Psalm 34 - O Taste and See That the LORD Is Good

A psalm of praise inviting all to taste God's goodness and nearness to the brokenhearted.

Psalm 34: O Taste and See

Psalm 34 follows Psalms 33's call to praise with David's personal resolve to bless the LORD "at all times," inviting everyone to "O taste and see that the LORD is good." He recalls how God heard him, delivered him from fear, and sent His angel to encamp around those who fear Him.


By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. ALEPH I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.

My soul shall boast in the Lord. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.

Oh magnify the Lord with me. Let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Oh fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for there is no lack with those who fear him.

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.

Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.

The Lord 's eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.

The Lord 's face is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

They cried, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.

Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

The Lord redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.

The psalm assures that the LORD is nigh to the brokenhearted and keeps all the bones of the righteous, "not one of them is broken." That closeness is expanded in <a href="/bible/nheb/psalms/chapter-34/4">Psalms 34:4</a> and echoed in <a href="/bible/nheb/psalms/chapter-18/6">Psalms 18:6</a>; continue to <a href="/bible/nheb/psalms/chapter-35">Psalms 35</a>.