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Psalms 34

Psalms 34

The big picture

Psalms 34 opens in verse 1 with “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD .”, and closes in verse 22 with “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, evil, fear, good, righteous. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.

Scripture beside the summary

Psalms · King James Version · 22

Psalms 34:1-8

1–8: I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in…

Psalms 34:1–8 opens with “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” and reaches “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 34 develops its own movement around LORD, evil, fear, good, righteous, with particular weight carried by LORD, angel, ashamed.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” By verse 4, the text has turned to “I sought the LORD , and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” It lands on “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 7 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as LORD, angel, ashamed, bless, blessed, boast tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 34 develops its own movement around LORD, evil, fear, good, righteous,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include LORD, angel, ashamed, bless, blessed. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 4: “I sought the LORD , and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: LORD, angel, ashamed, bless, blessed, boast

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 34:1

    “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

  2. Psalms 34:2

    “My soul shall make her boast in the LORD : the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  3. Psalms 34:3

    “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  4. Psalms 34:4

    “I sought the LORD , and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” The line’s distinctive content terms include delivered, fears, LORD. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

  5. Psalms 34:5

    “They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.” The line’s distinctive content terms include ashamed, faces, lightened. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

  6. Psalms 34:6

    “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cried, LORD, poor. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

  7. Psalms 34:7

    “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include angel, delivereth, encampeth. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

  8. Psalms 34:8

    “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include blessed, good, LORD. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

Psalms 34:1-8

King James Version

1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD : the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4I sought the LORD , and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalms 34:9-16

9–16: O fear the LORD , ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear…

Psalms 34:9–16 opens with “O fear the LORD , ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.” and reaches “The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 34 develops its own movement around LORD, evil, fear, good, righteous, with particular weight carried by LORD, evil, fear.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “O fear the LORD , ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.” By verse 12, the text has turned to “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?” It lands on “The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 question, 1 stated contrast, 5 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as LORD, evil, fear, good, seek, want tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 34 develops its own movement around LORD, evil, fear, good, righteous,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Come, Depart, Keep. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 12: “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: LORD, evil, fear, good, seek, want

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 34:9

    “O fear the LORD , ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fear, LORD, saints. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

  2. Psalms 34:10

    “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  3. Psalms 34:11

    “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD .” Naming Come keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  4. Psalms 34:12

    “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

  5. Psalms 34:13

    “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” Naming Keep keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  6. Psalms 34:14

    “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” Naming Depart keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  7. Psalms 34:15

    “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” The line’s distinctive content terms include ears, eyes, LORD. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

  8. Psalms 34:16

    “The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, evil, face. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

Psalms 34:9-16

King James Version

9O fear the LORD , ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD .

12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

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

16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Psalms 34:17-22

17–22: The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all…

Psalms 34:17–22 opens with “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” and reaches “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 34 develops its own movement around LORD, evil, fear, good, righteous, with particular weight carried by LORD, righteous, broken.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” By verse 19, the text has turned to “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” It lands on “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 4 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as LORD, righteous, broken, delivereth, desolate, afflictions tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 34 develops its own movement around LORD, evil, fear, good, righteous,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Evil, Many. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 19: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: LORD, righteous, broken, delivereth, desolate, afflictions

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Psalms 34:17

    “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” The line’s distinctive content terms include delivereth, heareth, LORD. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

  2. Psalms 34:18

    “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” The line’s distinctive content terms include broken, contrite, heart. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

  3. Psalms 34:19

    “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Naming Many keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  4. Psalms 34:20

    “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  5. Psalms 34:21

    “Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  6. Psalms 34:22

    “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

Psalms 34:17-22

King James Version

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

18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

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

21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Questions to keep in mind while reading

  1. Follow the speaker, images, parallel lines, questions, and emotional movement.
  2. Notice where tension or suffering resists an easy answer.
  3. Read a saying as wisdom for faithful discernment, not as a mechanical promise detached from context.

Text first

Where readers differ

The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.

The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.

Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.

Questions beneath the surface

  1. What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Psalms 34?
  2. Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
  3. What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
  4. Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?

Questions for serious personal contemplation

These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.

Observe without rushing

  1. What part of Psalms 34 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?

  2. Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?

  3. Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Psalms 34 develops its own movement around LORD, evil, fear, good, righteous?

  4. What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?

Examine your inner life honestly

  1. Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?

  2. What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?

  3. Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?

  4. If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?

Respond with wisdom and courage

  1. What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?

  2. How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?

  3. What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?

  4. What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?