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Psalm 34, read aloud
Psalm 34: I will bless the LORD at all times
“Oh taste and see that the LORD is good.” Listen to the opening, and read all twenty-two verses below.
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There is 1:22 more of Psalm 34 in Linen, where 40 psalms are read aloud at bedtime by Mia or by James, with a sleep timer.
Free to download, iPhone only for now. The bedtime psalms are part of Linen Premium: $6.99 a month or $39.99 a year, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial. Psalm 23 is free in the app.
Psalm 34 World English Bible
By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
1I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
2My soul shall boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3Oh magnify the LORD with me. Let’s exalt his name together.
4I sought the LORD, 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 the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The LORD’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9Oh fear the LORD, 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 the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
11Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
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.
15The LORD’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
16The LORD’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD 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 the LORD 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.
22The LORD redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
About Psalm 34
The heading ties Psalm 34 to a low point in David's life. Running from Saul, he pretended to be insane in front of a foreign king so that he would be let go (1 Samuel 21:10–15, where the king is called Achish). He got away with nothing but his life, and this is the song that came of it: “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him.”
In Hebrew the psalm is an acrostic: each verse begins with the next letter of the alphabet, which made it easier to learn by heart. The first half is testimony and invitation: “Oh magnify the LORD with me.” The second half teaches, in the manner of Proverbs: “Keep your tongue from evil,” “Seek peace, and pursue it.”
Its best-loved line is verse 18: “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.” The psalm does not promise a life without trouble. It says plainly, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous,” and that God is close in them.
When to read Psalm 34
- When you are grieving, or sitting beside someone who is.
- After a prayer has been answered, to say thank you out loud.
- When fear has been running the day. Verse 4 is the testimony of someone it let go.
A prayer from Psalm 34
Lord, I will bless you at all times. I sought you, and you answered me; deliver me from all my fears. Be near to me where my heart is broken. Let me taste and see that you are good, and take refuge in you. Amen.