Psalm 34/Overview/Structure
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
| v. 1 By David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, and Abimelek drove him out, and he went. | Superscription | ||||
| v. 2 I will bless YHWH at all times. His praise will continually be in my mouth. | א | Testimony | Trust in YHWH, and he will rescue you just like he rescued me! |  |
joy |
| v. 3 My soul boasts in YHWH. May the afflicted hear and be glad! | ב | ||||
| v. 4 Extol YHWH with me, and let us exalt his name together! | ג | ||||
| v. 5 I sought YHWH and he answered me and he rescued me from all my terrors. | ד | ||||
| v. 6 Gaze at him and glow, and do not let your faces be ashamed! | ה | ||||
| v. 7 This is a poor man who called out and YHWH heard and saved him from all his troubles. | ו | ||||
| v. 8 YHWH’s angel encamps all around those who fear him and he delivers them. | ז | ||||
| v. 9 Taste and see that YHWH is good! Happy is the man who seeks refuge in him. | ח | YHWH protects and provides for those who fear him. |  |
confidence | |
| v. 10 Fear YHWH, you holy ones of his! For those who fear him have no lack. | ט | ||||
| v. 11 Young lions have suffered want and been hungry, but those who seek YHWH will not lack any good. | י | ||||
| v. 12 Come, children! Listen to me! I will teach you the fear of YHWH. | ל | Teaching | I will teach you what it means to fear YHWH. |  |
solemnity |
| v. 13 Who is the person who desires life, who wants to live a long time, who loves to see good? | מ | ||||
| v. 14 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit! | נ | ||||
| v. 15 Turn away from evil and do good! Seek peace and pursue it! | ס | ||||
| v. 17* YHWH’s face is against those who do evil, so as to remove the memory of them from the earth. | פ | YHWH protects and provides for the righteous (who fear him) and not for the wicked. |  |
confidence | |
| v. 16* YHWH’s eyes are directed towards the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cries for help. | ע | ||||
| v. 18 They called for help, and YHWH heard, and he delivered them from all their troubles. | צ | ||||
| v. 19 YHWH is near to the broken-hearted and he saves the crushed in spirit. | ק | ||||
| v. 20 The hardships of the righteous are many, but YHWH rescues him from all of them. | ר | ||||
| v. 21 He protects all his bones. Not one of them has broken. | ש | ||||
| v. 22 Hardship finishes off a wicked person, and those who hate a righteous person bear their guilt | ת | ||||
| v. 23 YHWH redeems his servants’ lives, and no one who seeks refuge in him will ever bear guilt. | פ | ||||