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Psalm 34

Praise for Deliverance from Trouble

Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

1

I will bless the L ord at all times;

his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2

My soul makes its boast in the L ord;

let the humble hear and be glad.

3

O magnify the L ord with me,

and let us exalt his name together.

 

4

I sought the L ord, and he answered me,

and delivered me from all my fears.

5

Look to him, and be radiant;

so your faces shall never be ashamed.

6

This poor soul cried, and was heard by the L ord,

and was saved from every trouble.

7

The angel of the L ord encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8

O taste and see that the L ord is good;

happy are those who take refuge in him.

9

O fear the L ord, you his holy ones,

for those who fear him have no want.

10

The young lions suffer want and hunger,

but those who seek the L ord lack no good thing.

 

11

Come, O children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the L ord.

12

Which of you desires life,

and covets many days to enjoy good?

13

Keep your tongue from evil,

and your lips from speaking deceit.

14

Depart from evil, and do good;

seek peace, and pursue it.

 

15

The eyes of the L ord are on the righteous,

and his ears are open to their cry.

16

The face of the L ord is against evildoers,

to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17

When the righteous cry for help, the L ord hears,

and rescues them from all their troubles.

18

The L ord is near to the brokenhearted,

and saves the crushed in spirit.

 

19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

but the L ord rescues them from them all.

20

He keeps all their bones;

not one of them will be broken.

21

Evil brings death to the wicked,

and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

22

The L ord redeems the life of his servants;

none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.


13. Keep thy tongue from evil The precept which David here delivers relates to a virtue which is very rare, namely, that we should be truthful and free from deceit in our discourse. Some, indeed, understand it in a much more extended sense, supposing that slander is condemned in this first clause. But it seems to me more simple, and more to the purpose, to understand this as of the same import with what he repeats in the second clause, that we should not speak deceitfully with our neighbors, so as that our words may prove the means of ensnaring them. And since nothing is more difficult than to regulate our discourse in such a manner as that our speech may be a true representation of our hearts, David calls upon us to exercise over it a strict and watchful control, not suffering it to run riot, lest it should prove the occasion of our deceiving others.


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