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Taste and See That the LORD Is Good
Psalm 34 is a song of praise, invitation, and instruction. It moves from blessing Yahweh, to urging others to trust him, to teaching how to live in the fear of Yahweh, and it ends with a sharp contrast between the righteous and the wicked.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In this psalm, the singer blesses Yahweh continually, invites others to exalt him, and describes seeking Yahweh and being heard. The song then teaches the fear of Yahweh with practical commands about speech and peace, before ending with Yahweh’s care for the righteous and his opposition to evildoers.
Psalms 34:1–22Main takeaway
Psalm 34 teaches that taking refuge in Yahweh leads to praise, trust, truthful living, and confidence that he hears and judges rightly.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Praise that calls others inThe psalm opens with a decision to bless Yahweh “at all times”, so praise is steady, not occasional.
Explanation
The psalm opens with a decision to bless Yahweh “at all times”, so praise is steady, not occasional. This praise is also shared. The singer boasts in Yahweh so that the humble may be glad, and then calls others, “magnify Yahweh with me” and “exalt his name together”.
02Seeking Yahweh and seeing his goodnessNext the singer tells of seeking Yahweh, being answered, and being delivered from fears. Those who look to him are described as radiant, with faces not covered by shame.
Explanation
Next the singer tells of seeking Yahweh, being answered, and being delivered from fears. Those who look to him are described as radiant, with faces not covered by shame. The poor man cries and is heard. Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him. So “taste and see” invites personal trust in Yahweh’s goodness and refuge.
03What the fear of Yahweh looks likeThe song then becomes teaching: “Come, you children, listen to me.” The question in verse 12 asks who desires life and many days to see good.
Explanation
The song then becomes teaching: “Come, you children, listen to me.” The question in verse 12 asks who desires life and many days to see good. The answer is practical. Fear of Yahweh includes keeping the tongue from evil and lies, departing from evil, doing good, and seeking peace with determination.
04Yahweh hears, delivers, and judgesYahweh’s eyes and ears are toward the righteous, but his face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.
Explanation
Yahweh’s eyes and ears are toward the righteous, but his face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth. He hears the righteous, is near the broken hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Though the righteous have many afflictions, Yahweh delivers; he even says their bones are protected. Evil brings condemnation, but Yahweh redeems his servants.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does the psalm show that praise to Yahweh is both personal and shared?
Notice the first-person promises to bless and boast, then the invitation for others to magnify and exalt Yahweh together.
02What is included in the invitation to “taste and see that Yahweh is good”?
Read the nearby lines about seeking, being answered, looking to him, crying out, and taking refuge in him.
03According to this psalm, what answer is given to the person who desires life and good days?
Verse 12 asks the question, and verses 13-14 answer it with commands about speech, evil, good, and peace.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 34:1–22
1I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
2My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let’s exalt his name together.
4I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
6This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
11Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
12Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
13Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.
14Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.
15Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
16Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
20He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.