1 PSALM 34 The L , a Provider and the One Who Rescues Me. of David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the Lat all times;His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the L;The humbleanddowntrodden will hear it and rejoice.
3 OThe ancient rabbis applied this verse specifically to the saying of grace after a meal and instituted the practice of zimmum (“invitation”) as a religious duty for three or more men who had eaten together. They were to invite one another to say the blessing. One then said the blessing and the others were required to say “Amen” in voices no louder than that of the speaker of the blessing, based on the word together. It was also taught that all the participants in the blessing receive a reward from God.magnify the Lwith me,And let us lift up His name together.
4 I sought the L[on the authority of His word], and He answered me,And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant;Their faces will never blush in shameorconfusion.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lheard himAnd saved him from all his troubles.
7 TheSee note Gen 16:7.angel of the Lencamps around those who fear Him [with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience],And He rescues [each of] them.
8 O taste and see that the L[our God] is good;How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.
9 O [reverently] fear the L, you His saints (believers, holy ones);For to those who fear Him there is no want.
10 The young lions lack [food] and grow hungry,But they who seek the Lwill not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me;I will teach you to fear the L[with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience].
12 Who is the man who desires lifeAnd loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evilAnd your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;Seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lare toward the righteous [those with moral courage and spiritual integrity]And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lis against those who do evil,To cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 Whenthe righteouscry [for help], the LhearsAnd rescues them from all their distressandtroubles.
18 The Lis near to the heartbrokenAnd He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin).
19 Many hardshipsandperplexing circumstances confront the righteous,But the Lrescues him from them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil will cause the death of the wicked,And those who hate the righteous will be held guiltyandwill be condemned.
22 The Lredeems the soul of His servants,And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.