Psalm 34

The Lord Delivers the Righteous

Concerning David, when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech,[a](A) who drove him out, and he departed.

I[b] will praise the Lord at all times;
His praise will always be on my lips.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:1 Probably Achish, king of Gath
  2. Psalm 34:1 The lines of this poem form an acrostic.

Psalm 34[a][b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

I will extol the Lord at all times;(B)
    his praise will always be on my lips.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:

Ah, Lord—the great and awe-inspiring God(A) who keeps His gracious covenant(B) with those who love Him(C) and keep His commands(D) we have sinned,(E) done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled,(F) and turned away from Your commands and ordinances.(G) We have not listened to Your servants the prophets,(H) who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land.

Lord, righteousness belongs to You,(I) but this day public shame belongs to us: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel—those who are near and those who are far, in all the countries where You have dispersed them because of the disloyalty they have shown toward You. Lord, public shame(J) belongs to us, our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.(K) Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against Him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by following His instructions that He set before us through His servants(L) the prophets.

11 All Israel has broken Your law and turned away,(M) refusing to obey You. The promised curse[a] written in the law of Moses,(N) the servant of God, has been poured out on us because we have sinned against Him. 12 He has carried out His words(O) that He spoke against us and against our rulers[b](P) by bringing on us so great a disaster that nothing like what has been done to Jerusalem has ever been done(Q) under all of heaven. 13 Just as it is written in the law of Moses,(R) all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not appeased(S) the Lord our God by turning from our iniquities and paying attention to Your truth.(T) 14 So the Lord kept the disaster in mind and brought it on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all He has done. But we have not obeyed Him.

15 Now, Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand(U) and made Your name renowned(V) as it is this day, we have sinned, we have acted wickedly. 16 Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, may Your anger and wrath(W) turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain;(X) for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become an object of ridicule to all those around us.

17 Therefore, our God, hear the prayer and the petitions of Your servant. Show Your favor(Y) to Your desolate sanctuary(Z) for the Lord’s sake. 18 Listen,[c] my God, and hear. Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city called by Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You based on our righteous acts, but based on Your abundant compassion. 19 Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! My God, for Your own sake, do not delay,(AA) because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 9:11 Lit The curse and the oath
  2. Daniel 9:12 Lit against rulers who ruled us
  3. Daniel 9:18 Lit Stretch out Your ear

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:(A)

“Lord, the great and awesome God,(B) who keeps his covenant of love(C) with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned(D) and done wrong.(E) We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away(F) from your commands and laws.(G) We have not listened(H) to your servants the prophets,(I) who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors,(J) and to all the people of the land.

“Lord, you are righteous,(K) but this day we are covered with shame(L)—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered(M) us because of our unfaithfulness(N) to you.(O) We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.(P) The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving,(Q) even though we have rebelled against him;(R) 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.(S) 11 All Israel has transgressed(T) your law(U) and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore the curses(V) and sworn judgments(W) written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned(X) against you. 12 You have fulfilled(Y) the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster.(Z) Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like(AA) what has been done to Jerusalem.(AB) 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord(AC) our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.(AD) 14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster(AE) on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does;(AF) yet we have not obeyed him.(AG)

15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand(AH) and who made for yourself a name(AI) that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts,(AJ) turn away(AK) your anger and your wrath(AL) from Jerusalem,(AM) your city, your holy hill.(AN) Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn(AO) to all those around us.

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor(AP) on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear,(AQ) our God, and hear;(AR) open your eyes and see(AS) the desolation of the city that bears your Name.(AT) We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.(AU) 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive!(AV) Lord, hear and act! For your sake,(AW) my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

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Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

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Do not be anxious about anything,(A) but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.(B)

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17 Pray constantly.
18 Give thanks in everything,
for this is God’s will(A) for you in Christ Jesus.

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17 pray continually,(A) 18 give thanks in all circumstances;(B) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

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