Psalm 34

1I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. 2My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let’s exalt his name together. 4I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame. 6This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 9Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him. 10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing. 11Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. 12Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? 13Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies. 14Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it. 15Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry. 16Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth. 17The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. 19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. 20He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken. 21Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. 22Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.

This psalm was penned upon a particular occasion, as appears by the title, and yet there is little in it peculiar to that occasion, but that which is general, both by way of thanksgiving to God an instruction to us. I. He praises God for the experience which he and others had had of his goodness (Psa 34:1-6). II. He encourages all good people to trust in God and to seek to him (Psa 34:7-10). III. He gives good counsel to us all, as unto children, to take heed of sin, and to make conscience of our duty both to God and man (Psa 34:11-14). IV. To enforce this good counsel he shows God's favour to the righteous and his displeasure against the wicked, in which he sets before us good and evil, the blessing and the curse (Psa 34:15-22). So that, in singing this psalm, we are both to give glory to God and to teach and admonish ourselves and one another.

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

Cross-references: Ps 34:1 · Ps 34:7 · Ps 34:11 · Ps 34:15

Introduction