power.

Psalms 34:7

The psalmist proclaims that the angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him and delivers them. The image of the angel of the LORD encamping suggests protective presence and vigilant guardianship. The reference to "those who fear him" establishes the condition. The verb "delivers" confirms that the angel's presence is not merely decorative but active in effecting rescue. The verse suggests that those who fear God are surrounded by divine protection. The verse invites the assembly to trust that God provides protection beyond human perception.

Psalms 34:8

The psalmist exhorts the assembly to "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." The verb "taste" employs sensory imagery to suggest direct, experiential knowledge. The invitation to ''see'' continues the sensory metaphor, inviting personal observation and experience. The beatitude ''Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him'' establishes that blessing consists precisely in the act of seeking shelter in God. The verse invites the assembly not to take the psalmist's word but to verify God's goodness through personal experience.

Psalms 34:9

The psalmist exhorts those who fear the LORD to recognize that those who fear him experience lack of nothing. The phrase "those who fear the LORD" identifies the community of the faithful. The assertion that they "lack nothing" suggests that God's provision is comprehensive and sufficient. The verse promises material and spiritual abundance to those who maintain proper relationship with God. The apparent promise that the righteous lack nothing suggests that the poverty mentioned here may be spiritual.

Psalms 34:10

The psalmist acknowledges that the young lions lack and suffer hunger but those who seek the LORD lack nothing good. The comparison emphasizes the contrast between the natural kingdom where strength determines survival and the spiritual realm where trust in God determines flourishing. The reference to young lions lacking suggests that even the strongest creatures experience want. The assertion that those who seek God lack nothing good emphasizes that while material circumstances may vary, those aligned with God will lack nothing of true importance.

Psalms 34:11

The psalmist invites the children to listen and receive instruction in the fear of the LORD. The verb "teach" suggests deliberate instruction and formation, the passing of wisdom and values from generation to generation. The phrase "the fear of the LORD" emphasizes that the fundamental education involves learning to acknowledge God's authority. The address to "children" suggests that the wisdom addresses particularly the young. The verse establishes that the psalm's purpose is pedagogical: to form and instruct the community.

Psalms 34:12

The psalmist poses a rhetorical question: "Who is the man who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?" The reference to desiring life and loving many days reflects universal human concern with longevity and flourishing. The promise that such a person will ''see good'' suggests that the desired life will be characterized by blessing. The rhetorical form invites affirmative response: everyone desires such flourishing. The verse sets up the teaching that follows.

Psalms 34:13

The psalmist provides the first practical teaching: "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit." The focus emphasizes that speech is the primary concern: one who desires flourishing must control the instruments of speech. The instruction to keep the tongue from evil suggests control is not external suppression but redirection. The reference to deceit suggests that lies and deception are particular evils of speech. The verse establishes that flourishing begins with control of the mouth.

Psalms 34:14

The psalmist continues: "Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." The verb "depart" suggests active withdrawal and separation. The pairing of ''do good'' with departing from evil suggests that avoiding harm is insufficient. The reference to ''seek peace'' invokes the comprehensive sense of peace as right relationship and wholeness. The verb ''pursue'' suggests active pursuit and the relentless following of peace. The verse establishes that flourishing involves not merely avoiding evil but pursuing good.

Psalms 34:15

The psalmist asserts that the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry. The imagery of eyes and ears directed toward the righteous suggests God's sustained attention and responsiveness. The contrast implicit in the verse suggests that God's particular attention is directed toward those maintaining righteousness. The affirmation that God's ears are ''attentive'' suggests that God actively listens to prayers and appeals. The verse assures the righteous that they are under God's watchful care.

Psalms 34:16

The psalmist declares that the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off their remembrance from the earth. The imagery of God's face being ''against'' the wicked suggests active opposition and judgment. The statement that God will ''cut off their remembrance'' suggests the ultimate obliteration: not merely death but erasure from memory. The verb ''cut off'' suggests decisive action and removal of all trace. The verse establishes that those who practice evil face God's judgment.

Psalms 34:17

The psalmist declares that the righteous cry out and the LORD hears them and delivers them from all their troubles. The verb ''cry out'' returns to the imagery of desperate appeal. The affirmation that God ''hears'' confirms that these cries reach God. The promise of deliverance ''from all their troubles'' emphasizes the comprehensive nature of rescue. The verse reiterates the fundamental promise: those who appeal to God experience divine response and intervention.

Psalms 34:18

The psalmist asserts that the LORD is close to those who have a broken heart and saves those who have a contrite spirit. The phrase "broken heart" suggests profound sorrow, the internal fragmentation accompanying grief and loss. The reference to a "contrite spirit" emphasizes the internal disposition of repentance and humility. The assertion that God is "close" suggests that divine presence and proximity are the responses to brokenness. The promise that God "saves" those with contrite spirit suggests that genuine repentance becomes occasion for divine rescue.

Psalms 34:19

The psalmist acknowledges that the righteous face many troubles but asserts that the LORD delivers them from all of them. The phrase "Many are the troubles of the righteous" reflects realism about the difficulty of the righteous life. The assertion that God ''delivers from all of them'' suggests that while troubles may be numerous, God's deliverance is comprehensive. The verse establishes that righteous conduct does not exempt one from difficulty but assures divine intervention.

Psalms 34:20

The psalmist declares that God protects all the bones of the righteous and not one of them is broken. The imagery of protecting bones and ensuring none are broken employs language of physical and structural integrity. The verse suggests that God's protection extends to the most fundamental and physical aspects of existence. The promise that "not one of them is broken" suggests meticulous care and comprehensive protection.

Psalms 34:21

The psalmist asserts that evil will slay the wicked and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The verb "slay" suggests that evil itself becomes the instrument of the wicked's destruction, a principle of moral retribution. The affirmation that those who hate the righteous ''will be condemned'' suggests that hostility toward the righteous will not go unpunished. The verse establishes that wickedness carries within it seeds of self-destruction.

Psalms 34:22

The psalm concludes with an affirmation that the LORD redeems the soul of his servants, and those who take refuge in him will not be condemned. The verb "redeems" suggests the payment of ransom and the restoration to freedom. The reference to "servants of the LORD" identifies those who acknowledge God's authority. The promise that those who take refuge in God ''will not be condemned'' reiterates the central assurance. The closing benediction transforms the entire psalm into a celebration of God's redemptive and protective action toward the faithful.