Side by side
Psalm 34
Our plain-language guide next to the Bible text. Each row lines up one section with the verses it explains.
Section 1: I Will Bless the LORDVerses 1 to 7
"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips" (34:1).
Even when afraid. Even when surrounded. The praise does not stop.
"My soul boasts in the LORD; let the oppressed hear and rejoice" (34:2).
"Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together" (34:3).
"I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears" (34:4).
"Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces shall never be ashamed" (34:5).
"This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles" (34:6).
"The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them" (34:7).
1Of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, so that the king drove him away. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. 2My soul boasts in the LORD; let the oppressed hear and rejoice. 3Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. 4I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. 5Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces shall never be ashamed. 6This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles. 7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.
Section 2: Taste and SeeVerses 8 to 10
"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (34:8).
This is an invitation to experience God, not just learn about him.
"Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing" (34:9).
"Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing" (34:10).
Even the strong go without. Those who seek God do not.
8Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. 10Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Section 3: The Fear of the LORDVerses 11 to 22
"Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD" (34:11).
The fear of the LORD is not terror. It is reverence — a life shaped by knowing God.
He who loves life keeps his tongue from evil and his lips from deceit.
"Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it" (34:14).
"The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry" (34:15).
"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles" (34:17).
"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit" (34:18).
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all" (34:19).
"The LORD redeems His servants, and none who take refuge in Him will be condemned" (34:22).
11Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12Who is the man who delights in life, who desires to see good days? 13Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. 14Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry. 16But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to wipe out all memory of them from the earth. 17The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles. 18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. 19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all. 20He protects all his bones; not one of them will be broken. 21Evil will slay the wicked, and the haters of the righteous will be condemned. 22The LORD redeems His servants, and none who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
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