Psalm 34

This article is about Psalm 34 in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. For Psalm 34 in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, see Psalm 35 .

Psalm 34
"I will bless the LORD at all times"
Psalm 34 by Ephraim Moses Lilien
Other name	Psalm 33 "Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore"
Written	by David
Language	Hebrew (original)

Psalm 34 is the 34th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 33. In Latin, it is known as "Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore". ^[1]

Psalm 34 is attributed to David. The Psalm's subtitle, A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed, ^[2] derives from when David was living with the Philistines, but the account of this event in 1 Samuel 21 refers to the king as Achish, not Abimelech; however "Abimelech" may merely be a title, literally meaning "father of a king." ^[3] The psalm is an acrostic poem in the Hebrew alphabet, one of a series of songs of thanksgiving. It is the first Psalm which describes angels (mal’āḵîm) as guardians of the righteous.

Art from the Golden Psalter of St. Gallen, showing David feigning madness before Achish/Abimelech.

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has inspired hymns based on it, and has been set to music.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text ^{[4] [5]} of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	לְדָוִ֗ד בְּשַׁנּוֹת֣וֹ אֶת־טַ֭עְמוֹ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַ֝יְגָרְשֵׁ֗הוּ וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃‎	[A Psalm] of David; when he changed his demeanour before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
2	אֲבָרְכָ֣ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה בְּכׇל־עֵ֑ת תָּ֝מִ֗יד תְּֽהִלָּת֥וֹ בְּפִֽי׃‎	I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
3	בַּ֭יהֹוָה תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל נַפְשִׁ֑י יִשְׁמְע֖וּ עֲנָוִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָֽחוּ׃‎	My soul shall glory in the LORD; The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
4	גַּדְּל֣וּ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אִתִּ֑י וּנְרוֹמְמָ֖ה שְׁמ֣וֹ יַחְדָּֽו׃‎	O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
5	דָּרַ֣שְׁתִּי אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה וְעָנָ֑נִי וּמִכׇּל־מְ֝גוּרוֹתַ֗י הִצִּילָֽנִי׃‎	I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.
6	הִבִּ֣יטוּ אֵלָ֣יו וְנָהָ֑רוּ וּ֝פְנֵיהֶ֗ם אַל־יֶחְפָּֽרוּ׃‎	They looked unto Him, and were radiant; And their faces shall never be abashed.
7	זֶ֤ה עָנִ֣י קָ֭רָא וַיהֹוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכׇּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗יו הוֹשִׁיעֽוֹ׃‎	This poor man cried, and the LORD heard, And saved him out of all his troubles.
8	חֹנֶ֤ה מַלְאַךְ־יְהֹוָ֓ה סָ֘בִ֤יב לִירֵאָ֗יו וַֽיְחַלְּצֵֽם׃‎	The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, And delivereth them.
9	טַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּֽי־ט֣וֹב יְהֹוָ֑ה אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־בּֽוֹ׃‎	O consider and see that the LORD is good; Happy is the man that taketh refuge in Him.
10	יְר֣אוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה קְדֹשָׁ֑יו כִּי־אֵ֥ין מַ֝חְס֗וֹר לִירֵאָֽיו׃‎	O fear the LORD, ye His holy ones; For there is no want to them that fear Him.
11	כְּ֭פִירִים רָשׁ֣וּ וְרָעֵ֑בוּ וְדֹרְשֵׁ֥י יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה לֹא־יַחְסְר֥וּ כׇל־טֽוֹב׃‎	The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; But they that seek the LORD want not any good thing.
12	לְֽכוּ־בָ֭נִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִ֑י יִֽרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה אֲלַמֶּדְכֶֽם׃‎	Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
13	מִֽי־הָ֭אִישׁ הֶחָפֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים אֹהֵ֥ב יָ֝מִ֗ים לִרְא֥וֹת טֽוֹב׃‎	Who is the man that desireth life, and loveth days, That he may see good therein?
14	נְצֹ֣ר לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ מֵרָ֑ע וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר מִרְמָֽה׃‎	Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile.
15	ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרׇדְפֵֽהוּ׃‎	Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.
16	עֵינֵ֣י יְ֭הֹוָה אֶל־צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְ֝אׇזְנָ֗יו אֶל־שַׁוְעָתָֽם׃‎	The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, And His ears are open unto their cry.
17	פְּנֵ֣י יְ֭הֹוָה בְּעֹ֣שֵׂי רָ֑ע לְהַכְרִ֖ית מֵאֶ֣רֶץ זִכְרָֽם׃‎	The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
18	צָ֭עֲקוּ וַיהֹוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכׇּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃‎	They cried, and the LORD heard, And delivered them out of all their troubles.
19	קָר֣וֹב יְ֭הֹוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵ֑ב וְֽאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־ר֥וּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃‎	The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.
20	רַ֭בּוֹת רָע֣וֹת צַדִּ֑יק וּ֝מִכֻּלָּ֗ם יַצִּילֶ֥נּוּ יְהֹוָֽה׃‎	Many are the ills of the righteous, But the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
21	שֹׁמֵ֥ר כׇּל־עַצְמוֹתָ֑יו אַחַ֥ת מֵ֝הֵ֗נָּה לֹ֣א נִשְׁבָּֽרָה׃‎	He keepeth all his bones; Not one of them is broken
22	תְּמוֹתֵ֣ת רָשָׁ֣ע רָעָ֑ה וְשֹׂנְאֵ֖י צַדִּ֣יק יֶאְשָֽׁמוּ׃‎	Evil shall kill the wicked; And they that hate the righteous shall be held guilty.
23	פֹּדֶ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲבָדָ֑יו וְלֹ֥א יֶ֝אְשְׁמ֗וּ כׇּֽל־הַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃‎	The LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants; And none of them that take refuge in Him shall be desolate.

King James Version

1. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11. Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22. The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Structure

The psalm could be structured in the following manner: ^[6]

1. Vers 2-4: Hymn introduction
2. Vers 5: Basic praising, preaching the fate of the Psalmist
3. Vers 6-11: teaching, which is evident from his fate
4. Vers 12-22: didactic poem 1
5. Vers 13-15: Question - answer:
6. Vers 16-22: Collection of wise sayings.

It is an acrostic poem in the Hebrew alphabet, with each letter beginning a verse in sequential order; the lone exception is waw (ו‎), which begins the second clause of verse six. The first and last verses are outside the acrostic scheme. The Old Testament scholar Hermann Gunkel felt that the acrostic nature of the Psalm made any historical, or theological analysis impossible. ^[7] This psalm is an acrostic of confidence, as is Psalm 25, with which it has many similarities.

Verse 11

Come, you children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord. ^[8]

The psalmist is now "teacher"; ^[6] "children" is the customary term for students in wisdom literature. ^[9]

Uses

Judaism

Psalm 34 in the Parma Psalter.

• Psalm 34 is recited in its entirety during Pesukei Dezimra on Shabbat, Yom Tov, and - in many communities - on Hoshana Rabbah. ^[10]
• Verse 4 is recited when the Torah scroll is taken out of the ark. ^[11]
• Verses 10-11 are recited by Ashkenazim as part of the final paragraph of Birkat Hamazon. ^[12]
• Verses 14-15 form the basis for part of the closing paragraph of the Amidah. ^[13]

New Testament

Some verses of Psalm 34 are referenced in the New Testament:

• Verse 8 is quoted by St. Peter in 1 Peter 2:3. ^[14]
• Verses 12-16 are cited in 1 Peter 3:10–12. ^[14]
• Verse 18 is paraphrased in Matthew 5:3. ^[15]
• Verse 20 is alluded to in John 19:36. ^[14]

Schmeling, in his study for Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, examines Psalm 34:20, which declares that the bones of the righteous remain unbroken, possibly in a symbolic sense for the redeemed counted as righteous. Jesus, being the epitome of righteousness, may be viewed with a more literal application of this idea where his bones were not broken at the cross in a Christian perspective. Additionally, the observation is made that the bones of the Passover lamb were also not broken. ^[16]

Catholicism

According to the Rule of St. Benedict around 530, ^[17] this psalm was traditionally sung at the office of Matins on Mondays in monasteries. ^{[18] [19]}

Currently, in the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 34 is recited on Saturdays in the first and third weeks of the four weekly cycle of readings and for the holy celebrations. It is often used as a responsorial psalm.

Eastern Orthodox Church

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Psalm 33 (Psalm 34 in the Masoretic Text) is traditionally sung at the end of the Divine Liturgy and is read at the service of Typica. It is sung during Holy Communion at the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. Psalm 33/34 is part of the fifth Kathisma division of the Psalter, read at Matins on Monday mornings, as well as on Wednesdays during Lent at the Ninth Hour. Additionally, in monasteries it is read as part of the blessing before meals. ^[20]

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer , this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the sixth day of the month. ^[21]

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz composed a choral setting on a German metred paraphrase of Psalm 34, "Ich will bei meinem Leben rühmen den Herren mein", as part of the Becker Psalter .

Several musical settings focus on the verse 8, "Taste and see", which is suitable as music for the Eucharist. Vaughan Williams set it, titled "O taste and see", for soprano and mixed choir with organ introduction, for the Coronation of Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953. ^[22] It was included as No. 3 of the 2015 album Psalms II by Shane & Shane, and as No. of the 2017 album Fractures by Sons of Korah.

References

1. Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 33 (34) Archived 7 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine medievalist.net
2. Sub-title, NKJV Version
3. 1 Samuel 21:10–15
4. "Psalms – Chapter 34". Mechon Mamre.
5. "Psalms 34 - JPS 1917". Sefaria.org.
6. Corinne Lanoir in Römer, Macchi et Nihan 2009, p. 346.
7. Herman Gunkel, Die Psalmen, (61986), 142f.
8. Psalm 34:11: New King James Version
9. Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. (1970), Footnote c at Psalm 34:12 in the New American Bible Revised Edition
10. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 376
11. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 141
12. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 195
13. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 119
14. Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1901). The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Vol. Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p. 838. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
15. Nolland, John, The Gospel of Matthew: a commentary on the Greek text, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2005 p. 199
16. PSALM 34:15-22 IS THIS MESSIANIC AND HOW DOES IT APPLY TO US?1, Prepared by Gaylin R. Schmeling
17. Règle de saint Benoît, traduction de Prosper Guéranger, (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007) p. 46.
18. Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique (1938/2003) p. 137.
19. Mont des Cats Abbey, La distribution des Psaumes dans la Règle de Saint Benoît, accessed 29 October 2021
20. The Holy Psalter, Saint Ignatius Orthodox Press, 2022
21. Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 196ff
22. "O Taste and See (Vaughan Williams, Ralph)". IMSLP. Retrieved 29 May 2020.

External links

• Pieces with text from Psalm 34 : Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Psalm 34 : Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Psalms Chapter 39 text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org
• Psalm 34 – Praise from the Cave text and detailed commentary, enduringword.com
• Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him out and he went away. / I will bless the LORD at all times; / his praise shall be always in my mouth text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Psalm 34:1 introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
• Psalm 34 / Refrain: O taste and see that the Lord is gracious. Church of England
• Psalm 34 at biblegateway.com
• Hymns for Psalm 34 hymnary.org
• Recording of a slow tune to verses 12-14.