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The Bible · 512 of 1189

Psalms 34

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.

Asked of Guide

Why does the psalm keep returning to both suffering and deliverance?

The psalm records a lived pattern: David names fear, trouble, affliction and then insists repeatedly that the LORD hears, delivers, and surrounds the faithful (verses 4, 6, 7, 17). This pairing shows trust as a present posture—he blesses at all times (v.1) while acknowledging real danger—so praise and petition coexist in the same spiritual life.

Verses like “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart” (v.18) explain the theology: God’s nearness and the angelic protection (v.7) are the grounds for hope amid trials. Psalm 34 connects to Psalm 23 by the same assurance of guidance and rescue; both teach that faithful dependence turns distress into testimony.

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.