Old Testament

Psalms 34

Cry of the Poor, Shield of the Righteous

6 passages

Overview

In this acrostic psalm attributed to David, the Psalmist moves from unconditional personal praise and communal invitation, through a sensory summons to taste God's goodness and wisdom instruction on speech and conduct, to a closing contrast between the covenant faithfulness God shows the afflicted righteous—guarding them to their very bones—and the ruin that overtakes the wicked.

Passages

1–3Blessing Without Ceasing: The Soul's Perpetual Praise 4–7Radiant in the Lord: A Testimony of Answered Prayer 8–10Taste and See: Invitation to Experience God's Goodness 11–14Wisdom Instruction: The Way of Life 15–18Eyes of the Lord: God's Watchful Care for the Righteous and Contrite 19–22The Righteous Delivered, the Wicked Condemned

Study Resources

Psalms 34

¹By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. I 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.

Psalms 33 Psalms 35