Psalms 34:1
לְדָוִ֗ד בְּשַׁנּוֹת֣וֹ אֶת־טַ֭עְמוֹ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַֽ֝יְגָרֲשֵׁ֗הוּ וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃ אֲבָרֲכָ֣ה אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּכָל־עֵ֑ת תָּ֝מִ֗יד תְּֽהִלָּת֥וֹ בְּפִֽי׃
To David, when he changed his intelligence before Abimelech, and he drove him out, and he went.
I will praise YHWH for all time; always His praise in my mouth.
Paraphrase: The author of this Psalm is David. He wrote this song when he had been driven out of the court of Abimelech because he had pretended to be insane. (1 Samuel 21:14)
I will praise YHWH, our Great King. Yes, I will never stop praising Him; His praises will always be in my mouth.
Comments:
Pratico (chp 20q): When prefixed with the prepositions בּ or כּ, the Infinitive Construct may be used in a temporal clause. When used in this way, the prepositions are translated either “when” or “while.” Frequently, in this construction, the infinitive construct will also have a pronominal suffix.
Note the cohortative used here in the sense of self-encouragement.
God is spoken of as בָּרוּךְ, but never as אַשְׁרֵי. NIDOTTE 764. The NIV translates the word ברך as blessed when God is the subject and as praised when humans are the subject. NIDOTTE again:
God blesses human beings by speaking well of them, thereby imparting “blessing” (good things) to them, and so they are “blessed” (בָּרוּךְ); human beings bless God by speaking well of him, attributing “blessing” (good qualities) to him, and so he is “blessed” (בָּרוּךְ)—i.e., praised and praiseworthy… God blesses people by conferring good on them; we bless God by praising the good in him. (764–765)
Psalms 34:2
בַּ֭יהוָה תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל נַפְשִׁ֑י יִשְׁמְע֖וּ עֲנָוִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָֽחוּ׃
In YHWH, my soul will boast; the afflicted will hear and will rejoice.
Paraphrase: I will boast of all the great things YHWH has done. Yes, the poorest people of the land and those who are oppressed by the proud will hear about all these things which YHWH has done and it will fill them with hope and gladness. They will join me in singing praises to God, our King.
Comments:
Psalms 34:3
גַּדְּל֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה אִתִּ֑י וּנְרוֹמְמָ֖ה שְׁמ֣וֹ יַחְדָּֽו׃
Magnify YHWH with me and let us exalt His Name together.
Paraphrase: So gather around, all you afflicted and oppressed peoples. You who are weak, tired, and carrying heavy burdens. (Matthew 11:28) Dry your tears; lift up the weary hands and strengthen your feeble knees (Hebrews 12:12) Lift up the Name of YHWH with me. Let us worship and praise Him with heart and voice.
Comments:
Psalms 34:4
דָּרַ֣שְׁתִּי אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה וְעָנָ֑נִי וּמִכָּל־מְ֝גוּרוֹתַ֗י הִצִּילָֽנִי׃
I sought YHWH, and He answered me; and from all my fears, He delivered me.
Paraphrase: Yes, there were so many times in my life when I was in great distress. When I looked about me, I saw no possibility of escape. Then, I cried out to YHWH, and He heard my cry. He came flying to my rescue. (Deuteronomy 33:26) In the midst of my despair, He pulled me out and set me free. He laid to rest all my fears and anxieties.
Comments:
Psalms 34:5
הִבִּ֣יטוּ אֵלָ֣יו וְנָהָ֑רוּ וּ֝פְנֵיהֶ֗ם אַל־יֶחְפָּֽרוּ׃
They looked on Him and were radiant, and their faces should not be ashamed.
Paraphrase: So it was with me, and so it has been with all of God’s people. I have heard their stories. (Hebrews 11) They too were in situations of great distress with nowhere to turn. Then they looked away from their situation, fixed their eyes on YHWH (Matthew 14:30) and cried out to Him. Oh how there faces shone with joy and delight when they saw YHWH rescuing them from an impossible situation. They were certain that they would perish (1 Samuel 27:1), but God brought them through. Therefore, my dear friends, no matter the situation, you should never take your eyes off YHWH; do not ever abandon all hope. He will never let you down.
Comments:
יֶחְפָּרוּ is without the vav conversive; I translated it as a modal. See prohibition.
Psalms 34:6
זֶ֤ה עָנִ֣י קָ֭רָא וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכָּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗יו הוֹשִׁיעֽוֹ׃
This afflicted one cried and YHWH heard; and from all his distress, He delivered him.
Paraphrase: Let me give you a story from my own life in which I learned this lesson. (1 Samuel 21:10-15) I was in terrible trouble. I had left the promised land failing to trust that God would protect and provide for me. In my unbelief, I went over the Philistines and sought refuge amongst the uncircumcised. (Judges 14:3) Soon I was discovered, and I knew my days were finished. They would surely destroy me without delay. I had nowhere to turn. Then I cried out to YHWH in my distress. Even though I had brought this predicament on myself by my own sin, He heard me and delivered me from all danger.
Comments:
Note the patah furtive in שָׁמֵעַ.
Psalms 34:7
חֹנֶ֤ה מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָ֓ה סָ֘בִ֤יב לִֽירֵאָ֗יו וַֽיְחַלְּצֵֽם׃
Encamping is the Angel of YHWH around His fearers, and He delivers them.
Paraphrase: What was this lesson that I learned, you might ask. This is it. God directs the Commander of His army to arrange the troops all around His people. Anyone that tries to do them harm will have to fight his way through God’s angel army. When they get into trouble, He pulls them out of harms way and sets them on a better path. Yes, this is how God works in the lives of His people.
Comments:
Psalms 34:8
טַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּי־ט֣וֹב יְהוָ֑ה אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־בּֽוֹ׃
Taste and see that YHWH is good; happy the person who takes refuge in Him.
Paraphrase: Oh friends, how I wish you all would know and treasure the goodness of YHWH. I want you to know His goodness as well, and not just because I have told you about it. No, I want you to know it by experience just like I have learned in my own life. When you take refuge in YHWH, you too will discover that you are completely safe.
Comments:
Psalms 34:9
יְר֣אוּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה קְדֹשָׁ֑יו כִּי־אֵ֥ין מַ֝חְס֗וֹר לִירֵאָֽיו׃
Fear YHWH, his holy ones, for there is no poverty to His fearers.
Paraphrase: Here’s what you should do. Give your full attention to YHWH; understand who He is. Tremble at His power, rejoice in His majesty, be terrified at His awful judgments, be calm under His protection; worship Him for both His goodness and His severity. (Romans 11:22) Those people who have this attitude towards God will never lack any good thing.
Comments:
Psalms 34:10
כְּ֭פִירִים רָשׁ֣וּ וְרָעֵ֑בוּ וְדֹרְשֵׁ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה לֹא־יַחְסְר֥וּ כָל־טֽוֹב׃
The young lions lack and are hungry; the seekers of YHWH do not lack any good.
Paraphrase: Look at the lions who prowl the wilderness desperate to find food. Even the strong, young lions are hungry and roaming about trying to catch something to eat. Not so those who are crying out to YHWH. He hears their cries; He answers them and delivers them from all kinds of distress. There’s not a single thing, which is for their good, that YHWH withholds from them.
Comments:
Psalms 34:11
לְֽכוּ־בָ֭נִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִ֑י יִֽרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה אֲלַמֶּדְכֶֽם׃
Come, sons, listen to me; the fear of YHWH I will teach you.
Paraphrase: Now gather around, my dear children. I have lived many years in this world and have learned many things. Gather around, and I will explain to you what it means to live in the fear of YHWH.
Comments:
Psalms 34:12
מִֽי־הָ֭אִישׁ הֶחָפֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים אֹהֵ֥ב יָ֝מִ֗ים לִרְא֥וֹת טֽוֹב׃
Who is the man pleased with lives? loving days to see good?
Paraphrase: The first lesson is this. Do you want to live a long and productive life where you and your loved ones can flourish?
Comments:
Psalms 34:13
נְצֹ֣ר לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ מֵרָ֑ע וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר מִרְמָֽה׃
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Paraphrase: Watch your words! Don’t let any unwholesome word proceed from your mouth. (Ephesians 4:29) Don’t say things which hurt and tear down other people even if they are not part of the conversation. Always speak the truth; don’t tell lies or use your words to deceive people.
Comments:
Psalms 34:14
ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרָדְפֵֽהוּ׃
Turn from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it.
Paraphrase: Second, run from anything that goes contrary to God’s law. Don’t even give such temptations a place at the table. Make no compromise with evil; don’t even enter into a conversation with it. Remember how Joseph acted when confronted with evil. (Genesis 39:12) When you see oppression, fight it whether you find this evil inside of you or outside. On the contrary, do all in your power to help people flourish. Feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; clothe the naked; shelter the homeless; visit the sick and the incarcerated; give a proper burial to the deceased.
Comments:
Psalms 34:15
עֵינֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה אֶל־צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְ֝אָזְנָ֗יו אֶל־שַׁוְעָתָֽם׃
T.
Paraphrase:
Comments:
Psalms 34:16
פְּנֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה בְּעֹ֣שֵׂי רָ֑ע לְהַכְרִ֖ית מֵאֶ֣רֶץ זִכְרָֽם׃
Psalms 34:17
צָעֲק֣וּ וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכָּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃
Psalms 34:18
קָר֣וֹב יְ֭הוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵ֑ב וְֽאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־ר֥וּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
Psalms 34:19
רַ֭בּוֹת רָע֣וֹת צַדִּ֑יק וּ֝מִכֻּלָּ֗ם יַצִּילֶ֥נּוּ יְהוָֽה׃
Psalms 34:20
שֹׁמֵ֥ר כָּל־עַצְמוֹתָ֑יו אַחַ֥ת מֵ֝הֵ֗נָּה לֹ֣א נִשְׁבָּֽרָה׃
Psalms 34:21
תְּמוֹתֵ֣ת רָשָׁ֣ע רָעָ֑ה וְשֹׂנְאֵ֖י צַדִּ֣יק יֶאְשָֽׁמוּ׃
Psalms 34:22
פּוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲבָדָ֑יו וְלֹ֥א יֶ֝אְשְׁמ֗וּ כָּֽל־הַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃