Psalms Chapter 34 in Simple English

Updated on October 1, 2026

Read Psalms Chapter 34

A psalm of David, written when he changed the way he acted in front of Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.

1I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.

2My soul will boast in the LORD. The humble will hear it and be glad.

3Magnify the LORD with me, and let us lift up his name together.

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

5They looked to him, and their faces shone. Their faces were not ashamed.

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

7The angel of the LORD camps around those who fear him, and he rescues them.

8Taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the one who trusts in him.

9Fear the LORD, you his saints. Those who fear him lack nothing.

10Young lions go without and are hungry. But those who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.

11Come, children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12Who is the one who wants life, and loves many days, so that he may see good?

13Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.

14Turn away from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and chase after it.

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

16The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off all memory of them from the earth.

17The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears. He rescues them out of all their troubles.

18The LORD is near to those whose heart is broken. He saves those whose spirit is crushed.

19Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the LORD rescues him out of them all.

20He keeps all his bones. Not one of them is broken.

21Evil will kill the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be left desolate.

22The LORD redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who trust in him will be left desolate.

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Explanation

Psalms 34

In short

This psalm is David's grateful song after God rescued him from fear and danger. He calls others to trust God and live well, because those who fear the Lord and seek him will find protection and lack nothing good.

Context

Psalm 34 is presented as David's psalm written when he pretended to be mad before Abimelech, a king who had threatened him (the title refers to an incident in 1 Samuel 21). This is David speaking directly to others, teaching them what he has learned through his own experience of God's faithfulness.

What the text says

David opens by promising to praise God always, and invites others to join him (verses 1-3). He then recalls his own deliverance: he sought God, was heard, and freed from all his fears (verse 4). Those who looked to God were "lightened" and their faces showed no shame (verse 5). A poor man cried out and God saved him from all troubles (verse 6). God's angel protects those who fear him (verse 7).

Verses 8-10 invite others to taste God's goodness themselves. Those who fear God lack nothing, while even young lions go hungry if they do not seek the Lord. David then teaches children the fear of the Lord (verses 11-14), explaining that those who want to live well must guard their speech and depart from evil.

Verses 15-22 state the underlying principle: God watches the righteous and hears their cry, but his face is against the wicked. The righteous suffer many afflictions, but the Lord delivers them from all and keeps them safe. Evil destroys the wicked, while God redeems his servants and protects those who trust him.

Takeaways

God's protection is not the absence of trouble, but his presence within and through it.
The fear of God (reverence and trust in him) is presented as the key to receiving his care.
Righteous living and guarding one's words are connected to experiencing God's goodness.

Psalms 34 - Simple English