Psalms Chapter 34 - Listen & Read Online

Updated on October 1, 2026

Read Psalms Chapter 34

{A Psalm} of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.

1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

You are readingKing James Version

Explanation

Psalms 34

In short

This psalm is David's account of calling out to God in fear and being rescued. He then invites others to trust God as he has done, promising that those who fear God and live rightly will find protection and provision, while those who do evil face ruin.

What the text says

Verses 1-3 open with David's commitment to praise God always and call others to magnify God's name with him. In verses 4-7, David states that he sought God, was heard, and delivered from his fears; he describes others looking to God and being helped, and says the angel of the LORD camps around those who fear him. Verse 8 invites people to taste and see that God is good, and blesses those who trust him. Verses 9-10 teach that those who fear God lack nothing, even when young lions go hungry. Verses 11-14 shift to David teaching children the fear of God and instructing them to guard their speech, turn from evil, do good, and pursue peace. Verses 15-19 state that God's eyes are on the righteous and his ears open to their cry, that his face is against evildoers, that the LORD delivers the righteous from troubles, and draws near to the broken-hearted. Verses 20-22 promise that God keeps the righteous safe, that evil destroys the wicked, and that God redeems his servants so none who trust him become desolate.

Takeaways

God hears and rescues those who call out to him and fear him.
Living rightly with honest speech and peaceable conduct protects a person.
Those who reject God face his opposition, while his protection surrounds those who trust him.