34 1 After David had escaped Achish, according as it is written in 1 Sam. 2:11, whom in this title he calleth Abimelech (which was a general name to all the Kings of the Philistines) he praiseth God for his deliverance, 3 provoking all others by his example to trust in God, to fear and serve him, 7 who defendeth the godly with his Angels, 16 and utterly destroyeth the wicked in their sins.

A Psalm of David, when he changeth his behavior before Abimelech, who drave him away, and he departed.

I will [a]always give thanks unto the Lord: his praise shall be in my mouth continually.

My soul shall glory in the Lord: the [b]humble shall hear it and be glad.

Praise ye the Lord with me, and let us magnify his Name together.

I sought the Lord, and he heard me: yea, he delivered me out of all my [c]fear.

They [d]shall look unto him, and run to him: and their faces shall not be ashamed, saying,

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

The [e]Angel of the Lord pitched round about them, that fear him, and delivereth them.

Taste ye and see, how gracious the Lord is: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Fear the Lord ye his Saints: for nothing wanteth to them that fear him.

10 The [f]lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they which seek the Lord, shall [g]want nothing that is good.

11 Come children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the [h]fear of the Lord.

12 (A)What man is he that desireth life, and loveth long days for to [i]see good?

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips, that they speak no guile.

14 Eschew evil and do good: seek peace and follow after it.

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

16 But the [j]face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off their remembrance from the earth.

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

18 The Lord is near unto them that are of a [k]contrite heart, and will save such as be afflicted in spirit.

19 Great are the troubles of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

20 [l]He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21 But malice shall slay the [m]wicked: and they that hate the righteous, shall perish.

22 The Lord [n]redeemeth the souls of his servants: and none that trust in him, shall perish.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:1 He promised never to become unmindful of God’s great benefit for his deliverance.
  2. Psalm 34:2 They that are beaten down with the experience of their own evils.
  3. Psalm 34:4 Which I conceived for the danger wherein I was.
  4. Psalm 34:5 They shall be bold to flee to thee for succor, when they shall see thy mercies toward me.
  5. Psalm 34:7 Though God’s power be sufficient to govern us, yet for man’s infirmity he appointeth his Angels to watch over us.
  6. Psalm 34:10 The godly by their patient obedience profit more than they which ravine and spoil.
  7. Psalm 34:10 If they abide the last trial.
  8. Psalm 34:11 That is, the true religion and worship of God.
  9. Psalm 34:12 Seeing all men naturally desire felicity, he wondereth why they cast themselves willingly into misery.
  10. Psalm 34:16 The anger of God doth not only destroy the wicked, but also abolisheth their name forever.
  11. Psalm 34:18 When they seem to be swallowed up with afflictions, then God is at hand to deliver them.
  12. Psalm 34:20 And as Christ saith, all the hairs of his head.
  13. Psalm 34:21 Their wicked enterprises shall turn to their own destruction.
  14. Psalm 34:22 For when they seem to be overcome with great dangers and death itself, then God showeth himself their redeemer.

Psalm 34[a][b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

I will extol the Lord at all times;(B)
    his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory(C) in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(D)
Glorify the Lord(E) with me;
    let us exalt(F) his name together.

I sought the Lord,(G) and he answered me;
    he delivered(H) me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;(I)
    their faces are never covered with shame.(J)
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.(K)
The angel of the Lord(L) encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers(M) them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;(N)
    blessed is the one who takes refuge(O) in him.
Fear the Lord,(P) you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.(Q)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(R)
11 Come, my children, listen(S) to me;
    I will teach you(T) the fear of the Lord.(U)
12 Whoever of you loves life(V)
    and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(W) from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.(X)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(Y)
    seek peace(Z) and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord(AA) are on the righteous,(AB)
    and his ears are attentive(AC) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(AD) those who do evil,(AE)
    to blot out their name(AF) from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(AG) them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(AH) to the brokenhearted(AI)
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,(AJ)
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;(AK)
20 he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.(AL)

21 Evil will slay the wicked;(AM)
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue(AN) his servants;
    no one who takes refuge(AO) in him will be condemned.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.